Spanish F1 star Carlos Sainz will join Williams after agreeing a multi-year deal from the 2025 season. Sainz will partner with Thai-British F1 driver Alex Albon at the British Formula One team. Replacing the Spaniard at Scuderia Ferrari is seven-time F1 champion and current Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
After having his best-ever start to a season in F1 2024 where Sainz registered his third career victory at the Australian Grand Prix, the 29-year-old had multiple suitors ahead of the 2025 season. The former Mclaren star was reported with teams like Mercedes, Alpine and Sauber/Audi before confirming Williams as his new team from the 2025 season.
I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards: Sainz
Speaking about this decision, Sainz said, “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.”
“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.”
Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement: James Vowles
Sharing his thoughts on Sainz’s signing, the Team Principal of Williams Racing, James Vowles said, “Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties. Carlos has demonstrated time and again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race-winning pedigree, and this underlines the upwards trajectory we are on. Carlos brings not just experience and performance, but also a fierce drive to extract every millisecond out of the team and car; the fit is perfect.”