Carlos Sainz effect is real: Every team he joins jumps in points – and drops when he leaves

There is a running joke in the paddock that “Carlos Sainz is bad for the health of any team that doesn’t have him”. It sounds exaggerated – until you look at the numbers. Wherever the Spaniard has gone in Formula 1, the team’s Constructors’ Championship haul has exploded. Wherever he has left, it has almost always shrunk.

The latest proof comes from Williams. Heading into the final race of 2025, the Grove outfit has locked in fifth place in the standings – a stunning leap from ninth and just 17 points twelve months ago. Two podiums, 137 points so far, and a genuine chance of finishing best-of-the-rest behind the big four. And yes, the common denominator is Carlos Sainz.

It took the Madrid-born driver a few races to fully gel with the very different FW47 compared to the Ferraris he drove from 2021-2024, but once he clicked, Williams took off.

The Carlos Sainz effect – year before vs first year with him

Williams team principal James Vowles could barely contain his delight after the latest podium: “An incredible performance from Carlos and the team when it mattered and every detail was perfect. Taking a podium like this is the reward for the unbelievable work done this year. I was proud of Carlos and the team after our first podium together in Baku – the second one is a dream come true. The best part? We did it on a track that was our absolute worst in 2024. We reinvented ourselves and the result speaks for itself.”

He added: “Twelve months ago, finishing fifth in the Constructors’ would have been a dream. We finished ninth. It really is a dream becoming reality.”

And when he leaves? The numbers drop

* Season still in progress

The only slight exception is McLaren, where the switch from Renault to Mercedes power masked the drop in points, but even there the team slipped from third to fourth in the standings.

Of course Sainz isn’t single-handedly responsible for every point – upgrades, budget increases and other drivers all play a part. But the pattern is undeniable. His data analysis, race preparation, pinpoint feedback, clean driving and rock-solid consistency lift the entire operation. Small teams and big teams alike suddenly find performance they didn’t know they had.

Last year several top teams overlooked him on the driver market, leaving Williams – then ninth – to snap him up. Twelve months later that decision looks like the bargain of the decade. With the 2026 regulation reset coming, Grove has every reason to believe the best is still ahead. As James Vowles knows, when you have Carlos Sainz, good things tend to follow.

Williams is now reaping the benefits of a fully integrated Sainz, and with the new technical regulations coming, the team could see even more success. With solid foundations set by the Madrid-born driver, James Vowles can look to the future with confidence.