Sainz to Williams

Sainz to Williams

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Discussion

Derek Smith

Original Poster:

46,559 posts

256 months

Monday 29th July
quotequote all
I can see the attraction of Sainz for the team, but I hope he had other offers, and is going there for positive reasons rather than the only option he has. Now we'll see how good Albon is, and how good Sainz is.

Jasandjules

70,545 posts

237 months

Monday 29th July
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Hmm oddly I thought he said in the Press Conference the other day the only team he wanted was a Championship winning one...

TikTak

1,864 posts

27 months

Monday 29th July
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Derek Smith said:
I hope he had other offers, and is going there for positive reasons rather than the only option he has
I hope he did too but I feel like he didn't ...

CoolHands

19,538 posts

203 months

Monday 29th July
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End of career

Heathwood

2,803 posts

210 months

Monday 29th July
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Well, if he did turn down a contract with Merc, even if it was for just a single year, then I think he’s a fool.

C5_Steve

4,936 posts

111 months

Monday 29th July
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I think Williams is in a great place now with the talent and leadership they have. I've a lot of time for Vowles and I find his honesty and openness refreshing in the paddock.

Do I see them winning races next year? No, but I can see their on a path to hopefully get back there soon. Don't think it'll be with Sainz there though, I read somewhere he's taking a 1-year contract so he can jump out if a better seat opens up elsewhere.

InformationSuperHighway

6,493 posts

192 months

Monday 29th July
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What a disappointing step down in his career.

CLC should be the one leaving Ferrari and finding a spot at a lower team IMO.

Wasted talent. I only hope that he can step back up in the future.


silentbrown

9,384 posts

124 months

Monday 29th July
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Jasandjules said:
Hmm oddly I thought he said in the Press Conference the other day the only team he wanted was a Championship winning one...
Well, they've won more Constructor's championships than anyone except Ferrari.

Jasandjules

70,545 posts

237 months

Monday 29th July
quotequote all
silentbrown said:
Jasandjules said:
Hmm oddly I thought he said in the Press Conference the other day the only team he wanted was a Championship winning one...
Well, they've won more Constructor's championships than anyone except Ferrari.
Yes and next year they are in with a real shout... Oh, wait.

I suppose if he managed to make suggestions etc to get them into a mid level team (although Albon makes it look like they are) then fair enough, but I can't see how Volwes doesn't already know enough to do that.

thegreenhell

17,386 posts

227 months

Monday 29th July
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It was the least worst option available to him. If only the three bottom teams were open to him then it's easy to see why he made this choice over the others. Both Alpine and Sauber are in a state of managerial and technical flux, and both have complete unknown engines for 2026; Audi because it's their first ever attempt at an F1 engine and Alpine because nobody knows which engine they'll have.

Williams was the only clear path forwards. He can't afford to spend next year at the back in a Sauber, and then another 3-5 years waiting for Audi to sort themselves out to maybe become competitive. Who knows if Alpine will even still be Alpine in two years time, or will be sold to another VC like the last time Renault bottled out.

HighwayStar

4,501 posts

152 months

Monday 29th July
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
silentbrown said:
Jasandjules said:
Hmm oddly I thought he said in the Press Conference the other day the only team he wanted was a Championship winning one...
Well, they've won more Constructor's championships than anyone except Ferrari.
Yes and next year they are in with a real shout... Oh, wait.

I suppose if he managed to make suggestions etc to get them into a mid level team (although Albon makes it look like they are) then fair enough, but I can't see how Volwes doesn't already know enough to do that.
Who knows how it will go for Carlos at Williams but Vowles knows how a winning F1 teams and what needs to be in place for a chance for that to happen. He has experienced talent from front running teams. C
Carlos know the plan. The project. He isn’t going to be expecting to be mixing it with McLaren and RedBull next year but Vowles would’ve set out their long term goals and the plan to get there. Sainz senior is no mug and would’ve been in their advising junior based on the various options/offers he had on the table.
Williams clearly now have the budget to take a driver of Carlos’s caliber.
A piece re the engineer Williams have signed, some have joined this month, 1 after the summer break and the other in 2025.
https://www.f1technical.net/news/24869

hondajack85

307 posts

7 months

Monday 29th July
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Remember when williams hired Paddy Lowe? That was off the back of being a part of the mercedes success.
Can only assume they didn't have the capability to adapt to the mercedes ways as they made a car with all sorts of bells and whistles (according to the excited pundits and press) that didn't work.
As that was quite a few years ago you hope a lot of the work has been done and continued by Vowels.
I guess Sainz looked at the stopwatch compared to current Ferrari efforts and the fact Sauber still has no points.

HighwayStar

4,501 posts

152 months

Monday 29th July
quotequote all
hondajack85 said:
Remember when williams hired Paddy Lowe? That was off the back of being a part of the mercedes success.
Can only assume they didn't have the capability to adapt to the mercedes ways as they made a car with all sorts of bells and whistles (according to the excited pundits and press) that didn't work.
As that was quite a few years ago you hope a lot of the work has been done and continued by Vowels.
I guess Sainz looked at the stopwatch compared to current Ferrari efforts and the fact Sauber still has no points.
Ok. Williams should just shut up shop.
Mercedes got it wrong for 2.5yrs but are bouncing back. With any successful team and being successful, it’s about the right people. Let’s see.

Castellet

218 posts

26 months

Monday 29th July
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I’m sure we’d all like to see Williams return to their winning ways, and James Vowles has spoken about their huge ambition.

And the Sainz/Albon driver pairing would be a positive component in that process.

Bit like when Blackburn Rovers, then in Division 2, signed Alan Shearer from under Man Utd’s nose - and went on to win the Premiership.


MitchT

16,275 posts

217 months

Monday 29th July
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There's a seat at a resurgent Mercedes and he goes to Williams. What am I missing?

kambites

68,524 posts

229 months

Monday 29th July
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MitchT said:
There's a seat at a resurgent Mercedes and he goes to Williams. What am I missing?
I suspect Mercedes wouldn't have offered him more than a one-year deal because they're fixated on Antonelli and Sainz didn't want to just kick the can one more year down the road.

epom

12,490 posts

169 months

Monday 29th July
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Good for him, sure not as prestigious as the Ferrari but it’s not like he was mopping up race wins in Red.

RUI488

670 posts

21 months

Monday 29th July
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Great choice, IMO.
If Mercedes weren’t going to offer him a multi-year then Williams was the best of the rest.
I’m sure Vowles would have been more than a little bit persuasive as well.

Muzzer79

11,128 posts

195 months

Monday 29th July
quotequote all
MitchT said:
There's a seat at a resurgent Mercedes and he goes to Williams. What am I missing?
1 year deal at Mercedes apparently.

If they get Verstappen for ‘26 or Antonelli smashes it in ‘25 wherever he is then Sainz is out on his ear again.

LM240

4,887 posts

226 months

Monday 29th July
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That’s a pretty depressing career move. Still in F1, but he surely can’t be jumping up and down. Unlikely for wins and even less likely for a title.

Think I’d have taken a year at Mercedes or gambled on being part of Audi set up.