"The shocking way Williams is throwing a wrench in Sainz's plans after Ferrari - you won't believe the twist!"

 Carlos Sainz's choice of where to go after leaving Ferrari at the end of 2024 is more complicated given how Williams continues to raise interest.

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Williams' pursuit of Sainz is not the sudden development it seemed when the Monaco Grand Prix weekend began, as the process has taken months. As previously reported by The Race, Williams outlined his long-term plans to Sainz some time ago and Vowles continues to make attractive offers. But it is widely seen as a wildcard option for Sainz, who is expected by almost everyone to join Audi's Sauber project if his bid to retain the Red Bull seat proves futile.

What Williams had accomplished through his perseverance turned out to be a more impressive maneuver than previously thought. Sainz is taking this choice seriously. Williams is not on the same level as Haas and Alpine. Both have not been ignored by their management and there have been talks. 

But that's just due diligence; Williams is more than that. Looking between the lines, negotiations are believed to have progressed to the point of offers and counter-offers: with Williams providing something Sainz deemed satisfactory. This is important for two reasons. Firstly, to hire a driver, it is very important to demonstrate a deal they are willing to accept. But secondly, it shows Sainz that Williams is serious about him, has the resources to support that seriousness, and the commitment to make it happen.

But any financial reward is a secondary priority for Sainz in choosing the team that best suits his needs. He wanted a race-winning car, but if he got a serious prospect from Williams, it was because he couldn't get one. Then there are other factors: confidence in the project, the right environment, and commitment to an appropriate time period. 

That last point can be very important. Audi is a works team that wants to lock up Sainz for the long term, at least three years. Williams' two-year contract with a third option on Sainz's part would provide more flexibility if he wants the option to leave in 2027 as seats open up elsewhere and the pecking order in the new 2026 rule era becomes clear. This could be a huge advantage for Williams, who would then prove to Sainz that they are worth staying around for longer.

The strange thing about Sainz's top two choices is that they both rely heavily on hypothetical progress. The track potential is encouraging - and Audi's ceiling as a works team is higher than Williams' - but both teams are mired in trouble. Williams' situation is slightly worse but neither has scored a single point in 2024. It's not an enviable option for multiple grand prix winners to take the next step. So, Williams complicates matters. If only Audi were in the picture, then Sainz would face a simpler scenario. The Sauber wasn't ideal, but the coming Audi era made it a major throwback. You take what you can get.

Williams seems to have unexpectedly given him a serious choice between two projects with big question marks and long lists of slightly different pros and cons. Audi was enough of a last resort as a new engine manufacturer and company taking over a struggling team to keep the door at least open for Williams to join. 

The vocals are the main reason for that. He has been key to re-signing Alex Albon on a multi-year deal and that is why a Williams team that has underperformed compared to 12 months ago has gotten away with relatively little scrutiny outside of a lot of coverage of the myriad of extraordinary details of various aspects. the terrible year 2024. For now, Vowles gets the benefit of the doubt because of the long-term malaise he is trying to permanently save Williams from, and the many problems the team is known to have from its facilities to its culture. He speaks well, confronts problems, and has clear ideas for solutions.

It may ultimately be nothing more than talking a good game. But time must be given to find out - Albon is willing to give him that, and it's clear Sainz is open to the idea of discussions so far. What's unclear is where the line of goodwill towards Vowles and Dorilton's vision lies. There's a big difference between something interesting enough to take seriously and something worth doing. Sainz may decide that the clouds over Williams are too thick to impress with his silver lining. It will depend on his gut feeling, what suits him best at the moment and for the period of time he is willing to commit to what - one way or another - will be a marriage of convenience. 

But until that decision is made, it is impressive that Williams has made a strong enough case to not only remain in contention but also position itself as Sainz's main alternative to an Audi move that many consider to be a done deal.

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