You've missed that its likely to be a single-phase induction motor, so that the current is a lot higher
than if it was a resistive load due to the power factor not being unity, and that the startup current
is several times higher than the running current for these motors, and that's its an inductive load
which needs special handling.
Inductive loads typically need snubber circuits on the relay to reduce arcing at the contacts, and
need a relay rated for inductive load in the first place.
This link seems pertinent: https://www.electronicspoint.com/threads/resistive-or-inductive-load-and-relay-rating.9550/