James Vowles shares what Carlos Sainz did that caught him ‘off guard’ at the Williams factory

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Williams Racing team principal James Vowles has done a remarkable job turning around the Grove-based outfit.

Fans only have to think back to the 2020 Formula 1 season to remember when Williams failed to score a point across an entire campaign.

James Vowles was still working for Mercedes at this stage as they secured yet another constructors’ championship, and Lewis Hamilton won his most recent individual title.

Vowles was seen as Toto Wolff’s likely successor at Mercedes, but when the opportunity arose in 2023 to become team principal of one of Formula 1’s most iconic teams, he couldn’t pass up the chance.

This year has seen Williams take significant steps forward, even though their full focus has been on the sport’s upcoming regulation changes.

Alex Albon currently sits eighth in the drivers’ championship, and while Andrea Kimi Antonelli has opened up an 18-point lead over him, he’s a long way clear of the next driver in the standings.

His new teammate, Carlos Sainz, has had a tougher start to life at Williams since leaving Ferrari, although his brilliant podium finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has alleviated some of the pressure on him.

Sainz was worried he’d joined the wrong team earlier in the season, but Vowles has lauded the surprising difference he’s already making at the Williams factory.

READ MORE: Williams star Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

James Vowles caught ‘off guard’ by Carlos Sainz’s visits to the Williams F1 factory

Vowles was asked on the F1 Nation Podcast what surprised him about Sainz since he arrived at the team, and he said: “As to what surprised me with Carlos, a really good way of working with engineering teams.

“Very clear, concise feedback that directs us where we need to be. I didn’t have to ask him to come into the factory.

“He came in at 9 am one day. He was already sitting with the aero team deep in conversations over exactly this point in the data. ‘Just there, that’s where I feel the front wash out. And round turn nine, again there, that’s where I feel it.’

“And basically, we watched about a team of 15 people, then break down into that and go, I wonder if it’s associated with X, Y and Z.

“That wasn’t me saying, Carlos, I really need you in the factory on a Monday morning. At 9 am to go and work with people.

“It’s his incentive to do so because he wants the team to be successful. And I think that caught me off guard.

“I’ve seen many drivers in my lifetime. It’s rare for one to be awake before 8 am, but more importantly, wanting to spend their time with a team in that way.”

READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties

How Ferrari reacted to Carlos Sainz scoring his first podium for Williams

The first sign that Sainz was settling in at Williams was his brilliance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

He led Albon throughout the race and kept his new teammate in his DRS zone to avoid him being overtaken by Isack Hadjar.

However, Sainz showed his world-class credentials in Azerbaijan as he qualified second in windy conditions after Albon brought out the first of six red flags.

Although he couldn’t hold off George Russell, Sainz came home in third, earning Williams their first podium since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.

Ferrari staff were delighted for Sainz, but it showed how together Williams are as a team that Albon was among the staff cheering him on below the podium.

Sainz knows that Ferrari would never rule out a return, and he was very unfortunate to lose his seat when Lewis Hamilton came calling.

Vowles will hope he can capitalise on Ferrari’s loss when next year’s rules are introduced.