James Vowles impressed by Carlos Sainz’s work: “Feedback already incorporated into this year’s car”. Williams Team Principal James Vowles praised Carlos Sainz’s professionalism.

A new adventure
In the days following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of last season, Carlos Sainz immediately began his new chapter in Formula 1 as a Williams driver, joining the Grove-based team after four years with Ferrari. It’s a significant move, especially considering the stark difference in competitiveness between Maranello’s cars and those of the historic British team in recent years. However, Carlos Sainz’s integration into the squad appears to have been more than positive.

The project
In addition to the post-season tests in the UAE, Carlos Sainz recently took to the track in Barcelona for TPC (Testing of Previous Cars), making a strong impact on the development of the new Williams FW47. The car will first be unveiled on Valentine’s Day with a special livery before its official presentation in London on February 28, when all teams will reveal their 2025 challengers.

Immediate professionalism
James Vowles, Williams’ Team Principal, has been particularly impressed by Carlos Sainz’s approach, highlighting the 30-year-old Madrid native’s serious and methodical work ethic in his early months with the team: “First of all, the highest level of professionalism arrived in the team immediately. Everything was clear from the start, with concise feedback and instructions, ensuring that nothing was disorganized,” the British engineer told the media. “He focused heavily on using data to make decisions. He made some adjustments throughout the day, and the lap times spoke for themselves. We weren’t chasing lap times, but he quickly felt at ease in the car. His feedback has already been incorporated into this year’s car, something that normally isn’t possible, with certain elements that have already helped us.”