Carlos Sainz says his Williams career represents "my life project" as he underlined why helping them eventually return to race-winning ways was so important for him after his first podium finish for them in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Spaniard's difficult first season of results at Williams was transformed by claiming the team's first podium finish since 2021, and just the second in the last eight years, with a strong drive to third place in Baku after qualifying on the front row.

It was also comfortably Sainz's best result since joining at the start of the year after being let go by Ferrari, who brought in Lewis Hamilton to replace him, after he turned down rival offers from midfield rivals to join the James Vowles-led team.

"For me, the vindication is not so much towards moving to

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