Sainz’s ideas already bring “real momentum” to Williams – Vowles

Carlos Sainz’s impression is already being felt inside the Williams Formulation 1 squad, staff principal James Vowles has said.

Sainz has moved to Williams alongside Alex Albon this yr after racing for Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari throughout his first 10 seasons in F1, having been changed by Lewis Hamilton on the Maranello-based outfit for the 2025 season.

The veteran truly made his Williams debut on the end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi, and revealed he was already eager about how one can enhance his future automobile when racing his final laps with Ferrari. 

“He is relishing it,” Vowles advised Autosport on the Autosport Awards earlier this week.

“You possibly can see from the second he jumped within the automobile in Abu Dhabi, his thoughts switched. That is the place he needs to be, that is what he needs to do, he is a part of our success story. He is becoming in completely.

“He is an excellent character who, with him, brings not solely race-winning pedigree however this need and need for Williams to achieve success.

“I used to be there with him this morning, with Alex and myself, for 3, 4 hours – simply speaking by means of plans for the yr, what we have modified, the place we’re going.”

Sainz has been at work with the staff on the Grove manufacturing facility since final month, and Vowles has already been impressed together with his new driver’s enter.

“His contributions – as are Alex’s as nicely – are completely key for driving this staff ahead, as a result of it is now right into a stage of element the place you are beginning to chase milliseconds versus the big-ticket objects we work for,” Vowles added.

“Already within the area of just some weeks, actual optimistic momentum from concepts, ideas, how we are able to change, how we are able to transfer ahead, is coming.”

Sainz is only the fourth driver ever to race Ferrari, McLaren and Williams automobiles in his profession.

Whereas he wasn’t at all times dominant by way of pure tempo in comparison with Lando Norris at McLaren and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, the Spaniard performed a key function in making these groups higher, Vowles claimed – with the Scuderia contending for the title final yr, which was a primary since 2018.

“He additionally does not depart a stone unturned,” the Briton stated. “I imply, there is a statistic up on the F1 channel as we speak the place you have a look at all of the groups he is been to and the place they’ve ended up. It isn’t a coincidence. He is a tough employee, a diligent employee that brings with him success – and he needs us to achieve success.”