**”Williams’ Pursuit of Sainz: Inside the Secret Talks That Began in Abu Dhabi”**

Williams discloses the timing of their initial contact to recruit Carlos Sainz.

James Vowles, the head of Williams, shares that he initially reached out to Carlos Sainz the previous year.

James Vowles, the team principal of Williams, has disclosed that he initially contacted Carlos Sainz regarding the possibility of him joining the team during the 2023 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

On Monday, the team revealed that Sainz will become part of their roster starting in 2025, after Ferrari opted to substitute the Spanish driver with Lewis Hamilton, who is departing from Mercedes.

In recent months, Sainz had been considering his options but ultimately decided to join Williams, opting for them instead of Sauber/Audi and Alpine.

During a virtual press conference on Tuesday, which included participants from Crash.net, Vowles revealed that initial communication with Sainz occurred prior to the public announcement of his departure from Ferrari.

Vowles stated that the discussion has been ongoing for several months.

"It’s been more than a few weeks, and you’ve seen parts of it because the driver discussion has been more public than usual. However, this actually started back in Abu Dhabi last year."

Vowles emphasized that Sainz, whom he called "one of the top four drivers – and sometimes even the second-best driver on the grid," was always Williams' primary choice.

He clarified, "In Abu Dhabi last year, I only talked to one driver, and that was Carlos. To be absolutely clear, I didn't hedge my bets. I chose one driver who I believed would stand out."

Vowles had hoped that Williams' climb to seventh place in the F1 constructors' championship last season would strengthen their ability to attract Sainz to the team.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Williams faced challenges at the beginning of 2024 due to having an initially heavy car, which "stung" the team.

"For the sake of full transparency, I felt we shouldn't have the weight on the car. You might not be aware of the specific figures, but if we had been in a position to score points every weekend, I believe it would have been a tougher decision for him to stay, especially if Ferrari was struggling. I wasn't certain that would be the case," he explained.

"My aim was to strategically place myself in the best possible position for success. However, everything ultimately hinges on performance. Being in the points attracts significantly more attention and opportunities than not being there."

Vowles admitted he had “absolutely no idea” that Hamilton would make a surprising transition from Mercedes to Ferrari, calling the decision a “total surprise” to him.

He said, "When Lewis was revealed, I had no clue. I knew Lewis always wanted to end up there, but I was also aware of how that agreement concluded, since I was involved in it, and I was completely shocked when it happened."

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