"Wishing you nothing but the best for next year" - Carlos Sainz pens farewell note for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari as he moves to Williams in 2025

Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz penned an emotional farewell note to his ex-teammate Charles Leclerc and the team, ahead of joining up with the Williams F1 team for the 2025 season. The Spanish driver raced for Ferrari for four years and achieved several milestones during his time in Maranello.

He got his first pole position and first race win in 2022 and went on to finish his tenure with six pole positions and four race wins. The 30-year-old also played an influential role in taking the Prancing Horses to P2 in the constructors' championship twice in that period, in 2022 and 2024. The team finished in P3 in 2023 and P4 in 2021.

Despite close competition and intense battles on the track, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were able to maintain a respectful and friendly equation outside the track as well in their bid to take Ferrari back to the top. On the eve of his first official day with Williams F1, the Spaniard took to Instagram paid tribute to his ex-teammate and wrote:

"It’s been an amazing four years fighting together for Ferrari, @charles_leclerc. Thank you for all the great moments we’ve shared along the way. Wishing you nothing but the best for next year and beyond!"

Carlos Sainz will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari for 2025.

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Alpine F1 advisor gives his take on top teams not signing Carlos Sainz

Alpine F1's executive advisor Flavio Briatore said the top teams' decision to invest in youth played a big role as they let go the chance to sign Carlos Sainz for their immediate future.

In his interview with Auto Motor Und Sport, the Italian said (via Motorsportweek),

“It is now time for a generation change. Sainz is a very good driver. But when he was on the market, none of the top teams took him on. They prefer to focus on young drivers. Toto Wolff on [Andrea Kimi] Antonelli, Christian Horner on [Liam] Lawson. Young drivers are hungrier than someone who has a wife and two children and 30 or 40 million in the bank."

Asked if Alpine considered hiring Sainz for the 2025 season, Briatore said,

“I spoke to Sainz. He was interesting for us, but only for four years. It makes no sense to take a driver like Carlos for one or two years. Either he believes in our program or he doesn’t. I don’t need a driver who costs me a lot of money and is looking to go to another team when the opportunity arises.”

Alpine eventually went for their reserve driver Jack Doohan to partner Pierre Gasly for the 2025 season. Carlos Sainz will join Alex Albon at Williams F1 for the next couple of years.