Williams boss James Vowles has claimed that Carlos Sainz‘s arrival to partner Alex Albon in 2025 will witness the team possess the “best driver line-up” in Formula 1.
The Grove-based squad announced during the summer break that it had overcome Alpine and Sauber/Audi’s advances to obtain Sainz’s services on a multi-term deal.
Vowles, who disclosed that discussions with Sainz’s entourage began last December, expressed that he regards the Spaniard as the second-best driver in F1 at times.
READ MORE: James Vowles ‘surprised’ Mercedes/Red Bull overlooked Carlos Sainz F1 move
Sainz will slot in alongside incumbent Albon, who has rebuilt the reputation that took a battering at Red Bull since returning to the series with the British outfit in 2022.
Vowles has declared that Albon and Sainz’s combined qualities will see it emerge as a stronger driver pairing than even Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
“In ’25, I think we will have the best driver line-up on the grid,” Vowles said.
“I mean, Franco’s [Colapinto] doing a brilliant job. What he doesn’t have is the experience that Carlos will come with, but he’s doing an outstanding job.
“I think from the perspective of not just driving the car, but leading the team forward, we’ll have the best line-up on the grid. That will help motivate and push us forward.
“There are good developments ongoing, just as a continuation of ’24 to ’25.”
Vowles explains claim on Williams 2025 line-up
Expanding upon his assertion, Vowles highlighted how Sainz has gone up against several of the best drivers on the current roster and held his own on each occasion.
“That’s my opinion of it, and I’ll explain some of the reasons behind it to a certain extent,” he continued.
“A, they’re both performing at a very high level.
“Carlos has driven against all of the drivers you just discussed, against Lando [Norris], and was successful against Charles [Leclerc], and up and down, but he’s there or thereabouts, there’s hardly anything between those two drivers.
“Against Max [Verstappen], and in the first year in Toro Rosso [in 2015], was exceptional against him.
“So it’s not that he hasn’t been challenged along his career, he’s been challenged all the way through, and held his own.”
Sainz’s qualities will aid Williams’ ambitions
Vowles has also pointed to Sainz’s well-documented attributes outside the cockpit as an asset that will be integral in aiding Williams’ strive to return to the sharp end.
“But it’s not just that that I’m basing it on,” he continued.
“It’s not in the car, it’s out the car. In the short space of time that I’ve got to know him properly, he drives the team forward.
“He wants to spend every minute of his time that he can do to make this team more and more successful.
“And that’s a combination that is not necessarily available up and down the grid. What I mean by that is not just getting in the car, that’s not my job.
“My job is, I want this to be a successful organisation, tell me what more we can do. And that’s what I’m looking forward to, and Alex has built the same way.”
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