Carlos Sainz has committed to Williams, signing a multi-year contract to race alongside Alex Albon, leaving the Scuderia and Monegasque teammate Charles Leclerc in a bid to return the British Formula 1 team to its former glory.
The 29-year-old Spaniard, who is set to lose his Ferrari seat to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, has found a new home from 2025, ending months of speculation surrounding his future at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Sainz, a highly sought-after driver, attracted interest from multiple teams, including Sauber/Audi and Alpine. However, it was James Vowles’ Williams project that secured Sainz’s commitment. He will race for Williams in 2025 and 2026, providing the team with stability during a significant regulatory shift, which will introduce a new aerodynamic profile and power unit rules featuring 100 percent sustainable fuel.
“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards. It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision.” said Sainz.
“However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport. The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity, the speedy Spaniard stated.
A quality teammate of Leclerc’s since joining Ferrari in 2021, fans of the sport are sad to see this driver pairing come to an end. Leclerc himself shared a well wishing message to his friend and soon to be former Ferrari man Sainz.
Featured image courtesy of @Charles_Leclerc on X
