Williams Formula 1 boss James Vowles believes the “odds are in our favour” regarding its chances at persuading top target Carlos Sainz to choose the team in 2025.
Sainz has emerged as the dominant name in the F1 driver market since it was announced before the season that Lewis Hamilton will replace him at Ferrari next term.
The Spaniard, who has ruled out a sabbatical despite a move to a top team dissipating, is known to be mulling over proposals from Alpine, Sauber/Audi and Williams.
Speaking to media including Motorsport Week, Vowles has reiterated his stance that the outgoing Ferrari driver remains his number one choice to partner Alex Albon.
“I’m open-minded, but I want excellence within the team, I want great swinging performance within the team,” Vowles explained.
“I want individuals that are leaders in other words they’ve established them in their way here.
“So out of all of those the top of the list, I’ve said it from the start I’ll maintain it here now as well is Carlos.
“He’s not listening to this I don’t think anyway, but he is in adversity.
“Last year won a race and he did it in a pretty intelligent way against some of the best individuals, that includes Lando [Norris] and Charles [Leclerc], he beats them in circumstance.
“I know he had a pretty poor qualifying yesterday but look at Q1 and Q2 he’s there or thereabouts he brings excellence along with him.
“I’ve said it once and I keep saying it, that is where my heart is set and let’s see if the journeys collide.”
Vowles has disclosed that he has been holding late-night discussions with Sainz as he tries to convince him that Williams is the best long-term fit among his options.
The Briton is convinced that the building blocks the Grove-based squad is putting in place to return to the top stands it out as the most attractive proposition available.
“It’s interesting conversations he and I have had pretty late into a few nights and we presented from both sides,” he divulged.
“My perspective is this: I know we’re a William shirt, but I believe so much in what we’re doing.
“That’s why I left Mercedes to come here that’s why I’m talking to all of you with the amount of passion I have.
“I believe in everything you’re doing here and I’m in it day to day and I can see the changes day to day.
“If I gave you a handful of individuals from our team and said talk to them about how it was 12 months ago, talk to them about how it is today, and what’s going to be there in 12 months, positive stories would just flow out and that’s why I’m positive towards it with Carlos.
“He can’t see much of it. What he looks at is what you can see externally, ‘Where are you? Where do you qualify? Why do you have a bad race here? What’s going on here?’
“He has one of the largest OEMs in the world chasing him [in Audi]. That’s hard to turn down an OEM that his father has won with.
“At the same time he has a team [Alpine] that has let’s be clear about it, historically beaten us fundamentally and again that becomes hard to turn down.
“They won races not that long ago or won a race [2021 Hungarian GP] not that long ago that might have been also my doing!”
Despite suggestions that Williams could look to move on amid Sainz’s indecision, Vowles has clarified that he can understand the reason behind the protracted wait.
“But irrespective I can see that perspective in place,” he continued. “Here’s what he told me which actually resonated the most: the reason why I’m doing this is when I commit I need to commit with all my heart and all my soul 100% and to do that means I can’t have any doubts and that’s why it’s taking the time and that resonated with me.”
Asked how optimistic he is that Sainz will pick Williams, Vowles replied: “I think the odds are in our favour, but I’ve been stunned by this already this year, so let’s see.”
Vowles has admitted Williams is striving to finalise its 2025 line-up over the next week amid Sainz’s entourage being spotted in the Williams motorhome in Belgium.
Pressed on whether he expects an announcement to come prior to the shutdown, he added: “Tentatively, yes. I think I’ve already said before, going into summer break.
“And I think there’s a line in the sand that I’ve created and I hope it’s one that we remain within, so yes.”
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