Ferrari
Williams signs Sainz on multi-year deal
Carlos Sainz has finally made a decision on his future and signed for Williams on a multi-year contract, replacing Logan Sargeant in 2025.
Ferrari’s decision to sign Lewis Hamilton for next year had left Sainz on the driver market from the start of this season, and the Spaniard took his time to assess options and wait to see if any openings appeared that could lead to opportunities at either Red Bull or Mercedes. While acceptable offers there didn’t materialize, Sainz still had a choice of Williams, Alpine or Stake – the future Audi F1 entry – and has now committed to join James Vowles’ rebuilding project.
“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards,” Sainz said. “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.
“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. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.”
Sainz, who has won three grands prix to date, singled out Vowles and the management team at Williams as key factors in his decision, as Dorilton Capital continues to invest in the infrastructure at Grove to try and return Williams to winning ways.
“I want to thank James Vowles and the entire board of Williams for their trust and determination. Their solid leadership and convictions have played an important role in my decision-making.
“I truly believe that the core of every successful team lies amongst their people and their culture. Williams is synonymous with heritage and pure racing, the foundations of the project that lies ahead of us are very strong and I am really looking forward to being part of it starting next year.”
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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