EXCLUSIVE: Late nights, secret meetings and colossal contracts – James Vowles on how he signed Carlos Sainz:

“We related as a result of they’ve household values that are similar to my very own – which is about honesty, being performant on monitor with no politics, and it’s about how do you do the perfect job you possibly can with the tools you may have. It resonated loads between each events.

“This was Abu Dhabi 2023, so nobody is aware of what’s going to occur with Carlos. What I’m doing is ensuring they’re conscious we’re critical about transferring again in direction of the entrance and right here we’re – and get to know me. Then the information struck with Lewis [Hamilton leaving Mercedes and taking Sainz’s seat at Ferrari for 2025], which caught me off-guard, and caught Carlos off-guard on the identical time. So, I began the conventional negotiation process.

ANALYSIS: How Williams received out over Sauber and Alpine to safe Sainz – and what it means for the remainder of the motive force market

“Throughout – and it’s price checking with Carlos as he’ll inform you a similar factor – every thing I’ve advised him is the reality behind this undertaking, so meaning all the nice bits and all of the unhealthy bits. It’s simply been constant from begin to end.

“That is who we’re, this what we’re investing in, this why I consider in it, that is what it appears like sooner or later – do you wish to be a part of it?

“I consider on this undertaking; I left the consolation of Mercedes to be right here for good motive. We now have a historical past that makes us the second-most profitable crew on the grid, we have now actual tangible traders who’re critical behind this undertaking, we wish success and that is what success appears like. Essentially, the identical couldn’t be stated up and down the grid to the identical degree and the identical necessities. And I believe if nobody takes this as an indication that Williams has modified, nothing will change you.”