P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A dinner between Carlos Sainz and James Vowles acted as a big ‘reset’ before his Baku podium
Carlos Sainz’s first podium with Williams in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a vindication of his decision to join the team for the 2025 Formula 1 season. The level of satisfaction he felt after the race surprised even him. Describing the moment as even better than his first ever podium, Sainz’s journey to success had been challenging, with bad luck, reliability issues, and mistakes plaguing him throughout the season. Despite these setbacks, Sainz’s performance and partnership with team principal James Vowles remained strong, leading to a much-needed reset before the Baku Grand Prix weekend. The lack of results earlier in the season did not reflect Sainz’s speed, and both he and Vowles knew that a turning point was inevitable. Sainz’s perseverance and hard work ultimately paid off with a sweet moment of success in Baku, reminding him that persistence can lead to rewarding outcomes in the face of adversity.
