Sports
Carlos Sainz’s Move to Williams Over Audi: A Sign of Turmoil and Lack of Confidence in the German Team’s F1 Project
Carlos Sainz's choice to turn down Audi seen as "a lack of faith"
"It appears to be a lack of faith in Sauber/Audi, especially considering the familial ties between Sainz and Carlos Sainz Senior…"
Carlos Sainz's choice to bypass Audi and sign with Williams for the 2025 Formula 1 season is being viewed as a lack of faith in the German team's initiative.
Sainz was faced with options including Williams, Audi, and Alpine for the upcoming season, ultimately choosing the team based in Grove.
Choosing between Audi and Alpine, both of which hold works status and have more resources compared to Williams, was a significant decision for Sainz.
Under the guidance of James Vowles, Williams seems to be progressing positively.
Alpine is experiencing turmoil due to their annual management reshuffles, coupled with the probable transition to a client-based team structure.
Audi has recently undergone significant shifts in its management structure, while Sauber's performance in races has been notably poor in 2024.
On the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Craig Slater expressed his view that this signals the "chaos" within Audi.
He believes it was essentially a lack of trust in Sauber/Audi, especially considering the familial ties between Sainz and his father, Carlos Sainz Senior, who achieved Dakar victories with Audi and the Volkswagen Group.
His decision to step back from what appeared to be the most natural path for him indicates that something is amiss in that situation.
"I had a conversation with an individual who possesses an insightful perspective on the current happenings within that team."
"He hasn't revealed any groundbreaking information, but he characterized the situation to me as chaotic and noted that currently, this team struggles with even basic tasks like fitting a wheel on a car. Therefore, the disorder at the leadership level mirrors the significant issues they're facing right now."
Slater is of the opinion that the rumors of unrest would likely deter Sainz, especially considering the difficulties Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have faced this season.
"They also conveyed to me the idea that they had not fully appreciated Audi's capabilities, and it seems this isn't the first instance of a manufacturer realizing too late how challenging it is to achieve success in Formula One within the tight timelines they are dealing with," he elaborated.
"Therefore, I believe all these factors have discouraged Sainz. He probably fears that if he moves there, he'll find himself in a similar predicament to what Bottas and Zhou are currently facing, with little improvement expected next year, and it's uncertain what the future holds beyond that as well."
"In my opinion, he has selected the optimal choice given his circumstances. Indeed, considering how rational, sensible, and pragmatic Sainz is, it's unfortunate to see him in such a predicament, which is somewhat baffling to me."
"However, each decision he made regarding his driving seemed logical in the moment, though ultimately, they didn't all yield the desired results. I believe he will meet James Vowles's gaze and be persuaded by him."
"He possesses a clear understanding of his actions and objectives at Williams, which are logical, despite the necessary compromises. This clarity seems absent in other teams."
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