Sainz 'motivated' despite different challenge ahead

Carlos Sainz drove his 2025 Williams for the first time at a cold, grey Silverstone on Feb 14, but the former Ferrari driver reserved judgment on how he would feel scrapping for points rather than wins this season.

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LONDON - Carlos Sainz drove his 2025 Williams for the first time at a cold, grey Silverstone on Feb 14, but the former Ferrari driver reserved judgment on how he would feel scrapping for points rather than wins this season.

Williams were ninth of the 10 Formula One teams last season and are targeting 2026 - when the sport undergoes a major shake-up and enters a new engine era - for any big step up.

Sainz, who ceded his place at Ferrari to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and is now on his fifth different Formula One team, said first impressions of his new car were positive and he felt highly motivated.

"This is a good show of Williams' progress, to be bold enough to prepare a test where all of our partners are here, all the media is invited to see the first laps of the car," the 30-year-old Spaniard told reporters.