Williams team principal James Vowles has pulled off what could be a tenure-defining coup by signing Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard unexpectedly became available when Ferrari let him go to sign Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz’s performances arguably merited a contract extension. He was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023, and he’d finished a mere six points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
But Ferrari made one of the most ruthless driver calls in the sport’s recent history when they opted not to renew his contract. They felt they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sign a seven-time world champion.
Vowles took over at Williams in 2023, when Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant formed the driver line-up. Albon has grown in stature since he arrived at the Grove outfit but Sargeant was an unproven rookie.
The American lasted around 18 months in the seat before another youngster replaced him, this time Franco Colapinto. Colapinto showed eye-catching speed at times, but also suffered a series of accidents that could see Williams breach the cost cap.
Now Vowles has a veritable F1 A-lister who can symbolically lead his project. He wants to get Williams back on to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2012.
Claire Williams thinks Carlos Sainz will take Ferrari snub ‘personally’
Speaking on the upcoming season of Drive to Survive, former Williams boss Claire Williams offered her verdict on Sainz’s Ferrari exit. She was in charge of the team, founded by her father Sir Frank, from 2013 to 2020.
She felt ‘desperately sorry’ for Sainz after Ferrari’s brutal snub. And she fears that he’ll see it as a personal slight.
Sainz himself will look to channel it into motivation. He wants to show he has ‘what it takes’ to win a world championship, albeit while racing for a team who will begin in the midfield.
“I feel desperately sorry for Carlos,” Williams said. “I think he would’ve taken this quite personally.”
Sainz added: “My best opportunity to win a world championship would have been at Ferrari. This sport is tough. I just want to prove to everybody that I have what it takes.”
Alpine boss Flavio Briatore issued brutal Carlos Sainz verdict in latest Drive to Survive season
Sainz’s adaptation to Williams has been ‘mind-blowing’, according to Vowles. The Englishman couldn’t believe how quickly he was setting competitive lap times in the 2024 car during last year’s Abu Dhabi test.
He would have been braced for a difficult season, and while podiums are still unrealistic for Williams barring a chaotic race, testing should breed further optimism. The team showed signs that they could be fifth-quickest on their best days.
Sainz turned down Alpine to accept Vowles’ offer. There was also interest from Audi, who will take over at Sauber next year, but a dismal campaign for their predecessors damaged their image.
Flavio Briatore simply said ‘everybody makes mistakes’ when asked about Sainz’s decision in Drive to Survive. Intriguingly, Alpine and Williams could be battling for the final points places behind the top four this season.
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