Interview - CARLOS SAINZ: “Break everything, start again”

The Ferrari fallout, the Williams rebuild, and why pressure made him better than ever

Carlos Sainz isn’t new to the spotlight. Son of a rally legend, four-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner, and once the crown jewel of Ferrari’s future, the 30-year-old has seen it all—from career highs to brutal blindsides. But in this searingly honest conversation with High Performance, he takes us far beyond the paddock: into the heartbreak of being dropped for Lewis Hamilton, the adrenaline of his post-surgery comeback win, and the soul-searching that ultimately led him to Williams. Sainz doesn’t just open up—he lays it all bare. There’s pain. Resilience. Doubt. Triumph. And above all, a masterclass in using chaos as fuel. This isn’t just a story of a driver rebounding—it’s about rebuilding with purpose.

THE LOWDOWN

• Ferrari dropped him unexpectedly in January, triggering one of the toughest moments of his career

• Williams offered a leadership role, not just a seat—he felt seen, needed, and empowered— 2024 became his "character-building" year, complete with appendix surgery and emotional highs and lows

• His best-ever form followed the Ferrari snub—two wins, nine podiums

• Sainz sees his obsessive work ethic, feedback skills, and resilience as key reasons James Vowles wanted him

• Believes true success in F1 demands a no-blame culture and a “break everything” mindset— Admits F1 is ruthlessly political and that the Red Bull rejection may stem from old rivalries with Verstappen

• Sees his current Williams chapter as a long-term bet on growth, unity, and potential championship runs by 2027

"I went from believing I’d stay at Ferrari… to suddenly being out"

Ferrari told him the new contract was a formality—until the call came: Hamilton was in, Carlos was out.He was blindsided mid-training, in peak preparation mode for 2024.The news broke through a friend. He had zero say. Zero warning.Acceptance took a week. Then came an internal fire: prove everyone wrong.

"That got me a bit of a kick. What came out in March, April, May—that was the best version of me."—Carlos Sainz

"Appendix out. Race missed. Comeback won."

A podium in Bahrain. Appendicitis hit before Jeddah.He missed the race—but still showed up to the paddock, limping, ready to coach teammate Ollie Bearman.Used the downtime to think like an engineer. Watch. Learn.Came back and won. One of the most meaningful wins of his life.

"They told me I couldn’t drive. I said, 'Okay, then I’ll help win from the garage.'"—Carlos Sainz

"Red Bull? Mercedes? Never happened."

He hoped for top seats. Talks with Toto at Mercedes. Nothing concrete. Red Bull? A past rivalry with Verstappen still looms.Despite mutual respect, the opportunity didn’t materialize.That rejection lingered.

"We’d be a strong pair, Max and I. I don’t know why it didn’t happen."—Carlos Sainz

"I didn’t burn Ferrari to the ground. I stayed professional."

He thought about going rogue, trashing Ferrari’s year from the inside.Didn’t. Chose professionalism, for the hundreds of team members uninvolved in the decision.Earned respect instead of bitterness.

"There’s always an angel and a demon. I chose the angel."—Carlos Sainz

"James Vowles said: ‘Break everything.’ That’s why I chose Williams."

The pitch came before Ferrari’s decision—James saw leadership potential in Carlos.He was honest about Williams’ timeline: don’t expect wins in 2025.Carlos appreciated that honesty more than any sugarcoating.He saw parallels with early McLaren—raw, growing, hungry.

"He said, ‘I want you to lead Williams back to the top.’ That stuck with me."—Carlos Sainz

"The Formula 1 politics? I hate it."

Carlos says F1 is more political than any sport.Driver decisions aren’t just about talent—money, marketability, timing all play roles. It’s the part of the job he loathes most.But he accepts it. Gets on with it.

"Sometimes performance gets you 80% of the way. The other 20% is politics."—Carlos Sainz

"My obsession with setup. It never stops."

From simulator to garage, he’s always tweaking, analyzing.Says even relaxing time with family is often clouded by thoughts of data and car balance.Calls it an obsession. One he’s learning to balance—but hasn’t fully cracked.

"Even when I think I’m relaxing, I’m still thinking about setups."—Carlos Sainz

"Williams doesn’t just want me—they believe in me."

He felt genuinely wanted—not just needed to fill a gap.Williams offered a leading role, not a support act.He was tired of being a number two. Now? He’s a builder, not just a driver.

"I wanted to feel loved in the right way. That’s what I found here."—Carlos Sainz

"What’s Next" — Quickfire Q&A

Would you be disappointed if you never win a world title?

Only if I get a championship-winning car and fail. Otherwise, I’ll live with peace.

What’s your golden rule for high performance?

Take care of your body. Mental strength follows physical health.

Advice to a younger Carlos?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Perfectionism held me back.

Biggest cost of F1 life?

Time. Even with family, your head’s in the race.

Closest thing to real friendship in F1?

Lando. We’ll probably be true friends after racing ends.