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Williams team principal James Vowles expressed surprise that both Red Bull and Mercedes passed on the opportunity to sign Carlos Sainz, who has agreed to join Williams from 2025 onwards.
Sainz has signed a multi-year contract to race for Williams after leaving Ferrari at the end of this season to make room for Lewis Hamilton. With Mercedes yet to finalize Hamilton’s replacement and ongoing uncertainty over Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull, Vowles is surprised that neither team made a move for Sainz.
“I rate him as one of the top four drivers, if not at times the number two driver on the grid,” Vowles said. “Why wouldn’t you want that in your stable?”
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“My view is that competitors are getting closer and closer, so the driver can make a significant difference, not just in performance terms. Look at Carlos and how every team he’s been with has improved significantly. Carlos is a performance machine who will push himself and the team forward,” Vowles explained.
“If you’re in Red Bull’s position with a constructors’ championship at risk, it’s a tough decision but I would have Carlos alongside Max [Verstappen]. If you’re at Mercedes, it’s a harder choice between investing in known entities or unknown ones.
“The decision to sign Sainz shows Williams’ ambition and commitment to progress,” Vowles added.
Vowles admitted he wasn’t certain the deal with Sainz would happen until he signed the contract, and mentioned there are no exit clauses allowing Sainz to move to Mercedes or Red Bull in the near future.
“There are only 10 people who know the details of the contract. Anything else you’ve read is speculation,” Vowles clarified. “Carlos wanted to make it clear that he is committed to Williams for the long term.”
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