Williams boss James Vowles has issued confidence in Carlos Sainz remaining with the team, despite admitting “he has the ability to go” and seek alternative career paths.
The Spaniard’s journey with the Grove-based squad kicked off with an unexpected success, taking two podiums finishes, as well as a top-three result in one Sprint.
Sainz’s efforts, combined with those of teammate Alex Albon, took the mightily impressive FW47 car to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
The result was Williams’ best in many seasons, and appeared to set it up for a trajectory of further progress, but its interpretations of the new regulations has put a dampener on that.
Its successor, the FW48, was found to be overweight before pre-season testing, and with accompanying problems with its Mercedes PU, the team has been scrabbling for points.
With just 11 on the board heading into this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix – Round 10 – there isn’t a whole lot to smile about for the team, with Sainz alleged to be keeping his options open, with Motorsport Week reporting that he is considering Audi as an option – the team he rejected in favour of Williams.
But ahead of the previous round in Britain, Vowles addressed Sainz’s willingness to be in a competitive team and competitive car, saying he and the 31-year-old are “aligned” on their joint aims.
“He and I talk, not daily, but probably every two days, and I think I’m right in saying he came out and said, ‘This is where he wants to be, this is where he wants his career to be’,” he said. “So he and I are aligned on it.
“Is he frustrated by where we are today? Yes. Being candid, I’m frustrated as well, at the same time.”
Carlos Sainz ‘wants his DNA’ at Williams
Vowles continued that Sainz is free to find another option, but issued confidence that he would stay, believing Sainz wants “his DNA” implemented into the team’s future.
“What he’s looking for, ‘Do you have the ability to put this in the right perspective, turn it around, add performance at the right rate?’ he said. “That’s what we have to demonstrate to him. I’m confident we’ll be able to do this.
“He has the ability to go, not anywhere necessarily on the grid, but to a number of other locations. He wants this to be his, because he wants to put his DNA into it, the same way I do as well, and make it his own.
“My job in this is just to demonstrate to him some basic elements, which we’re nearly there on.”
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