Vowles reveals 'Sainz' deliberate trip up in post-Qatar GP podium chaos

Photo: RacePictures.

Updated: 14:43, 03 Dec 2025

A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.

James Vowles was knocked to the ground by Carlos Sainz.

Carlos Sainz celebrates with Alex Albon and the Williams garage. Photo: RacePictures

But not by the driver who's already finished on the podium three times in his first season with the team, but by his cousing who also operates as the Spanish F1 driver's manager, and who just so happens to bear the same name.

Although the race winner's tenure at Williams sparked many questions due to the lack of results - and teammate Alexander Albon's superior form at the time - as the season went on the Sainz was able to integrate himself fully with the car, leading to a P3 finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which he followed up with another P3 at the Sprint race in Austin, Texas.

After which a thrid place in qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix would follow, capped off by another podium finish behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri in Qatar last weekend.

During the celebrations, though, chaos ensued, and Vowles was forced to run as if his life depended on it in a bid to avoid a traditional - and much dreaded - celebration: the champagne shower.

"So, the trick behind all of these [is], you sit down, look left and right and find the people with the champagne bottles, because they are the ones you sprint away from at speed," Vowles revealed in a video posted on Williams' official X account.

'Caco' Sainz tripped up Vowles, who vows revenge

"On this particular occasion, Caco [Carlos Sainz' manager and cousing] had already prepared for that," the British team boss revealed. "So, Carlos Sainz' manager, also called Carlos Sainz just to make my life better, he prepared for that.

"[He] knew I was going to sprint and he started sprinting in advance and he really did trip me up. And I couldn't see a damn thing because he had two champagne bottles poured into my eyes and that's all I remember.

"And then he said, 'Why did you run?' and I was like: 'This is why I run, to avoid this'," Vowles confessed. "Anyway, I'm good as it turns out. No damage done. And I will have my revenge,I assure you, on him at some point," the Williams team principal concluded.

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F1-stand 2026

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	131
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	88
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	72
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	58
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	48
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	43
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	20
9	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	16
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	15
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	14
13	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
14	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	5
15	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
17	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	1
18	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0

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Vowles reveals 'Sainz' deliberate trip up in post-Qatar GP podium chaos

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