The Spaniard made the decision to join Williams, as reported on Monday, after being pursued by Audi-Sauber and considering other options. Initially, there were speculations that Sainz would join Red Bull, but that turned out to be incorrect. Similar reports suggesting Mercedes as a potential option also missed the mark. Ultimately, it seems that Williams is the right move, especially considering the recent changes at Audi Sauber with Mattia Binotto taking over from Andreas Seidl.
Having Sainz on board will be a significant boost for the ongoing renovation project led by Vowles at Williams. In an interview with Formula 1’s Official Website, Vowles shared that Sainz mentioned his other options during the negotiations. Sainz acknowledged the incredible competition he had, including Audi, a major global OEM that his father has won with, and a team that has won more recently than Williams. However, Sainz saw the potential in Williams and believed in their future trajectory.
Vowles expressed the importance of Sainz’s signing, describing it as a tremendous milestone for the team. When the team was shown a video of Carlos announcing the news, the reaction was overwhelming, filled with cheers, shouts, and clapping. This enthusiastic response confirmed Vowles’ belief in the decision and the team’s belief as well. However, Vowles acknowledges that now he needs to prove to Sainz, the team, and the world that they are on the right path.
While Audi was reportedly willing to offer a substantial financial package to secure Sainz, Vowles emphasized throughout the negotiations that the journey is more important than money. Vowles humorously mentioned that Sainz’s contract is likely the longest, surpassing even Lewis Hamilton’s notoriously complex contracts. He made it clear that if Sainz was only interested in short-term gains or money, it wouldn’t work for either party. This journey with Williams will be challenging but incredibly rewarding, according to Vowles.
