Lando Norris believes Purple Bull ought to have opted to signal Carlos Sainz for 2025, following the Spaniard’s transfer to Williams.
Sainz was a identified free agent after Ferrari secured the signature of Lewis Hamilton at the beginning of this yr, with the seven-time world champion heading to Maranello subsequent season. Till early June, Purple Bull had not confirmed Sergio Perez’s future on the crew, whereas Mercedes nonetheless has a emptiness for subsequent yr, however Norris believes Sainz ought to have been paired with Max Verstappen once more having been a Purple Bull junior driver up to now.
“I don’t know what their plans are,” Norris advised Sky Sports activities. “Truthfully, the simple one is simply to say Purple Bull, he ought to have gone there in my eyes. Clearly, I’m biased, I do know Carlos greater than I do know Checo and that type of factor, however Carlos deserves so much. He’s probably the greatest drivers in Method 1 — he’s confirmed that numerous instances — and I’m a great buddy of his.
“So I’m pleased for him that he’s nonetheless in Method 1; I’m nonetheless pleased that he received to drive and that he can attempt to convey Williams again up. And him partnering Alex [Albon], I believe will probably be good for Method 1 on the identical time. In order that’s a great factor, however I’m certain lots of people would have cherished to say that he ought to have gone to Purple Bull probably, however that’s not my resolution to make.”
Williams crew principal James Vowles additionally admitted earlier this week that he was shocked Sainz wasn’t signed by certainly one of Purple Bull or Mercedes, however says he sees the match of all the Sainz camp — together with his supervisor Carlos “Caco” Onoro Sainz and his rally legend father, Carlos Sainz Sr. — as good for Williams.
“You’re going to go for a person who will make the distinction — and I’m not simply targeted on how fast he’s within the automobile, I’m targeted on how he’s as a character,” Vowles mentioned. “By the best way, this additionally consists of how his entourage is — that features Caco, his supervisor, and Carlos, his father. His father is as performance-driven as junior. He’s an unbelievable character.
“The three of them collectively come as a bundle. And that’s what we’d like right here at Williams. I believe the match is totally good. They’re the precise phrases I advised them from the very starting to the very finish of this journey.”
