Williams address worry of Carlos Sainz moving from front to back of grid | F1

Carlos Sainz will swap the group who sit second within the constructors’ championship for the ninth-placed group in 2025.

It’s a main achievement for Williams to persuade the outgoing Ferrari driver to return their approach subsequent yr.

His dedication to their long-term challenge might imply giving up grand prix wins that he has turn out to be accustomed to within the shorter time period.

F1 Nation podcast host Tom Clarkson addressed that fear with Williams group principal James Vowles.

Clarkson requested: “Do you may have any issues 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 yr.

“So he’s going from being a race-winning Ferrari driver to a group that’s on the tail-end.

“Do you suppose that’s arduous 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 totally different to the journey that I’ve taken.

“I went from the entrance of the grid to the again of the grid. A purposeful resolution to take action.

“However the rewards you get, transferring the group ahead, is much better 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 yr, and ultimately picked them forward of Sauber and Alpine.

Vowles stated: “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 degree of element with, and it was Carlos.

“That doesn’t imply I wasn’t speaking to different drivers. I used to be. And, at totally different factors. Nevertheless it was light-weight in comparison with the dialogue with Carlos.

“In ‘23 it was ‘right here’s who I’m, what I stand for, because of this I imagine within the challenge, 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 stated. “Carlos has overwhelmed Lando, Charles, at occasions Max.

“I bear in mind Toro Rosso pondering ‘Max is fast however don’t underestimate the opposite chap’.

“It began there. When he’s in the best state of mind – within the second yr at McLaren, how his efficiency developed…

“When comfy he’s bloody fast! We didn’t understand how 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 associate Alex Albon for the subsequent two years not less than.