You know when you've entered the F1 Summer Break when all of a sudden it is announcements galore. And, in 2024, we haven't been left disappointed. From Esteban Ocon's move to Haas from Alpine, to Sergio Perez retaining his seat - for now, at Red Bull, to the unexpected statement coming from the Red Bull team that Sporting Director; Jonathan Wheatley, will be the new Audi Team Principal when they join the grid in 2026. However, the biggest talking point has certainly been Carlos Sainz's long awaited decision on which team he will sign with for 2025 and beyond. After plenty of discussion and rumours surrounding the Spaniard's future, an announcement came early into the Summer break that Sainz would be joining Williams on a multi-year contract, starting from 2025. For some fans this news came as a disappointment, with many commenting that a driver of Sainz's caliber deserves more than the back of the grid. But for others, a move to a team such as Williams made a little bit more sense in a world where claiming a Formula One seat can be classed as, somewhat, impossible to some. Of course, with the doors being closed at top teams such as Red Bull and Mercedes, Sainz was left with a mere few choices at the back end of the grid. All in all, it's doubtful that he has chosen Williams with his sights set on the long term. At the end of the day, he has gone with the best of what was available to him at this moment in time. As for Carlos Sainz himself, the Spaniard has reiterated on social media that his decision in choosing Williams has been the correct one, saying: "I’m 100% committed and confident that Williams is the right place for me to spend my next few years. I really believe in the project, I really believe in the progress that has been done, and from the 1st of January of 2025 I will be pushing flat-out to try and bring this team back where it belongs.”
So, why did Sainz ultimately choose Williams over the likes of Sauber/Audi and Alpine? Well, there could be plenty of reasons as to why this is, but there are a small handful of them that seemingly standout from the rest. For example, with how Sauber are currently performing, the outlook for Audi doesn't look the best, meaning it may take several years for them to gain ground on other teams. Unfortunately, this is time Sainz doesn't have if he's serious about climbing back to the top of Formula One. Simply, he needs the flexibility of being available if a top drive opens up in the next couple of years. Other reasons may include Williams' current performance and their occasional appearances in Q3 and the lower end of the points, as well as the "vision" that team principal; James Vowles, has for the team, which includes plenty of consistency, a more robust foundation and a more than clear strategy. Their first goal in this vision? Signing Carlos Sainz. But, has this been the right choice for the departing Ferrari driver?
As already established, this was one of a few mere choices that Sainz was left with. But, despite Williams not currently reaching their full potential on the grid, the move could still yet prove to be a good one, and sure enough, there are plenty of signs, pun not intended, that could indicate that this could yet pay off.
What we need to remember though, is that the likelihood of Sainz winning races and podiums in the Williams is, not unheard of, but unlikely. However, with the momentum that the team is currently showing, as it recovers from a recent overhaul of owners and bad performances over the past few years, it has a promising outlook, with the 2024 car already capable of popping up in the points every now and again, as already discussed. And, despite it (the car) being a tad overweight this season, it's a perfect opportunity for the team to rectify it's engineering and aerodynamic mistakes before the arrival of the 3x F1 Race Winner in 2025. Not forgetting, as Sainz partners Albon, in a team which is showing plenty of stability in regards to management unlike Sauber/Audi and Alpine, it's a line up that would sure make their rivals around them green with envy.
The real question is though, has Sainz made the right decision, or should he have held out longer for a possible shot at Mercedes or Red Bull? Right now, we can't answer that question. All we know is that time was surely running out for his long-awaited decision. If Vowles' vision comes to fruition, this could be the best decision the Spaniard has made in his nearly decade long F1 career. If not, he has proved that he is an F1 winner through and through. His career, in my opinion, is far from being over. These next few years could be very exciting, indeed.
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