At the beginning of the 2024 F1 season, Ferrari shocked fans by announcing Lewis Hamilton would join Charles Leclerc in the team next year, wrecking any hopes for Carlos Sainz about his contract renewal.

Although the Spanish driver may feel upset about losing his seat after four seasons with the team, he insists he holds no resentment.

Earlier this year Sainz was confirmed to drive for Williams next season. Even though the British stable is now 425 points behind the Italian team in the constructors’ standings, he still remains on good terms with Ferrari as there are still six races and three sprints left until the end of the season.

“I have no bad words for Ferrari,” Sainz told Spain’s AS.

“I don’t think they have any bad words for me either. It is not a relationship that has broken down because we are not happy with each other, but because of a circumstantial cause.

“I remain convinced that if Hamilton had not wanted to finish his career at Ferrari, I would have renewed [with the team].

“But you can’t say no to a seven-time world champion, I understand that it’s a relationship that was destined to happen.”

Although it may appear to be a step down for Sainz, the Spaniard is eager to help the team improve and potentially return to their former glory.

“My next step is Williams, and we have to try to do something at Williams similar to what I have done at Ferrari or McLaren,” Saiz said.

“I want to help the team to go forward. I have the experience and good energy, being still young, to help them progress."

At this stage, Williams is regarded as more of a midfield team, primarily competing for points finishes. Sainz acknowledges that wins and podiums may be difficult to achieve but remains enthusiastic about the new challenge ahead.

“It’s something I’ll have to readapt to. But it’s a position I’ve been in for seven of my 10-year racing career, fighting for points and not winning,” he said.

“That’s the life of an F1 driver. You can ask so many other drivers who have been in that situation.

“Nothing guarantees you to fight for winning, so you have to enjoy the opportunities. Not just as a result, to enjoy winning, but to enjoy it on a mental level because you are lucky to be one of the top 20 drivers in the world, and to be one of the three or four who can win a race.”

As the 2024 season nears its end with the next race set to be the United States Grand Prix in two weeks, Carlos Sainz sits fift in the drivers’ championship with 190 points, 16 points ahead of his successor, Lewis Hamilton, who is in sixth place.