Johnny Herbert praises Carlos Sainz: “He deserves a car capable of fighting for the world title”. Johnny Herbert praises Carlos Sainz’s impact at Williams in 2025.

Johnny Herbert has expressed his hope that, sooner or later, Carlos Sainz will be given a car capable of fighting for the Formula 1 world title. The Spanish driver managed to take Williams to the podium on two occasions during the 2025 season.

What a season finale for the former Ferrari driver

Carlos Sainz did not get off to the best possible start in 2025, crashing into the wall during the race in Australia on his Williams debut, on a Sunday that nevertheless saw his garage neighbour Alexander Albon finish in fourth place.

The Thai-born driver was outstanding in the first half of the season, building up a solid points haul that secured eighth place in the Drivers’ Championship and fifth for Williams in the Constructors’ standings. After the summer break, however, Carlos Sainz’s form rose sharply, to the point that the Spaniard took Williams to the third step of the podium on two occasions, finishing the season just nine points behind Alex Albon.

Carlos Sainz’s exploits did not go unnoticed by Johnny Herbert. “Carlos Sainz and Williams are among the invisible heroes of the season,” said the former Formula 1 driver in comments to NewBettingSites. “I have a lot of respect for what James Vowles has done as team principal. He is rebuilding Williams by selecting very good personnel and putting the right drivers in the car. Carlos Sainz was a real coup after the experience he gained at Ferrari, years in which he was on the same level as Charles Leclerc.”

Johnny Herbert continued: “He needed a bit of time to get comfortable with the Williams, but then in the second half of the season he really delivered his best. He goes unnoticed because he is not aggressive or sharp in his statements, but he has a very strong work ethic, just like his father, and that is a very important quality within a team. I hope that sooner or later he gets a car to fight for the world championship. He would do it in a very professional way.”

Looking toward the future, Johnny Herbert expressed his hope for the Spaniard’s career trajectory.