Williams Formula 1 boss James Vowles has claimed that Carlos Sainz choosing the team in 2025 over a move to Audi or Alpine represents a “monumental” accolade.
Sainz brought an end to the protracted saga regarding his post-Ferrari prospects as he’s signed a multi-term deal to race alongside Alex Albon at Williams from 2025.
The Grove-based squad wasn’t the standalone team in the running to attain Sainz’s services as both Alpine and Sauber/Audi were in the mix right up until his decision.
Sauber was viewed as the initial leading candidate to obtain his signature as the Hinwil-based squad prepares to evolve into Audi once new regulations arrive in 2026.
But despite the German marque appointing Sainz’s ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto to head its venture, the Spaniard has opted to pledge his long-term bets on Williams.
Vowles, who won multiple titles during his time with Mercedes, counts managing to persuade Sainz to turn down Audi among the greatest achievements in the series.
“What he described as Mattia joining hasn’t changed his decision, so you can now determine what he meant by that,” Vowles told media including Motorsport Week.
“I think it’s a huge, huge event for Williams to have two of the best drivers in the world fighting in front, and I think it is very much a sign of things to come.
“The fact that we are prepared to have the investment required to be there, and a lot of it you can’t see.
“The one that you can materially see is what we’re doing by effectively putting money where it should be into the best drivers that are available to us.
“In terms of beating an OEM and one of the largest in the world, I’m incredibly proud. I said this to Carlos anyway.
“It’s one of the proudest moments of my career, and I’ve had lots of great moments in my career, and the fact he chose us above all else is a huge, huge, monumental decision.”
Williams has dropped to ninth in the championship this term with an overweight car, but Vowles is adamant that Sainz has made his choice based on the longer term.
“Then on top of that, we have to be straightforward,” he continued. “Alpine are ahead of us on points this year.
“They were on points ahead of us last year as well by the same token. I recognise all of that.
“What he’s not buying into is 25. What he’s buying into is what can we provide in the next two years and what’s the direction of travel.
“This year we’re back in ninth. Is that where I think we should be? Not if the car was on the weight limit, but that’s on our shoulders.
“No one else calls that but ourselves as we change technologies. However, the bit that I am excited by is that we’re pretty consistently 10th from ’21, ’22.
“And ’23, do I think we should have been seventh? I think we got fortunate because AlphaTauri [now RB] were very quick towards the end.
“And it was a matter of a strategic decision really decided whether we were eighth or seventh.
“We had huge tumbles of points but at very few events. What I want to produce is a car that is good everywhere with the right foundations behind it.
“As I said, and I’m quoted on it, that will cost us in the short term but pay back in the long term, and that’s the direction of travel we’re in.
“It’s monumental to beat these two organisations because they’re both incredible organisations in their own right.
“We can’t underestimate them. The moment you do, it’s the moment you lose to them in the championship.
“But what Carlos recognised from us, and much of it you won’t see and you will never see, I’m afraid, but I did expose it to him, is what we’re changing on the inside, and that’s exciting.”
