When Williams Racing team principal James Vowles turned down an interview request during the Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas on November 23, 2025, it wasn’t just a media snub — it was a silent scream of panic. The reason? An ongoing FIA investigation into whether Carlos Sainz Jr. had illegally used track limits to secure third place in qualifying. And here’s the twist: the FIA ultimately let it slide. But Vowles’ refusal to speak? That told the whole story.
"I Don’t Want to Be Interviewed When We Could Have the Third Taken Away"
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz, the 61-year-old veteran pit-lane reporter who’s been the voice of F1’s backstage drama since 2012, dropped the bomb during his "Ted’s Notebook" segment. He read Vowles’ exact words — raw, unfiltered, and chilling: "I don’t want to be interviewed when we could have the third taken away." No hedging. No spin. Just fear. And for a team that hasn’t started a race from the front row in over two years, the stakes were existential.
The qualifying session had been a mess — rain-slicked asphalt, zero visibility, and drivers sliding through corners like ice skaters. Sainz, driving for Williams since January 2025 after five seasons with Scuderia Ferrari, somehow carved out a stunning P3 behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. But stewards flagged a potential track limits violation on his final lap. The team held its breath. The FIA stewards, operating from their temporary HQ in Las Vegas, took two hours to deliberate. When they announced "no further action," Sainz exhaled. "I’ve had a good feeling," he said. "It’s just been very disrupted. We’ve never been able to show ourselves or show our pace in the top of the timings."
Why This Matters More Than a Grid Spot
Williams Racing, based in Grove, Oxfordshire, has been a shell of its former self since the 2010s. Once a dynasty with 114 race wins, it’s now seventh in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship with just 47 points — up from 28 in 2024, but still a distant cry from the top four. Vowles, who left Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team as Chief Strategy Engineer in late 2022, was brought in to engineer a revival. This was supposed to be the breakthrough weekend. Instead, it became a near-disaster.
And Kravitz didn’t stop there. He later noted concerns about Sainz’s overall performance since joining Williams, citing a "lacklustre start" after the Chinese Grand PrixShanghai. That’s significant. Sainz is a proven race winner — 11 podiums with Ferrari. If he’s struggling to adapt to Williams’ car, that’s not just a driver issue. It’s a team issue.
The Bigger Picture: Williams’ Precarious Rebuild
Under Dorilton Capital’s ownership since 2020, Williams has been on a slow, painful climb. The 2025 car, the FW47, showed flashes of promise — but inconsistency plagues them. They’ve scored points in 16 of 22 races this season, but never finished higher than fifth. Sainz’s P3 in Las Vegas was their best qualifying result since 2022. And yet, Vowles’ reaction wasn’t celebration. It was dread.
Why? Because in Formula 1, qualifying positions aren’t just about starting order — they’re about sponsorship, media value, and internal morale. Losing third place would’ve been a public humiliation. Keeping it felt like a miracle. And that’s why Vowles stayed silent. He knew the team had been lucky. He knew the FIA’s leniency could’ve gone the other way. He knew one more mistake, one more controversy, and the entire rebuild could collapse under scrutiny.
What Comes Next?
Sainz starts the race from P3 — his first front-row start since 2021. But the real test comes in dry conditions. The Williams car has struggled with tire degradation and aerodynamic instability on clean tracks. The team’s race pace in Las Vegas was uncompetitive — they finished 11th and 13th. That’s not a front-row car. That’s a midfield car hoping for chaos.
Meanwhile, Kravitz’s reporting has reignited questions about Williams’ internal culture. Is Vowles too cautious? Is the engineering team too fragmented? And is Sainz, despite his talent, simply not the right fit for a team still struggling to find its identity?
The answer might come in Bahrain, the final race of the season. If Williams can’t finish in the top six there, Vowles’ entire strategy may be called into question. And if Sainz leaves next year — as rumors suggest — Williams could be back to square one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did James Vowles refuse to speak to Ted Kravitz during the Las Vegas GP?
Vowles feared the FIA might strip Carlos Sainz Jr. of his third-place qualifying position due to a track limits violation. Speaking publicly while the investigation was active risked drawing further attention to the issue — potentially influencing the stewards or appearing unprofessional. His refusal was a defensive move, not a protest.
How unusual is it for an F1 team principal to decline a media interview during a major event?
Extremely rare. Team principals typically engage with media even under pressure — it’s part of the job. Vowles’ refusal was the first such public snub in F1 since 2019, when Toto Wolff avoided interviews after a controversial Mercedes penalty. It signals deep internal anxiety, not just about the penalty, but about Williams’ fragile standing.
What does Carlos Sainz’s performance say about Williams’ car this season?
Sainz’s P3 in wet qualifying showed the car has hidden potential, especially in low-grip conditions. But his struggles in dry races — including a lack of pace in Shanghai and Las Vegas — suggest the FW47 lacks stability and tire management. He’s outperforming the car, not the other way around. That’s a sign the team still has major aerodynamic flaws.
How does Williams’ 2025 performance compare to their historical dominance?
Williams won 114 races and 9 Constructors’ titles between 1978 and 1997. In 2025, they’re seventh with 47 points — their highest total since 2017. Their best result this year is a fifth-place finish. The gap between past glory and present reality is wider than ever. Without major investment, they risk becoming a permanent midfield also-ran.
Could Ted Kravitz’s reporting influence the FIA’s decision?
No. The FIA stewards operate independently and base decisions solely on telemetry, video, and track sensors. But Kravitz’s public disclosure of Vowles’ fear likely increased scrutiny. Had the FIA overturned the result, the backlash would’ve been immense — which may have subtly influenced their decision to take no action.
Is Carlos Sainz likely to stay with Williams beyond 2025?
Unlikely. Sainz is under contract through 2025, but with Williams still mid-pack and his performance inconsistent, he’s a prime target for top teams like Ferrari or Red Bull if they need a replacement. Rumors already link him to a potential return to Ferrari in 2026. Williams may not have the resources to keep him.