Williams boss James Vowles has highlighted Carlos Sainz’s attitude to “leaving no stone unturned” as a trait that will be vital to aiding the team’s progression in Formula 1.
Sainz is starting a new venture with Williams in 2025 amid Ferrari’s decision to acquire seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton resigning him to vacating his previous drive.
The Spaniard has arrived with Williams having endured a tumultuous campaign last time around as several setbacks saw it drop to ninth in the Constructors’ Championship.
But the Grove-based squad is undergoing a rebuild under Vowles’ watch that he hopes will culminate in a return to the sharp end under the revamped rules coming in 2026.
Vowles regarded beating Alpine and Sauber/Audi to Sainz, a driver with five F1 race wins to his name and experience operating in a leading side’s environment, as a vast coup.
According to Vowles, Sainz’s renowned attention to detail will be an attribute that helps Williams to unlock the gains that are crucial to extracting the last tenths on track.
“He’s fitting in perfectly,” Vowles said at the Autosport Awards.
“He’s a brilliant personality who brings not just race-winning pedigree, but this want and desire for Williams to be successful.
“I was with him and Alex [Albon] for three, four hours just talking through plans for the year.
“And his contributions are absolutely key for driving this team forward because it’s now into a level of detail where you’re starting to chase milliseconds as opposed to the big ticket items we were before.”
Sainz ‘brings success’ to F1 teams
Vowles believes that asset, coupled with his relentless work ethic, has held a pivotal role in Sainz’s past teams all experiencing an upturn during his stints elsewhere.
“He also doesn’t leave a stone unturned,” he added. “You look at all the teams he’s been to and where they’ve ended up. It’s not a coincidence.
“He’s a hard worker, a diligent worker that with him brings success, and he wants us to be successful.”
Sainz bringing ‘positive momentum’ to Williams
Ferrari agreeing to release Sainz prior to his contract coming to an end enabled him to make his debut in a Williams car, the 2024 FW46, at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
Vowles divulged how that initial outing and his recent trips to Grove have seen Sainz provide his own detailed thoughts about where Williams can improve in the short term.
“He’s relishing it,” he beamed. “You can see from the moment he jumped in the car in Abu Dhabi. His mind switched.
“This is where he wants to be. This is what he wants to do. He’s part of our success story.”
“And already in the shape or in the space of just a few weeks, real positive momentum from ideas, concepts, how we can change, how we can move forward is coming.”
READ MORE – Carlos Sainz provides cautious stance over initial Williams F1 prospects
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