As soon as Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz became available for the 2025 season, Williams team principal James Vowles wanted him at Williams. It wasn't about the prestige of attracting a four-time race winner, but about acquiring a driver who offered a wealth of strategic and technical expertise.
This year's race in Saudi Arabia encapsulated that. When his team-mate Alex Albon had Isack Hadjar nipping at his heels over the second stint, Sainz was asked to back off and ensure Albon was within DRS range to ensure he had the tools to bat off the Racing Bulls driver. It duly paid off, as Williams secured six points to ease its path to fifth in the constructors' standings.
