The return to the podium for Williams at the Baku Grand Prix did not go unnoticed, even by Toto Wolff, who decided to send a playful gift accompanied by a humorous message.
The Baku GP delighted Formula 1 fans with an unexpected podium finish by Carlos Sainz, marking his first top-3 finish with the Williams team. Beyond the team’s internal celebrations, other teams also acknowledged this achievement. Notably, Toto Wolff decided to recognize his friend James Vowles with a special gift and a cheeky dedication.
Sainz’s incredible weekend started on Friday, continued with an almost pole position on Saturday, and culminated in a strong race performance where he remained mostly unchallenged. He only lost a single position to George Russell, following a brilliant strategic call by Mercedes.
Despite this minor setback, Carlos Sainz proudly stepped onto the podium, securing Williams’ first top-3 finish since 2021. This milestone is also notable for being Sainz’s first podium in blue livery and the first podium for James Vowles since leaving Mercedes in 2023 to become team principal at the Grove-based team.
Having worked closely with Wolff for several years, Carlos Sainz and James Vowles share a strong friendship. Following the race, the Austrian team principal participated in the celebrations in his own way. As seen in a video shared by Mercedes on their official channels, Wolff presented James Vowles with a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates.
The gift was accompanied by a humorous message, in which Toto Wolff congratulated his Williams colleague and jokingly referred to him as the “lucky bastard.” This playful gesture highlighted both their personal friendship and the joy of seeing Williams back on the podium after several challenging seasons.
Vamos, @WilliamsRacing 💪 Congrats on the smooth operation today. Enjoy the goodies 🙌🍫🍾 pic.twitter.com/cDlo1m7n7k
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) September 21, 2025
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