Williams Formula 1 boss James Vowles has revealed how the values shared among Carlos Sainz’s entourage was an element which made him the team’s top target.
The Grove-based squad announced earlier this week that it has secured a huge coup with Sainz to move to the team once his current contract with Ferrari concludes.
Williams managed to pip both Alpine and the Sauber/Audi venture to Sainz’s coveted services in a deal which Vowles has described as a “monumental” achievement.
Vowles has been open that Sainz’s relentless strive to be competitive was an instrumental part in his desire to sign the three-time F1 race victor alongside Alex Albon.
However, Vowles has also documented that his discussions with Sainz’s father, Carlos Sr, and his cousin/manager, Carlos Oñoro, convinced him it was the right move.
“If you’re going to go for an individual who’s going to make the difference, I’m not just focused on how quick he is in the car,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“I’m focused on how he is as a personality. By the way, this also includes how his entourage is. That includes Caco, his manager, and Carlos, his father.
“His father is as performance-driven as Junior. He’s an incredible character. The three of them together come as a package. And that’s what we need here in Williams.
“I think the fit is absolutely perfect. And it’s the exact words I told them from the very beginning to the very end of this journey.”
Vowles, who divulged that conversations with Sainz’s camp began last December, has disclosed that meetings even extended to taking place within his hotel rooms.
The Briton has detailed that his blueprint during those talks was to sell his long-term vision at Williams rather than capitalise on the upheaval at Sainz’s other options.
“Actually, he’s been very consistent on his messaging from the beginning. I’ve really loved this process,” he beamed.
“I wish we could have sort of documented it and had a little camera and you would have seen it. It was great.
“He and I have spent some evenings in various hotel locations, including his room, where we’ve had some of the best chats I’ve had because he’s just this fiery, performance-filled entity.
“It’s just brilliant. I wish you could be a fly on the wall to observe it.
“And he’s been pretty consistent in his messaging back, which is here is all the positives that you can’t see because you wear a Williams shirt of all of these other entities.
“And my job back in return is to say here are the positives of Williams and here’s the difference. I’ve never changed on what those positives are.
“And I’ve done it in a way that is not putting down other entities. I don’t believe that’s correct or right to do so.
“What he’s been doing in time is seeing how some of those positive strands maybe don’t exist elsewhere. That’s probably the best way I can put it to you.”
