Carlos Sainz has lastly made the choice for the subsequent step in his Method 1 profession: the Spaniard, for whom there is no such thing as a longer a spot at Ferrari, has opted for Williams. The group introduced this afternoon.
Textual content: Mattijs Diepraam
Photograph: Williams F1
The Grove-based group introduced that Sainz has signed for 2 years, with choices to increase. Which means Sainz can even enter the brand new period with a renewed F1 regulation with Williams from 2026. Sainz will probably be reunited at Williams with one other former Purple Bull junior, Alex Albon, who beforehand signed for extra years.
The Spaniard was broadly seen because the bottleneck within the present F1 switch market. His definitive selection signifies that groups reminiscent of Alpine and Sauber/Audi will now must go for his or her B-choice. Sainz himself may very well be seen because the B-choice for Purple Bull and Mercedes, the 2 groups that also have a spot on the similar degree that he’s pressured to depart at Ferrari. For months, Sainz waited in useless for a gap at both of them. Mercedes now appear to have set their sights on Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli after two moderately convincing performances in Method 2, whereas Purple Bull has gone its personal approach and has by no means critically thought of Sainz as a substitute for Sergio Perez, for whom the tip is close to.
Sainz says within the Williams press launch that he sees it as his problem to steer the previous championship group again to the highest. He refers not solely to the group’s big heritage and all of the champions who’ve been his heroes, but in addition to the management of group principal James Vowles and the remainder of the group administration, in whom he expresses nice confidence.
The contract with Sainz means that there’s positively no place for Logan Sargeant at Williams within the 2025 season, though nobody was relying on a contract extension for the American. From the parting phrases of group boss Vowles it turns into clear that Sargeant will merely end the season.
