In a shocking twist at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Sky F1 pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz has unveiled that Williams team principal James Vowles turned down an interview request, leaving fans and pundits buzzing with speculation. The snub comes amid an ongoing FIA investigation into Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who was anxiously awaiting the confirmation of his P3 starting position after a nail-biting qualifying session in the rain-soaked conditions of Sin City.
Kravitz, during his popular segment “Ted’s Notebook,” revealed that Vowles declined to comment, fearing that Sainz could potentially lose his hard-earned third place on the grid. “James Vowles declined to be interviewed for our programme, saying, ‘I don’t want to be interviewed when we could have the third taken away,’” Kravitz reported. It raises eyebrows—couldn’t Vowles have navigated this precarious situation differently? After all, he could have simply stated that everything was pending on the stewards’ investigation. The silence from Vowles only fuels further intrigue surrounding the Williams team at this high-stakes event.
Fortunately for Sainz and Williams, the FIA stewards ultimately decided to take no further action, allowing Sainz to proudly occupy a spot on the front row, right behind pole-sitter Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. It was a moment of triumph for Sainz, who had to endure a nerve-wracking wait before the decision was announced.
As the rain poured down, the drivers faced unprecedented challenges on the slippery track, but Sainz thrived, showcasing his skills and securing a position that many thought was beyond reach. “It was a very good lap. I thought it was a pole-worthy lap,” Sainz reflected, exuding confidence as he recalled his performance. “When I closed the lap, I saw myself in P1, and then I realized I was the first car across the flag.”
Sainz expressed mixed feelings about the conditions: “Maybe that was not going to last very long with these two guys [Norris and Verstappen] coming behind, but it felt like a really good quali.” He acknowledged that the extreme wet conditions were where he found his rhythm, stating, “If anything, I think we were more competitive on the extreme wet in Q1 and Q2.”
Reflecting on his overall performance throughout the race weekend, Sainz admitted, “I’ve had a good feeling. It’s just been very disrupted and we’ve never been able to show ourselves or show our pace in the top of the timings.” With the potential for a dry race looming, he cast doubt on his ability to maintain his P3 position, but in the wet, Sainz and his Williams car had certainly shone.
As the tension builds heading into the race, all eyes will be on Williams, Sainz, and the enigmatic Vowles. Will they rise to the occasion, or will the pressure of the investigation overshadow their performance? The Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be a spectacular showdown, with drama at every turn!
