Why long Sainz courtship was only one factor in eventual Williams union
It took him long enough – but, over the summer, Carlos Sainz confirmed a long-term deal with Williams. Why did the doors to Mercedes and Red Bull remain closed? And, asks STUART CODLING why did Sainz choose Williams over a more recent winning team and one with the vast resources of the Volkswagen Group behind it?
“One of the top four drivers, if not at times the number two driver on the grid.”
While you might have to tip your head to one side and gently stroke your chin while parsing the somewhat curious phrasing of this sentence, you can see what Williams team principal James Vowles is getting at, why he views the signing of Carlos Sainz as such a significant step for his team – and why he remains surprised none of the leading outfits beat him to Carlos’s signature.
And while Sainz himself might, like any self-respecting racing driver, cavil at this definition of his status oscillating between points four and two without ever hitting the peak, it’s not inaccurate.
Share Or Save This Story
How F1’s most famous engine unlocked the potential of Brabham's forgotten gem
The detail focus that will make Audi’s Red Bull hire a hit team boss
The Russell traits that will ease his adaption to becoming Mercedes team leader
Can Alpine’s latest regime change shift its course?
How F1’s tech war has transformed in 2024
The apparently humble F1 component with remarkable attributes
The statistical F1 anomaly Verstappen will seek to remedy in Singapore
The hard-to-shift narratives Mercedes needs Antonelli's next steps to dispel
How F1’s most famous engine unlocked the potential of Brabham's forgotten gem
How a faulty steering wheel created a tense IMSA title showdown
Consistency Neuville’s first focus as maiden WRC title looms at CER
McLaren adds T-Mobile deal to network of partnerships
How F1’s most famous engine unlocked the potential of Brabham's forgotten gem
The detail focus that will make Audi’s Red Bull hire a hit team boss
The Russell traits that will ease his adaption to becoming Mercedes team leader
How McLaren went from back to front in 18 months
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
