Carlos Sainz looks ahead to China GP: “A good opportunity to kick off my season”. Carlos Sainz wants to forget his mistake in Melbourne and previews the Chinese GP.

A Sunday of mixed fortunes
The first Grand Prix of the 2025 season ended with contrasting results for Williams, which had already shown significant progress compared to last year’s championship during the early practice sessions in Melbourne. While Alexander Albon crossed the finish line in fifth place—nearly matching in one race the total points Williams earned in the 2024 Constructors’ standings—the same could not be said for Carlos Sainz.

Fired up for China and the first Sprint
Among the most anticipated drivers of the weekend after an impressive 10th-place qualifying result, the former Ferrari driver saw his race come to an early end after crashing into the barriers in the opening stages of the GP, and under Safety Car conditions no less. However, the Spaniard now has the chance to put his nightmare debut with the Grove-based team behind him and aim for a points finish in the Chinese Grand Prix, the first Sprint race of the season.

“Australia was a great start to the season for the team, even though it was more challenging for me,” Carlos Sainz commented. “We will learn from what happened in Melbourne and focus on China, our first Sprint event of the year and a good opportunity to kick off my season. The track is quite unique and features one of the longest straights of the season, making it a new challenge in terms of how our car performs on different circuits. The Sprint weekend means we only have one practice session, which may not be ideal at this early stage of the season. However, there are more opportunities to score points, which is a great motivation. I can’t wait to get back in the car!”

Keeping up the momentum
While China offers Sainz a chance to bounce back, the Shanghai circuit could also confirm Alex Albon’s strong form as he gears up for the first Asian round of the season.

“Melbourne was a really strong way to start the year, with a great result for the team,” Alex Albon explained. “We need to build on this momentum and pick up where we left off this weekend in China. It’s the first Sprint weekend of the year, so we all have to be ready to give our best and make the most of every opportunity. Scoring a lot of points early in the season is important, so we’ll keep pushing, learning, and hopefully delivering good results.” – the Thai driver concluded.