James Vowles talks about the advantage that Carlos Sainz brings: He doesn’t expect an immediate commercial gain, but a long-term one through performance
Williams has landed a real coup with the signing of Carlos Sainz. After all, it is not often that a multiple Grand Prix winner moves from Ferrari to a team that is currently second last in the championship
For Williams, of course, this could mean more attention than with a driver like Logan Sargeant, who has the right passport but honestly doesn’t have the same standing in Formula 1. However, team principal James Vowles does not believe that signing Sainz will bring direct commercial benefits to his team.
“The real commercial advantage for all Formula 1 teams is simply performance,” he says. “If you make your car faster or have drivers who push the car and each other, then you gain positions in the championship and sponsorship revenue.”
He says you basically have to run a Formula 1 team like a start-up company. “You have to put your finances into a driver – or two – that you know will drive the team forward,” says Vowles. “It’s not like the phone rings overnight and someone offers you 20 million.”
However, he admits that the Sainz deal may well persuade some of the sponsors to make a commitment after months of talks. Because it could show that Williams is going down the path it has announced to the outside world.”
“They know a bit more than you do, for obvious reasons, because they are part of our journey and have been on it a bit earlier than Carlos. And they can now see that if you give them the information too, others will follow,” he says in reference to Sainz. “And that is the biggest gain for me.”
“Why Carlos is coming to us, you ask? He knows more than you and he can see it and he believes in it. That’s the main thing,” emphasizes Vowles. “I’ve always been consistent with that message, even with the sponsors, so it’s not going to change everything overnight, but it will lead to more success in the future. I’m confident of that. “