Williams sends message to Carlos Sainz as ‘Plan B’ driver option emerges

Although Williams is in no rush to complete a deal with Carlos Sainz, team boss James Vowles has said a ‘Plan B’ option is being prepared.

Sainz, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 F1 season to make way for Lewis Hamilton, is seen as the bottle stopper for the 2025 F1 driver market, with Williams making no secret of the fact that he is on its radar as its “number one target”.

Williams confirms ‘Plan B’ option exists in Carlos Sainz pursuit

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

Speaking to media outlets including PlanetF1.com ahead of the British Grand Prix, Vowles confirmed that no “imminent” decision was forthcoming from Sainz’s side as he made it clear that a “long-term relationship” was the aim when selecting the team-mate of the already-resigned Alex Albon.

Asked how long he is prepared to wait for Sainz, Vowles replied: “I mean, I will come back to the fact that he is a world-class driver. So the decision is not imminent. It is not today that we have to make it.”

“But what I’ve always said is that the timeline is less important to me. What’s more important is that whatever decision we make or whatever the driver makes, it’s about building a long-term relationship with each other, meaning both of us see the journey we’re on and want it to be a part of our lives.

“I’m sure it will all be sorted out before September. That’s the normal time. If you look at the normal routine, we’re just going back to a normal calendar where August is about signing contracts. But I’m sure it will all be sorted out by then.”

As for whether Williams have a backup driver if Sainz doesn’t sign with them, Vowles confirmed: “Basically, yes. The answer is simple.”

Key updates on F1 2025 driver market

👉 Daniel Ricciardo’s sensational return to Red Bull discussed as Sergio Perez continues to struggle

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Logan Sargeant is battling to retain his place at the Williams team, but talk of the American has been more about whether he will complete the 2024 F1 campaign, rather than his prospects of a 2025 F1 seat.

Vowles confirmed Williams were “open-minded” when asked about the prospect of a mid-season driver swap, although he said it was not a driver issue at Williams but a car issue, having scored just two points so far this season.

“We’re constantly evaluating it,” Vowles said when asked if he would consider a driver swap before the end of F1 2024.

“What we told Logan is that it’s a meritocracy. You have to make sure you earn your place in the sport at all times. That’s the same message that’s been given to him for the last 18 months.

“We are open to anything. What I said before and what I said today is that our car, and this is a responsibility that rests on my shoulders and the team’s shoulders, is not fast enough. It’s not a driver problem that we are suffering from today. We were simply overtaken and we have to make sure that we speed up that process.”

As for potential alternative threats to Sargeant’s seat if Sainz does not join Williams, Vowles was asked where their academy driver Franco Colapinto, who made his FP1 debut at Silverstone, fits into that equation.

Vowles would speak of a “significantly” expanding junior programme and the need to ensure adequate preparation in Formula 1 for a rookie before his debut, something he says Colapinto has not received so far.

“I think, first of all, today was kind of a reward for a very good season in Formula 2,” Vowles said of Colapinto.

“I’m pleased to see that we have a strong young driver program. We’ve invested in Logan and we’ll continue to invest in our young driver program, it’s as simple as that. It’s growing significantly in the background.

“And today was not a demonstration, not a test. It was just a reward for good progress. And we have to do two FP1s in the season. It’s reasonable to do it here at Silverstone. I didn’t expect it to be wet, then dry, then wet, but anyway, that’s also how it is at Silverstone.

“I think you can really screw a driver up if you put him in the car too early. And actually in modern Formula 1 you see that rookies struggle because of certain things.

“It’s not just about being excellent, having done a good enough Formula 2 and having got a podium. In fact, our investment, our commitment to them has to be a certain amount of time spent in a historic car, a certain amount of time in preparation to make sure that if we choose them to go forward, they will indeed be in the best possible position. And we haven’t provided that to Franco yet.”

Williams’ two points so far in F1 2024 come from a ninth-place finish for Alex Albon in Monaco.

Read more : ‘I don’t know what he’s thinking’ – Carlos Sainz’s impatient wait frustrates his rival at the end of his contract