Williams: An Easy Decision for Sainz to Come
Carlos Sainz, who was previously linked to Red Bull and Mercedes, now finds himself choosing between the Audi project and Williams. The Spaniard, set to leave Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton, was seen as a potential successor to the Briton at Mercedes. However, the German team seems to be placing their trust in Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2025. On the other hand, Red Bull has decided to retain Sergio Pérez for the next two seasons after a shaky start to the 2024 campaign.
Sainz’s connections with Audi have been well-known among F1 followers, especially due to his father’s involvement with the brand in recent years in rally-raid events. The uncertainty surrounding the Audi project, set to fully materialize in 2026, has led Sainz to seek a one-year deal with an option to leave at the end of 2025 if a seat opens up in a top team.
In this scenario, Williams is aiming to secure a driver with Grand Prix victories under his belt, hoping that Sainz, alongside Alexander Albon, will aid in their continued climb up the grid. James Vowles, the director of the Grove-based team, expressed his desire to recruit Sainz during an interview with Sky Sports in Montreal.
“Why should Sainz choose Williams? Let’s answer that question. There’s a reason I’m here. Williams is not the same team as it was three years ago. The fact that we even spoke to Carlos shows that we have changed our approach. We want two world-class drivers to be part of our team in the future. We want the world to see that we are here and we are very serious. We are investing what it takes to return to the front,” Vowles explained.
“In 2026, we will have one of the best power units, if not the best, for our car. We will announce it soon, hopefully, but around thirty incredible people from other teams have joined us over the past 12 months. The world is changing. And someone like Carlos would be a very important element in this regard, in terms of the overall situation we find ourselves in. Of course, the difference is that he has the choice to come here or not. And it’s up to him to decide.”
When asked if he feels he has convinced the Ferrari driver to take a chance on Williams, Vowles admitted, “It’s hard to say. I think he sees all the strengths. I think it’s easy for me to say because I’m at Williams and wearing this polo, but I think it’s an easy decision to come to us. But it’s up to him to make that decision.”
With contributions from Sam Hall and Oleg Karpov.