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Williams team principal James Vowles revealed he did not sign Adrian Newey because he did not want the team's work to be focused around a single person. The 65-year-old signed a deal with Aston Martin.
Newey has been nicknamed the 'aero wizard' of F1 because of his immense understanding and practical application of aerodynamic knowledge, giving his team a performance edge in terms of design and helping them build a strong car against their competitors. This was the reason he was a major interest for teams when he announced his departure from Red Bull.
Newey was then reported to be in talks with Ferrari and Williams. Having worked for the latter between 1991 and 1996, it was supposed to be a strong deal. Moreover, it would have given the team a powerful base for the 2026 season. However, Newey ended up signing a contract with Aston Martin, setting himself on a new journey from the next season.
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Team principal James Vowles revealed that he did not sign Adrian Newey to keep the integrity and working of the crew more focused around the team rather than a single person. He also claimed that Newey might have been "frustrated" working with the team later. He said (via Fastestpitstop):
"I do not want to build an infrastructure that depends on a person. Williams is not about me, a driver or an engineer," Vowles said. "He would have overwhelmed our team, and that would have achieved the opposite effect. He would have been frustrated in the end."
Meanwhile, the team has looked at other structural changes. They replaced Logan Sargeant prior to the Italian Grand Prix with Franco Colapinto who has become quite the rookie sensation of the grid. Moreover, they have Carlos Sainz signed up for 2025 as he departs from Ferrari at the end of the season.
Carlos Sainz to test for Williams in Abu Dhabi
Carlos Sainz will step into Williams for the first time in a post-season test at Abu Dhabi. This would give him a headstart in understanding the basic handling of the car and will also help the team collect data regarding the Spaniard's driving style.
Sainz will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season as Lewis Hamilton prepares his grand move to the Prancing Horse. Sainz will then partner with Alex Albon in 2025. The experience of both drivers could help the team gain more points in the season. Albon has already proven to be a strong driver, and combined with Sainz's consistent performance, Williams could be in for a strong midfield fight next season.
