Formula 1 Austrian GP
Williams issues changes to Carlos Sainz's car alongside communications overhaul
James Vowles has revealed a series of technical and operational changes at Williams aimed at improving the team after a difficult Canadian Grand Prix
Alex Harrington
Edited: Jun 27, 2025, 4:28 PM
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Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams
Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images
James Vowles has never been one to sugarcoat, with him always being open about his team's shortcomings when talking to the press. This breath of fresh air continued in a recent discussion with Sky Sports, where the Williams team principal discussed the changes being made to Carlos Sainz's car to improve his comfort level, as well as the improvements in operations the entire team will be focussing on for the remainder of the season.
The former Mercedes strategist revealed his own analysis of Sainz's performance so far this season.
"I think certainly the first seven races almost, there was just elements. [The] first time you're together at a street track - that's a learning. First time you're together with your high downforce wing - that was a learning. First time together with a low downforce wing - learning as well.
"And we're kind of through that now.
"And you're in a situation where he's getting up to speed very quickly in the weekend. You saw again today [FP1] there's milliseconds separating the two of them. So I think we're through that learning period.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
"If I go through Montreal, without putting too fine a point at it, we screwed ourselves. We had our bodywork blowing up, which caused a red flag. And Carlos was on a very fast lap at that time.
"Following that, he was then behind Hadjar. So we haven't seen what he could achieve, apart from he managed to fight back to a point last race. But you should see going forward - these races - Carlos really flying."
Pushed as to whether there is an "underlying point" the Spaniard is having to work on, Vowles was quick to shut down that idea.
"No, only because there never is, unfortunately, just one thing. I wish there was, but small details, for example, he's got a new seat here, which slightly puts him in a better position visually, comfort-wise, slightly better, actually, in terms of weight distribution as well.
"We started with a different sim program building up into here, which has caused him to be on a better part of the starting curve. He knows how our systems and structures work.
"We spend a lot of time together on Wednesday evening until late playing tennis. That might have helped him. But the reality behind it is, it's never one thing, really. He's incredibly quick in the car. It's actually just making sure we're getting on the front foot at the beginning of the weekend. I mean, it's hard to call it bad luck, because we did it to ourselves, but it really is just having a clean sweep through qualifying in the race, and he'll deliver."
Alex Albon later became the topic of conversation after his radio frustrations during the Canadian Grand Prix. Improvements are coming, ensures Vowles.
"If you just mute down all the other channels, but just leave the Alex channel up, you might as well go get a coffee and come back," he said. "There's not a lot of comms that goes to him.
"And what's really interesting is there's plenty going on underneath of, 'Alex just needs to know this, know this,' and the information - I spoke to Alex afterwards - 'if we just said to you, the hard tyre's looking really good, very low degradation, probably we'll go to the end, you would have realized where we're going with things.' But that information never went through.
"And it's never one thing. It's making sure you calm all of the structures down to actually make sure the driver, who's all alone out there, is provided the right information. So my assurance to everyone is, it's on both sides, by the way, I wouldn't say it's with Alex, I would say Carlos is better perhaps at containing his frustration. But we can be so much better at working as a unit, and that's really, across the next 13 races, that's the task of this team."
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