What Carlos Sainz Has to Say About His World-Titling Team Swap
Carlos Sainz has opened up about the choice that changed his career: leaving McLaren when Ferrari called. In 2020, Ferrari was struggling and dropped out of the top three for the first time since 2014, while McLaren finished third and was on the rise. Even so, Sainz felt the red car was an opportunity he had to take. He says he held great respect and admiration for McLaren, a team he calls the second most successful in history, but when Ferrari knocked, there was no doubt in his mind that he had to answer.
Looking back now, the decision feels harsh. Ferrari is still chasing their first Drivers’ title since 2007 and first Constructors’ crown since 2008. McLaren, by contrast, became the reigning Constructors’ champions and is fighting for both titles again this season. Sainz believes that if he had stayed at McLaren, he would be in the middle of that title fight today. It is a simple, honest thought: the path he left has since led straight to the front.
Sainz also says his two years at McLaren may have been the best of his career. He felt he squeezed everything from the car and found a rhythm that showed his true level. More than results, he remembers the warmth around him, real support, trust, and room to grow. That environment boosted his confidence and helped him mature as a driver. It was the first time he truly felt the full embrace of a team and its fans.
Yet he does not regret his choice. As he puts it, anyone in his place would have found it impossible to refuse Ferrari. He wanted to prove, to himself and to the world, that he deserved to be on that stage, fighting for podiums and for wins in red. The decision was about ambition and belief as much as it was about badges and history. In that moment, the risk felt worthy of the dream.
Today, Sainz says he is performing well at Williams, and he thinks that matters for his future. He sees a project he can help lift, step by step, with real purpose. If one day Williams returns to the peak, standing on the podium and even winning, that would excite him more than anything. He calls that his life goal, and he speaks about it with the calm focus of someone who has learned from every turn he has taken. The road has not been straight, but it has made him sure of what he wants to build.
