The long-awaited decision has been made. Carlos Sainz has chosen Williams as his destination for 2025 and beyond.
The Spaniard has been the big name driver on the market for next year since Scuderia Ferrari confirmed in February that Lewis Hamilton would be joining them in 2025.
Audi looked to be the hot favourites for quite some time as the German manufacturer has shown plenty of admiration for the 29-year-old.
However, things changed in recent weeks. During the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, it was confirmed that Williams had started talking to the Spanish driver. Ever since then, team boss James Vowles has been on a charm offensive to bring the Spaniard to the team as the Brit looks to revive past glories at Grove.
Sainz took his time to make the decision and ultimately decided that Williams was the best option at this present time. The 3-time Grand Prix winner will partner Alex Albon, leaving Williams with one of the strongest line-ups on the F1 grid.
It’s a big vote of confidence in James Vowles as he tries to get Williams and their facilities into the modern age to become a genuine force in the sport once again. The team has not a won race since Spain in 2012, and their last championships came in 1997.
Although Audi has managed to secure the services of the very quick Nico Hülkenberg for 2025 and beyond, it’s a blow for the team who had tried to secure the 29-year-old’s services over a long period of time, and the team had only recently signed his former boss Mattia Binotto.
As for Logan Sargeant, his days in F1 look numbered. While he has made a step in performance this year, it was not enough to convince Vowles to retain him beyond 2024.
Carlos Sainz: “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. 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.
“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.”
James Vowles: “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.
“In Alex and Carlos we will have one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid and with huge experience to guide us into the new regulations in 2026. Their belief in this organisation’s mission demonstrates the magnitude of the work going on behind the scenes. People should be in no doubt about our ambition and momentum as we continue our journey back to competitiveness – we are here, we are serious and with Dorilton’s backing we are investing in what it takes to return to the front of the grid.
“I also want to thank Logan for everything he has done for the team and know he will continue to fight hard for us in the races ahead.”
