Williams confirm plan B in Sainz rejection scenario

Williams team principal James Vowles has confirmed that the outfit has a backup option in mind should Carlos Sainz reject a seat at the Grove-based outfit. 

Vowles has made it no secret in recent weeks that the British team are very interested in the outgoing Ferrari driver, who has received offers from Williams, Stake F1/Audi and, most recently, Alpine. 

There has been speculation that teams are becoming impatient with Sainz’s lengthy decision, which he has stressed will not be rushed given how serious it is. 

Like Sainz, Vowles is not in a rush for the 29-year-old to make a quick decision, with the Williams boss confirming that its driver pairing for next season is not close to being announced. 

“I’ll go back to he’s a world-class driver, so the decision isn’t imminent,” Vowles told select media including RacingNews365. 

“It’s not today that we need to make it, but what I’ve said all along is the timeline is less important to me. What’s more important is that whatever decision we come to or the driver comes to, it’s about forging a long-term relationship with each other. 

“We both see the journey we’re on and want that to be a part of their lives. I’m fairly sure you’ll see all of this cleared up before we get to September, that’s the normal time if you look at a normal routine. 

“We’re actually just now going back into what is a normal schedule where August is spent doing contracts. But I’m pretty sure you’ll find it all submitted by then.”

Prior to Alpine’s interest, Williams was the favourite for Sainz’s signature. 

There is a chance that Sainz could reject a move to Grove in favour of joining the French team, who recently hired ex-Renault boss Flavio Briatore as an advisor. 

Sainz is very much Williams’ number one option for next year, although Vowles has insisted that his team does already have a plan B should the Ferrari driver reject its offer.

“Fundamentally, yes. Simple answer to it,” revealed Vowles. 

“There’s a lot of moving parts to it, more than the world will see. But it will all make sense I think, once it fans out.”