Carlos Sainz: Toto Wolff’s Kimi Antonelli Confession Encourages Spaniard to Make ”Easy” James Vowles Decision

Remember how Kimi Antonelli was being linked to the Williams drive a few races ago after the team asked FIA for special permission to let the 17-year-old drive? The table seems to have turned as James Vowles makes a confession about Carlos Sainz and Toto Wolff about Kimi Antonelli. But what decision did James Vowles make?

Ever since Lewis Hamilton announced his Ferrari move, Carlos Sainz has been looking for a seat. Given the recent form of the Spaniard, he was one of the hottest drivers on the market, being linked to the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull. As Red Bull announced Sergio Perez’s extension, Mercedes was the real front-runner option left for Sainz but that seems to have gone away.

Toto Wolff recently talked about how Mercedes is focusing on Kimi Antonelli to be Lewis Hamilton’s replacement. The young Italian has taken multiple tests with Mercedes driving the 2021 and 2022 cars. Speaking with the media, Toto Wolff said, “We just want to focus on Kimi, this is our future, the young drivers.” With the Mercedes option seemingly gone, this leaves Sainz with realistically two choices, the Sauber seat that’ll become Audi or the Williams seat. 

Amid all this, James Vowles came out to make a fiesty statement confirming that Carlos Sainz will be his choice and that it is now up to the Spaniard to make the decision. James Vowles, before the FP1 session in Canada was heard on the F1TV as he said, “The world is changing and someone like Carlos would feature very highly in that regard, in terms of the grand picture of where we are.”

He further explained how Williams is on the rise and how it should be an easy decision for Sainz to join. He added, “Of course, the difference is he has the choice of whether he wants to come here or not, and that’s his to make. I think he can see all the strengths. I think it’s easy for me to say because I’m Williams and I wear the shirt, but I think it’s an easy decision to come here. But it has to be his to make.”

James Vowles even suggested that many senior personnel known well in the F1 paddock will be soon joining the team.

James Vowles Announce “30 Incredible People” to Join Williams from Competitors 

Williams tumbled down the performance ladder in the 2000s after being reckoned as a leader in the 90s. However, the revival started as Dorilton Capital bought the ownership of the team and started investing in it. Soon James Vowles was also brought in as the Team Principal who is now leading the revolution with the aim of getting back to the front.

James Vowles revealed Williams’ intention to get back to the front as he said, “We want the world to realize that we’re here and we’re serious.” The 44-year-old also explained that Williams was investing all it takes to be back on top, including one of the best power units “if not the best,” by 2026.

They also seem to be expanding as Vowles reveals. “…there’s around 30 incredible people from other teams joining our organization that we’ve been gathering across the last 12 months.” The announcement regarding the upscaling is to be made sometime soon.

What do you make of the project undertaken by James Vowles?