Vowles: I needed a leader [Sainz] not just someone who is quick

Since his appointment as the Williams F1 Team Principal, Vowles has not been short on soundbites. Initially, some—including us—found it hard to take him seriously, especially when he insisted on giving Logan Sargeant far too much credit, despite the American being consistently outperformed by Alex Albon every weekend.

On the plus side, also made a bold move by expressing interest in F1's uber-designer Adrian Newey, suggesting that a full-circle career move back to Williams would make sense—regardless of what Ferrari and/or Aston Martin might offer in terms of money to the man who designed every race- and title-winning Red Bull F1 car.

It was a gutsy call from Vowles, who knows what Newey will decide? Then, Carlos Sainz entered the picture. How do you convince a soon-to-be Ferrari reject (and Melbourne winner this year) that his next best option is with the backmarker Williams team?

In an interview with F1.com, Vowles shed light for the first time on how the Sainz-to-Williams deal came about: “The first time I spent time with his family was in Abu Dhabi. We had to sneak them around the back so they could come upstairs to my office to chat [without being seen]. That was the first time I met all of them, and the first time I got to know them.

“We connected because they have family values very similar to my own—honesty, performing on track without politics, and doing the best job you can with the equipment you have. These values resonated a lot between both parties. This was in Abu Dhabi 2023, so no one knew what would happen with Carlos."

What happened next rocked the F1 world. The repercussions are still being felt after Hamilton to Ferrari was confirmed on February 1 that the seven-time F1 World Champion would leave Mercedes for Maranello in 2025. With Charles Leclerc as his teammate, Sainz was ousted. Ten more races in red remain for the Spaniard, starting with the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix.

Vowles explained: "I made sure they understood that we were serious about moving back towards the front—getting to know me was part of that. Then, the news about Lewis took us by surprise, and it caught Carlos off-guard as well. That’s when I started the normal negotiation process.

“All the way through—and it’s worth checking with Carlos as he’ll tell you the same—everything I told him about this project was the truth, including both the good bits and the bad. From start to finish, I was consistent: this is who we are, this is what we’re investing in, this is why I believe in it, and this is what the future looks like. Do you want to be part of it?"

Sainz has since signed a two-year deal to join Albon at the legendary F1 team. Williams, founded by Sir Frank Williams, has celebrated 114 Grand Prix victories and has made F1 World Champions of drivers seven times, along with winning F1 Constructors' Championships in 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997.

The team has a rich heritage and pedigree, with a collection of iconic F1 cars that dominated eras of the sport, much like Ferrari, Mercedes, and more recently, Red Bull.

This history seems to motivate and inspire Vowles: “I believe in this project; I left the comfort of Mercedes to be here for a good reason. We have a history that makes us the second-most successful team on the grid, and we have real, tangible investors who are serious about this project. We want success, and this is what success looks like.

"Fundamentally, the same couldn’t be said up and down the grid to the same level and with the same commitment. If this isn’t a sign that Williams has changed, nothing will convince you," Vowles asserted.

“I needed a leader, not just someone who is quick in the car. I wanted everything around them to be just right in order to create performance. Carlos has that. If you look at every team he’s joined, you’ll see that they ended up in a much better place than where they started.”

The Williams F1 team boss, also spoke of "more late-night events in a hotel room than I want to think about! A lot of late nights, lots of phone calls, and giving him the space to think about it before we executed. I was very public about wanting him as part of the team. You can look like a hero or a zero. I knew that from the beginning, but I wanted him to know how much he is a part of what I envision for the future of Williams.

“The way you do that is by wearing your heart on your sleeve and putting it out there for the world to see. You can get hurt, or you can experience the strongest emotional connection from something. I'd much rather he and the world know that he’s an incredible athlete—and that I know we would work well together.

“If it had gone the other way, I would still have no regrets. You have to do what it takes to get the right people in the organization. It’s hard to know what might have happened if things had gone differently, but all the work was worth it," declared Vowles.

Williams will be well served it seems, even Fred Vasseur (who would've made the call to ditch Sainz before Leclerc to make for Hamilton at Mercedes) had only good to say of Sainz: “Carlos is very consistent. There are only two races I could see that were tough for him over the last 36. He is mega-consistent; he is always there. He is very dedicated, very focused, and has a good understanding of the car.”