Carlos Sainz will officially become a Williams driver in 2025. In this context, people have raised questions. Why did Carlos pick a below-par team? What does his future hold? And a whole set of ifs and whys. At the end of the day, James Vowles has truly hit the jackpot. Moreover, they cannot undo the deal now, and who knows, maybe, Williams could regain its strength once Sainz joins! Overall, the suspense persists. Amidst the doubts and inquisitions, the team boss had set the perfect scenario for the Spaniard.

As Sainz will soon be away from Ferrari’s glory, what does a midfield team like Williams have to offer him? James Vowles was asked if he worried about Carlos’s transition since he had already won a race for the Red Squad in 2024. Moreover, there are possibilities of ‘Smooth Operator’ winning a few more races post-break. So he’s going from being a race-winning Ferrari driver to a team that currently is at the tail end. Does Vowles think that’s hard for a driver to get their head around?

James Vowles reflects on Sainz’s massive shift from glory in Ferrari to development at Williams

James Vowles discussed Carlos Sainz’s decision on the F1 Nation Podcast, explaining that his transition from the front to the back of the grid was deliberate. Vowles said, “I don’t see it as any different from the journey I’ve taken. I went from the front of the grid to the back of the grid with a purposeful decision to do so. But the reward you get from moving that forward is far greater than the odd win.” Previously Toto Wolff’s right-hand man at Mercedes, Vowles saw victory as Strategy Director and transitioned to team principal at Williams in 2023.

However, his journey with the historic team has been more tumultuous than he’d expected. James further stated: “The reward you get from moving that forward is far greater than the odd win. That’s what I would put in return, and I would suggest where Carlos is headed as well. He knows what he signed up to, he’s not a fool, but he also knows he can make a huge difference and he’s looking forward to that challenge.” Vowles believes that moving ahead and developing is more crucial than winning. Thus he wants Sainz to also believe in the same. Moreover, the current Ferrari driver is well aware of where he’s ending up in 2025 and beyond.

Knowing how tactically alert Carlos Sainz is on the track, he could do well in an average car. In addition, Alex Albon is his partner. Both drivers are capable of doing wonders Albon is currently pulling the reigns of the team. Despite a disappointing car, the Thai driver has done brilliantly so far. Meanwhile, let’s talk about how James Vowles lured the Spaniard into the squad.

What’s the secret behind Carlos Sainz’s Williams transfer?

Recently, some stories went around that suggested that James Vowles had been in contact with Sainz since 2023. The Williams’ boss would often spend time with Carlos in their spare time. However, it isn’t confirmed if the story is true. So now, while discussing the matters at hand, Vowles also revealed a few secrets behind the big transfer. He persuaded Carlos Sainz to join the team by sharing detailed weight data about the F1 2024 car. Despite the team’s poor standings, Vowles showed Sainz the car’s potential if it met weight targets.

Moreover, the boss offered insights into Williams‘ future investments in infrastructure and personnel, aimed at a breakthrough with the new F1 rules in 2026. He assured Sainz of the team’s long-term visions. James Vowles had shown his complete honesty to the Spaniard. Therefore, Vowles believes, “I think that aided him to gain confidence in who I am as an individual and what I stand for.”

Could Williams revive itself in 2025 or 2026? To be honest, their future looks a tad bit promising. However, it’ll be too early to predict; once Sainz sets himself in the car’s cockpit, the real picture will be exposed. Whether James Vowles’ strategies will be a hit or a miss is a question for the future. Until then, share your takes on this in the comments.