Williams Set to Propel Carlos Sainz into Baku Showdown Following Italian GP Turmoil

In a gripping twist of fate, Williams Formula 1 team principal James Vowles has declared that the team must rally behind Carlos Sainz following his frustrating outing at the Italian Grand Prix. The talented Spanish driver, who narrowly missed a coveted points finish, crossed the line in a disappointing 11th place after being outpaced by Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, compounding a weekend that left much to be desired.

Having transitioned from Ferrari to Williams this season, Sainz has faced the daunting challenge of acclimating to a new team and power unit. Despite these hurdles, the 31-year-old has managed to secure 16 championship points, with six top-10 finishes and one top-10 sprint race finish, showcasing his undeniable skill and determination.

After the race, where Williams teammate Alex Albon impressively clinched seventh place, Vowles expressed his belief that Sainz could have easily achieved a ninth-place finish. “Really well done to Alex on his seventh place. It was hard fought, brilliant first stint on hards. And Carlos, really playing the team game and helping along that journey as well,” Vowles stated in a video shared on the team’s social media platforms.

The team principal emphasized the need for improvement, particularly in qualifying, stating, “I think what it demonstrates is what we’ve been saying: we have a fast car, but we’re not getting it right in qualifying. We’re just on the edge of getting the tyres to work, and we have to maybe do that, and fast, in order to pick up more points in the future.” The sight of both Mercedes and Ferrari ahead signals that Williams is on the right track, but time is of the essence.

Acknowledging Sainz’s efforts, Vowles continued, “For Carlos, I’m sorry, he did a good race. He was effectively in the right, overtaking [Oliver] Bearman on a charge on the way to get good points today. I’m confident at least P9, if not more. And in our circumstances, it’s frustrating to walk away with nothing. I know how he’ll be feeling right now, and our job is to make sure we lift him back up and we stay true and strong as a team. It’s one of our values, it’s one of our strengths.”

With the Azerbaijan Grand Prix looming on the horizon from September 19-21 at the Baku City Circuit, Vowles remains optimistic. “We have Baku coming up next, again, a track that I feel we should be able to perform well at. Once we get qualifying absolutely nailed on, I’m confident we’re out there fighting for good points in that weekend,” he asserted.

As the Williams team gears up for another challenge, the spotlight will be on Carlos Sainz and his quest to bounce back from disappointment, proving that in the world of Formula 1, resilience is just as vital as speed.