Williams team principal James Vowles has confirmed that Carlos Sainz is their number one target for the 2025 F1 season. With Lewis Hamilton set to take Sainz’s place at Ferrari, speculation is heating up about Sainz’s next move.
The F1 ‘silly season’ is in full swing, and Carlos Sainz has emerged as a major player. Williams, a team that has struggled in recent seasons, is keen on bringing Sainz onboard to drive alongside Alex Albon, who recently renewed his contract with the team.
James Vowles, in a recent interview with Sky F1, didn’t hold back his admiration for Sainz. ‘Number one target is Carlos,’ he said, highlighting Sainz’s standout performances. Sainz’s 2023 Singapore victory, where he was the only non-Red Bull winner of the season, is still fresh in Vowles’ mind. Vowles also praised Sainz’s resilience following a Q2 crash at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, where Sainz almost matched his teammate Charles Leclerc in Q3.
‘He’s a race-winning driver that last year, against all odds, beat Max in Singapore with a brilliant drive and that’s not the first time,’ Vowles continued. ‘He’s intelligent in how he approaches things, logical, incredibly quick. What he did this year in Shanghai, it’s going to sound like a negative, it’s not, in qualifying he crashed and we’ve all been there to a certain extent, it’s an impressive athlete that can reset themselves, go back out and then beat your teammate in that condition. And I think that shows you just how strong he is as a driver. I think any team on the grid would be fortunate to have someone like Carlos alongside them.’
Williams, a team with a storied history but recent struggles, is looking to turn things around. The team has been more often found towards the back of the grid in recent seasons, finishing last in four of the past six campaigns. However, Vowles is optimistic about the future, mentioning that significant investments are being made to bring the team back to its former glory.
‘This isn’t the Williams of old,’ Vowles stated. ‘We are investing tens, if not hundreds of millions to make this team back to where it was in terms of success. Having Sainz on our list certainly shows you this isn’t how we performed of late. We are prepared to have a driver line-up that I think is going to be one of the best on the grid if it’s achieved.’
Vowles hinted at other exciting developments within the team, noting that several significant signings will be announced in the coming weeks. ‘There is in the background a number of really great signings that will slowly start edging out into the world over the next few weeks. But this really is a good journey. We’re now starting to see the hard work that started 12 months ago come into play. And that gives me every reason to be confident that we’re moving forward.’
As for the overall F1 driver market, Vowles expects the puzzle pieces to fall into place within the next four weeks, indicating that fans won’t have to wait long to see how things shape up.
With the F1 driver market heating up, all eyes are on where Carlos Sainz will land next season. Williams is making a strong case for themselves, backed by significant investments and a vision of returning to their glory days. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining if Williams can secure their top target and reshape their future.
