Hamilton departure a complete SHOCK for former Mercedes man Vowles
F1 News
Even before the 2023 season was well and truly over, James Vowles - Williams' team boss - was sitting down with Carlos Sainz. Even then, in Abu Dhabi, the Briton was probing whether Sainz might be interested in a move to Williams, even though the Spanish driver then preferred to extend his contract at Ferrari.
The fact interest was already being shown in Sainz's services at the time undoubtedly contributed to the three-time GP winner opting for a multi-year commitment at Williams last week. Apparently, Vowles had a crystal ball, because had Lewis Hamilton not decided to swap Mercedes for Ferrari, Sainz would almost certainly have stayed with the Italian team.
Vowles was shocked by Hamilton leaving Mercedes
Yet this week, during an interview with the media, including GPblog, to have had no foresight at all. "I had no inkling at all. That was a complete shock to me when Lewis was announced [at Ferrari]. Absolutely no idea. I knew Lewis had his heart set there eventually, but I also know the end of that deal because I was a part of it. And I was knocked off my chair the day that that happened," Vowles said.
In any case, Hamilton's switch has opened the door for Sainz's entrance at Williams. That the Spaniard could be brought in by Williams came as a bit of a surprise to Vowles. He does not understand why Red Bull Racing and Mercedes did not contract Sainz.
This article has been written in collaboration with Matt Gretton