Carlos Sainz will swap the staff who sit second within the constructors’ championship for the ninth-placed staff in 2025.
It’s a main achievement for Williams to persuade the outgoing Ferrari driver to return their manner subsequent 12 months.
His dedication to their long-term venture might imply giving up grand prix wins that he has develop into accustomed to within the shorter time period.
F1 Nation podcast host Tom Clarkson addressed that fear with Williams staff principal James Vowles.
Clarkson requested: “Do you may have any considerations that will probably be a troublesome transition for Carlos? He’s already gained a race for Ferrari, he may win one other within the second half of the 12 months.
“So he’s going from being a race-winning Ferrari driver to a staff that’s on the tail-end.
“Do you assume that’s exhausting for a driver to get their head round?”
Ex-Mercedes chief Vowles admitted: “You’ve summarised why the choice took so lengthy. Sure.
“However I don’t see it as any completely different to the journey that I’ve taken.
“I went from the entrance of the grid to the again of the grid. A purposeful choice to take action.
“However the rewards you get, transferring the staff ahead, is way higher than the odd win.
“That’s the place I recommend Carlos’ head is at.
“He is aware of what he’s signed as much as. He’s not a idiot.”
Sainz has been in discussions with Williams since late final 12 months, and ultimately picked them forward of Sauber and Alpine.
Vowles mentioned: “The primary time I met his household was in Abu Dhabi in 2023. He was signed with Ferrari.
“There was just one driver I’d dug into this stage of element with, and it was Carlos.
“That doesn’t imply I wasn’t speaking to different drivers. I used to be. And, at completely different factors. But it surely was light-weight in comparison with the dialogue with Carlos.
“In ‘23 it was ‘right here’s who I’m, what I stand for, for this reason I imagine within the venture, I ask you to noticeably take into account it’.”
However Vowles has admired Sainz for a few years.
“I had an eye fixed on him beforehand,” he mentioned. “Carlos has overwhelmed Lando, Charles, at instances Max.
“I keep in mind Toro Rosso pondering ‘Max is fast however don’t underestimate the opposite chap’.
“It began there. When he’s in the fitting state of mind – within the second 12 months at McLaren, how his efficiency advanced…
“When snug he’s bloody fast! We didn’t know the way fast Lando was, on the time. However I knew how fast George was, it inter-links.”
Lastly, Williams have gotten their man.
Sainz has signed on to companion Alex Albon for the following two years at the least.
