“You might have seen me in some interviews mention it before, but for me, what was fundamental was not so much the short-term,” said Sainz, as he opened up on his decision-making process.
“At the beginning, when I was having to take such an important decision, I was very focused on which team was going to be quicker in 2025, who was generating more downforce, who is finding out stuff that is going to make them quicker.
“Finally, I realised that my decision had to be based on two things: the project and the people.
“When I started discussing more in detail with James, I realised that he had put together a very strong project here in Williams. He was forming a team, with a vision, with a project, together with [team owners] Dorilton, that I think is going to bring this team back to the front.
“[There is] very strong leadership and a vision that immediately made me, let’s say, fall in love with the project, and trust his leadership. Then I say people, but it’s part of the same thing.”