EXCLUSIVE: Inside Williams’ Decision to Sign Carlos Sainz – Criteria and Insights from Team Boss James Vowles

EXCLUSIVE: Williams discloses the factors behind selecting Carlos Sainz.

Williams chief shared with Crash.net's Lewis Larkam the qualities he sought in a new driver.

James Vowles revealed exclusively to us the qualities he was looking for in a new driver, just days before announcing Carlos Sainz's signing with Williams.

Ferrari's Sainz has signed a multi-year contract with Williams, emerging victorious in a competitive pursuit for him that also involved Sauber and Alpine.

Carlos Sainz is set to team up with Alex Albon, forming a promising pair for Williams in the 2025 season.

Prior to the official announcement, Vowels shared with us the qualities he sought in the driver market, which featured Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou.

"Primarily, I require two drivers who challenge each other to the utmost," Vowles revealed exclusively to Crash.net during the Hungarian Grand Prix last week.

"It's not a scenario where one person leads and the other simply follows. Both are actively driving and pushing boundaries, which essentially doubles the learning and preparation efforts."

The person must have faith in Williams and its future trajectory. It's crucial to me that they are dedicated to finding every fraction of a second in performance.

"The drivers in your organization are also its leaders. Sometimes, a few words from them can have a greater impact than if I spoke for an entire hour. It's crucial that they are in sync with our initiatives and embrace their responsibilities."

"Results naturally align with this. However, the third and fourth aspects emphasize the importance of actively improving the product. It's not merely about utilizing it and voicing complaints. Instead, the focus should be on asking, 'How can I contribute to enhancing this?' That's the attitude I'm seeking."

Although raw performance is always a key measure when selecting a driver, Vowles emphasized that personality and conduct are also significant considerations.

"Nearly all of my actions are guided by data in one way or another," he explained. "I apply statistics to almost everything—how they perform in qualifiers, their race performance, their defensive skills, and their offensive capabilities."

"How do they respond externally when situations take a turn for the worse? Is their reaction positive or negative? Do they support the team or distance themselves from it? Have I observed that the team generally progresses or regresses when they are involved?"

"There are various factors involved, including the driver's character on that route. How do they respond under pressure? Do they seek out challenges, or do they inherently avoid them?"

"Can I reach out to them at 11pm to discuss ways to improve the situation, or do they isolate themselves afterward? What is their character like? It’s not just one factor, but a blend of all these aspects."

Referring to Williams' young driver program as a "notable example" of their selection criteria, Vowles explained that "half of the evaluation is based on performance, while the other half focuses on behavior and how well they perform under stress."

"I would prefer to choose a person who finished third in the championship – specifically in the junior levels – but excels under pressure, rather than someone who is in first place but falters when the stakes are high."

"The importance of performing well under pressure increases significantly once you reach Formula 1."

Williams have successfully secured Sainz for their Formula 1 team, marking a significant achievement.

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