Lando Norris believes former McLaren team-mate Carlos Sainz will be back fighting at the front of the Formula One grid in the near future. (More Motorsport News)
Sainz saw his time with Ferrari come to an end last season after it was announced he would be replaced by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilℱton ahead of the 2025 campaign.
During his time with the Scuderia, the Spaniard won four races, two of which came last sea𒀰son, 🉐along with securing 25 podium finishes.
It was confirmed in July that Sainz would link up wit🐻h Alex Albon at Williams for the 2025 season, a move that surprised many within the sport but showed the ambition of the British-based team.
Norriﷺs, however, was left in no doubt that the Spaniard would help his new squad progress back to the front of the grid.&ꦇnbsp;
"Carlos is someone I know well, and I've started racing in Formula 1 wiℱth🐽 Carlos," Norris said.
"You always knew he was going to be there, and he was always going to put up a good fight. He'll be back. 𝓰Williams have been impr🔜oving a lot.
&꧃quot;They've not had someone with a lot of genuine experience from a top team. Carlos will for sure add to that and propel the team forwards even more."
Sainz had been tipped for a potential seat at Red Bull amid uncertainty around Sergio 🐼Perez's future, which has since seen the Mexican replaced by Liam Lawson.
Though that didn't transpire, it's Sainz's work ethic, in addition to his on-track performances, that, for Norris, means he de𝕴serves to be fighting at the front of the field.
"2026 is a year whe🌱n anything can happen," Norris said, alluding to the upcoming regulations changes coming into play then.
"W🍎illiams can be at the top all of a sudden. So, we'll wait and see.
"But it's a shame because I think he [Sainz] has 💮proven himself enough in Formula 1 that he deserves a good seat.
"𓂃He deserves to fight for championships and wins, and those types of things, and it's a shame when thꦺat opportunity is lost.
"But it's not because he's not got talent, or he's not got the ability, right? It's because it's the biggest name in Formula 1 wh⛦o wants his seat [at Ferrari].
"And yeah, w♊e'll see in the future what it takes – we’ll see how Lewis does in Ferrari with Charles and against Charles.
"But ♓[Carlos] has proven himself enough, so I don't think anyone needs to doubt him. And I'm sure his time will come back again, and he'll help Williams fight back to the top."
The first race of the 2025 takes place on Mar🉐ch 16 at the Australian Gra𝐆nd Prix, a track that Sainz won at with Ferrari at the start of last season.
