Why long Sainz courtship was only one factor in eventual Williams union
It took him long enough – but, over the summer, Carlos Sainz confirmed a long-term deal with Williams. Why did the doors to Mercedes and Red Bull remain closed? And, asks STUART CODLING why did Sainz choose Williams over a more recent winning team and one with the vast resources of the Volkswagen Group behind it?
“One of the top four drivers, if not at times the number two driver on the grid.”
While you might have to tip your head to one side and gently stroke your chin while parsing the somewhat curious phrasing of this sentence, you can see what Williams team principal James Vowles is getting at, why he views the signing of Carlos Sainz as such a significant step for his team – and why he remains surprised none of the leading outfits beat him to Carlos’s signature.
And while Sainz himself might, like any self-respecting racing driver, cavil at this definition of his status oscillating between points four and two without ever hitting the peak, it’s not inaccurate.
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