[Team] Williams: Do they have a spare tub?

[bathurst77]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And I really can't see him going to Williams, it's not an attractive prospect for him

beats walking

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I'm sure Sainz is still considering his options. And I really can't see him going to Williams, it's not an attractive prospect for him

Agree, but the good drives are drying up, unless he is in with a shout at Merc?

Sauber / Audi / Haas / Alpine are not massively better than Williams.

Will a semi-reluctantly VAG backed Sauber really move that far forward on the grid?

I presume he will not go to RB. And Aston will surely have Lance Stroll back.

[peebee2]

The word seems to be that Sainz has signed heads of terms with Williams, presumably with a full contract to follow. One year with options/buyouts for further years?

If true I wouldn’t blame him as I don’t see Sauber improving next year, nor would I have a too much faith in Audi’s 2026 lump.

[peebee2]

The word seems to be that Sainz has signed heads of terms with Williams, presumably with a full contract to follow. One year with options/buyouts for further years?

If true I wouldn’t blame him as I don’t see Sauber improving next year, nor would I have a too much faith in Audi’s 2026 lump.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by peebee2

The word seems to be that Sainz has signed heads of terms with Williams, presumably with a full contract to follow. One year with options/buyouts for further years?

If true I wouldn’t blame him as I don’t see Sauber improving next year, nor would I have a too much faith in Audi’s 2026 lump.

Sainz himself says nothing locked in but that could well fit with having a Heads of Agreement in place with contract to follow.

Either Williams or Sauber would be something of a gamble but Williams feels like less of a gamble and both of them keep him in F1.

[Richard C]

I agree that I just don't see Audi/Sauber really making significant progress for quite a long time. I think Sainz is at the point of picking the least worst option. I would like to see him at Williams just to see how it would go with Albon.

Richard

[P38 in workshop]

I have doubts about the level of commitment of the greater VW group to a Formula 1 project and have a feeling that each time additional resources are sought that some doubts about the project will begin to grow.The group has always focused on shareholder returns and regional prosperity for the factory and it's surrounding population.The Le Mans project cost very little by comparison and generated much prestige.It also allowed lots of development time between races.I have a feeling that Sainz senior is well aware of this and may have advised treading water elsewhere while observing progress.A Williams team on the way up may not be a terrible place to spend a couple of seasons.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by P38 in workshop

I have doubts about the level of commitment of the greater VW group to a Formula 1 project and have a feeling that each time additional resources are sought that some doubts about the project will begin to grow.The group has always focused on shareholder returns and regional prosperity for the factory and it's surrounding population.The Le Mans project cost very little by comparison and generated much prestige.It also allowed lots of development time between races.I have a feeling that Sainz senior is well aware of this and may have advised treading water elsewhere while observing progress.A Williams team on the way up may not be a terrible place to spend a couple of seasons.

Also they are marooned out in Switzerland
Aside from Ferrari, you need to be in the UK where the top people and industry are. Staff won't go to Switzerland.


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[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Also they are marooned out in Switzerland
Aside from Ferrari, you need to be in the UK where the top people and industry are. Staff won't go to Switzerland.


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Ironic that; staff won't go there, but their drivers are more than happy to live there!

[bathurst77]

JV was talking a big talk on sky f1 yesterday, saying they are completely restructuring, 30 people stolen from other teams, determined to be back up front in year or 2

[P38 in workshop]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Also they are marooned out in Switzerland
Aside from Ferrari, you need to be in the UK where the top people and industry are. Staff won't go to Switzerland.


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A point that Renault and Mercedes grasped.I do know that Audi personnel looked at Leafield when Arrows died the death,but even beck then they got cold feet about the whole idea.


I think JV is only telling the world what the other JV has been doing for a while and a combination of gardening leave and CapEx regulations mean that it will take a while.