Carlos Sainz Sr says he never thought Williams podium was possible as son proves him wrong

Carlos Sainz Sr has praised his son after he scored his first podium with Williams at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This comes as the driver was competing at the Rally of Portugal at the Grândola bivouac. 

The four-time Dakar winner said his maiden podium in Williams blue was a product of hard work, not luck. 

“We're very happy; it's a great result. He's worked hard for it, and after a bad run, the sun always comes out a little,” Sainz Sr told Marca, adding that he couldn't be at the Baku race as he prepared for Portugal.

He continued: “This time it was a podium with Williams, which is an excellent result, especially because it wasn't due to yellow flags, a safety car, rain, or a bad tyre choice."

Starting on the front row, the Spaniard managed to convert his qualifying performance into a podium on the Baku City Circuit. Finishing third behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' George Russell, Sainz outdrove his machinery, giving Williams its first podium since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, and the first for James Vowles since he joined the squad in 2023. 

"A podium with Williams is a very special achievement. I think it must be very special for him because I don't think he was going to be able to achieve a result like that, and in the end, it worked out,” he said.

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Photo by: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / Getty Images

The two shared a conversation after the Azerbaijan campaign, with the elder Sainz adding that his son now looks to the future, with his eyes solidly focused on his next podium.

“He and I talked about it yesterday. Now he has to move on, keep chipping away, and think about the next step.

“We'll try to have a good end to the season, keep learning, keep motivating and working as a team with Williams, and hope that next year they have a good car with all the regulation changes.”