Carlos Sainz has made the decision to become a driver for the Williams team in the 2025 and 2026 F1 seasons. This conclusion comes after months of speculation about the future of the outgoing Ferrari driver.
Since announcing his departure from Ferrari, Sainz has been linked to various teams such as Mercedes, Audi-Sauber, Williams, and most recently Alpine. However, he ultimately chose to join Williams.
Securing the signature of Sainz was a challenging task for the Grove-based F1 team, but James Vowles, who is leading a significant rebuilding effort, successfully brought in the highly regarded driver.
Following the confirmation of Sainz’s contract with Williams, Vasseur, the team’s spokesperson, issued a statement expressing his satisfaction with the announcement. He mentioned that Williams Racing has a rich history and legacy, and he believes that Carlos will thrive in this environment. Vasseur also expressed his respect for James and his confidence that Carlos will make a valuable contribution to the team.
Despite his future plans with Williams, Sainz is still currently a Ferrari driver and will compete in ten more races with the team. Vasseur emphasized that during this time, everyone will be working hard to achieve their goals and fight for every point until the end of the championship.
Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021, taking over Sebastian Vettel’s position. During his time with the team, he has achieved five pole positions and three wins. By the end of the 2024 F1 season, when Sainz concludes his tenure with Ferrari, he will have competed in 88 grands prix for the team.