Williams Ponders ‘Plan B’ Option Amid Carlos Sainz ChaseWilliams Ponders ‘Plan B’ Option Amid Carlos Sainz Chase Despite Williams’ interest in signing Carlos Sainz, team boss James Vowles acknowledges the existence of a backup plan. Sainz, who will depart Ferrari in 2024, remains a highly sought-after driver, with Williams expressing their desire to acquire his services. However, Vowles emphasizes that a decision is not imminent, as Williams is focused on forging a long-term relationship with the eventual candidate. While Vowles declined to provide a specific timeline for Sainz’s decision, he expects a resolution by September, the usual timeframe for contract negotiations. In the event that Sainz chooses not to join Williams, Vowles confirms that they have a Plan B driver in mind. Uncertain Future for Logan Sargeant Logan Sargeant’s future with Williams is uncertain, despite having secured a seat for 2024. Vowles acknowledges that Williams is open to a mid-season driver change, but emphasizes that the team’s lack of competitiveness is not a driver issue. Vowles states that Sargeant’s performance is being evaluated and that he must continuously prove his worth. Franco Colapinto’s Role Williams’ junior driver, Franco Colapinto, recently made his FP1 debut at Silverstone. Vowles explains that this was a reward for Colapinto’s strong Formula 2 season. However, Vowles emphasizes that Colapinto needs further preparation in a Formula 1 car before being considered for a race seat. He believes that rushing a driver can be detrimental to their development. Williams’ Performance Williams has scored only two points in the 2024 Formula 1 season so far. Vowles acknowledges that the team’s car is not fast enough and that they need to address this issue rather than blaming the drivers.
While Williams is in no rush to complete a deal for Carlos Sainz, team boss James Vowles said there is a ‘Plan B’ option ready.
Sainz, who will leave Ferrari at the end of F1 2024 to make way for Lewis Hamilton, is seen as the cork in the bottle for the F1 2025 driver market, with Williams having made no secret of the fact that he is on their radar as their “number one target”.
Williams confirms ‘Plan B’ option exists amid Carlos Sainz chase
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com ahead of the British Grand Prix, Vowles confirmed that there is no “imminent” decision on the Sainz front, making it clear that a “long-term relationship” is the aim in selecting the team-mate for the already re-signed Alex Albon.
Asked how long he was prepared to wait for Sainz, Vowles replied: “I mean, I go back to, he’s a world-class driver. So the decision is not imminent. It’s not today that we have to make it.
“But what I’ve said all along is that the timeline is actually less important to me. What’s more important is that whatever decision we make or the director makes, it’s about forging a long-term relationship with each other — meaning that we both see the journey that we’re on and want that to be a part of their lives.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll see all of this sorted out before we get to September. That’s the normal time. If you look at a normal routine, we’re actually only now getting back to a normal schedule where August is spent doing contracts. But I’m pretty sure you’ll find it all sorted out by then.”
As for whether Williams have a Plan B driver option if Sainz doesn’t sign with them, Vowles confirmed: “In principle yes. Simple answer.”
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Logan Sargeant is fighting to retain his place in the Williams line-up, but there is more talk about the American than his prospects of a 2025 Formula 1 seat.
Vowles confirmed that Williams is “open-minded” when asked about the prospect of a mid-season driver change, but said that at Williams it is not a driver problem but the car, as they have scored just two points so far this season.
“We are constantly evaluating it,” Vowles said when asked if he would consider a driver change before F1 2024 is over?
“What we’ve said to Logan is that it’s a meritocracy. You’ve got to make sure you continually earn your place in the sport. That’s the same message that’s been with him for 18 months.
“And we are open to things. What I said before and what I maintained today is that our car, and this is a responsibility on my shoulders and the team’s shoulders, is not fast enough. It is not a driver problem that we are suffering from today. We are simply overtaken and we need to make sure that we accelerate that process.”
As for other potential threats to Sargeant’s seat if Sainz doesn’t join Williams, Vowles was asked what role their youth driver Franco Colapinto, who made his FP1 debut at Silverstone, would play in this picture?
Vowles is said to be speaking of a “significantly” expanding junior programme and the need to ensure suitable preparation in the Formula 1 machine for a rookie before their debut, which he said Colapinto has not received to date.
“I think today was first of all a bit of a reward for a really strong Formula 2 season,” Vowles said of Colapinto.
“I’m happy to acknowledge that we have a strong young driver program. We’ve invested in Logan and we’ll continue to invest in our young driver program, it’s as simple as that. It’s building up quite a bit in the background.
“And today was not a showcase or a demonstration or a test. It was just a reward for good progress. And we have to do two FP1s in the season. It makes sense to do it here at Silverstone. I didn’t expect it to be wet, then dry, then wet, but hey, that’s Silverstone for you.
“I believe you can really burn a driver if you put him in the car too early. And actually in modern Formula 1 you see that rookies struggle because of things.
“So it’s not just about excellence, you’ve driven a reasonably good Formula 2, you’ve got a podium. In fact, our investment, our commitment to them has to be an amount of time in a historic car, an amount of time with preparation to ensure that if we choose them to continue, they are effectively in the strongest place they can be. And we haven’t given Franco that at the moment.”
Williams has so far secured two points in the 2024 Formula 1 campaign thanks to Alex Albon’s ninth-place finish in Monaco.
Read more: ‘I don’t know what he’s thinking’ – Carlos Sainz’s wait-and-see attitude frustrates expiring rival
