Carlos Sainz chooses his next step with Williams just days before the Dutch GP, as talks with Red Bull continue.
Carlos Sainz has made a clear decision about his future with Williams after talks about possible moves to Red Bull and Alpine. The Spanish driver joined the British team after leaving Ferrari in 2025 but has faced a challenging season and a half so far.
In 2025, Sainz finished ninth in the Drivers’ Championship with 64 points, just behind his teammate Alex Albon, who scored 73. The 2026 season hasn’t gone much better for the team. After 11 races, Albon is 16th with 5 points and no podiums, while Sainz is 15th with 6 points ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Even with these results, Williams confirmed on August 18th that Albon had renewed his contract for one more year, through 2027. The next day, they announced that Sainz would also stay with the team for next season and maybe longer, despite the recent rumors linking him to Red Bull and Alpine.
Team principal James Vowles explained the choice to keep Sainz: “From day one, Carlos’ skill and hard work with his engineers have been really important for our progress. He’s a leader here and understands what we’re building. It’s not just his speed on the track but also his effort behind the scenes that makes a big difference.”
James added, “Carlos believes in what we’re doing at Williams and pushes hard every day. Together with Alex, I think we have a strong driver pair and a team that’s ready to fight for every bit of performance.”
Sainz also shared his thoughts after signing the new contract, saying he’s “thrilled” to continue the journey with Williams. “I believe in the people here and the hard work happening both at the factory and on the track. We have what it takes to improve, and I’m as committed as ever to helping Williams get back to where it belongs. I’m excited to make more great memories with the team.”
This year, Sainz’s best finishes have been ninth place in China, Miami, and Canada. He’s hoping that an upgrade package coming at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will help him and the team improve in the second half of the season.