What James Vowles said in brilliant unbroadcast radio message to Carlos Sainz after Imola qualifying heroics

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Williams continued their excellent progression in 2025 at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as both cars reached Q3 again.

While Williams are focusing their attention on 2026 and the new regulations, the Grove outfit have seen incredible improvements this year, with Carlos Sainz partnered with Alex Albon.

Under the guidance of James Vowles, the team have almost doubled their 2024 points tally already. Regular Q3 appearances and points finishes mark Williams’ best start to a season since 2016.

Their strong form continued at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as Sainz and Albon got their FW47s into the top 10. The pair will line up sixth and seventh for the race.

The result marks consecutive P6 finishes for Sainz in qualifying and his third of the season. The Spaniard has shown strong pace all weekend, evidenced by his incredible lap in Q2.

James Vowles tells Carlos Sainz his Q2 lap at Imola will stay with Williams ‘all year’ in unheard radio message

Qualifying at Imola saw chaos descend on the circuit. Yuki Tsunoda suffered a horror crash in Q1, before Franco Colapinto also found the barriers in the session.

Both Ferraris and Kimi Antonelli were eliminated in Q2 on home soil, while Williams showed their real potential. Sainz produced a stunning lap to top the timesheets ahead of Q3.

After he put his Williams P6 for the race, Vowles came over the radio to commend his driver for his efforts. He told Sainz his Q2 lap will be remembered ‘all year’.

“Carlos, I was just gonna say, yeah, it would have P5. But really well done under the circumstances. Really impressive laps. And yeah, the lap that you did in Q2, it will stay with us all year. And, yeah, really, really impressive driving. Let’s go get it far,” said Vowles over the radio.

Sainz then expressed his disappointment for not going out earlier in Q3: “Thank you James, and it was my call to go late so I took the risk so I’m not…”

Before Vowles replied: “When it rules together when it rules together, it’s all about that. Let’s talk like that.”

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Imola qualifying is a much-needed morale boost for Carlos Sainz after Miami drama

Vowles’ message to Sainz at Imola is another example of how well he handles his drivers and motivates them at Williams. It has been a difficult start to life in Grove for the 30-year-old.

While Sainz has shown strong pace in qualifying, it has not translated to race pace. He has been outperformed by teammate Albon thus far, with the Thai driver scoring 30 points to the Spaniard’s seven.

The Miami GP highlighted that tension between Albon and Sainz will be an issue for Williams if their communication issues cannot be resolved. The former passed the latter during the race when he was instructed to hold position, only he received the message as he made the overtake.

Sainz said he ‘lost confidence’ in Williams after the race. His heroics at Imola may have reinstalled that confidence as he could be in a good position to fight with the frontrunners.