Sainz Secures Williams Podium as Hamilton and Ferrari Struggle in Baku

Ferrari's performance at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku was notably poor, with the team finishing only eighth and ninth, resulting in Mercedes overtaking Ferrari for second place in the Constructors' Championship and Red Bull closing the gap. Carlos Sainz, who had left Ferrari for Williams, achieved a surprising and celebrated third-place podium finish, marking Williams' first podium since 2021, while Lewis Hamilton, who replaced Sainz at Ferrari, finished eighth and continued to wait for his first podium with the team. Hamilton expressed disappointment despite some progress, citing setup issues and lack of race pace compared to leaders, and his struggles were compounded by a late-race miscue involving teammate Charles Leclerc. Sainz's podium was seen as a vindication of his move to Williams and his competitiveness among drivers adapting to new teams in 2025. The contrast between Sainz's success and Hamilton's difficulties has raised questions about Ferrari's decisions and current challenges. Despite these setbacks, Ferrari's team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged some missteps but suggested these issues are not irreversible.