Williams team principal james vowles

Williams Team Principal James Vowles: Williams Team Principal James Vowles has heaped praise on Carlos Sainz, claiming the Spanish driver is delivering more than expected just a few races into his tenure with the Grove-based outfit. After securing Sainz’s signature for the 2025 season following Ferrari’s blockbuster move to sign Lewis Hamilton, Vowles now believes his investment is already paying dividends, both on and off the track.

Speaking during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Vowles said that while Sainz is still adjusting to the FW47, the four-time Grand Prix winner has made a significant impact within the team’s technical and engineering departments.

“I think we’re getting more than I paid for [from Sainz],” Vowles was quoted by Formula 1.com as saying. “There are two ways to assess performance: on-track speed and off-track contribution. While he's still finding his rhythm in the FW47—quite a different car from the Ferrari—what’s blown me away is how he's integrated into the team.”