Carlos Sainz announced Monday that he had signed a two-year deal to race for Williams starting from the 2025 season amid what he said was an “exceptionally complex” market for Formula One drivers.
The 29-year-old Spaniard will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 campaign after seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was announced as his replacement at the Italian giants earlier this year.
Sainz has won three F1 races so far in his career, the most recent at the Australian Grand Prix in March.
Having previously driven for Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren, Sainz had been linked with several teams for the 2025 season including Alpine, Sauber and Mercedes.
But on Monday, it was confirmed that he had agreed to an initial two-year deal with Williams, including an option to extend.
In a team statement, Sainz expressed his happiness in announcing his future with Williams Racing starting in 2025.
He acknowledged the complexity of this year’s driver market and the time it took to finalize his decision.
He added, “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 Spaniard concluded, “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.”
Sainz will replace Logan Sargeant at Williams, where he will partner Alex Albon.
Founded in 1977 by the late Frank Williams, the team won nine F1 Constructors’ Championships and seven drivers’ titles, with Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve all crowned world champions while at Williams.
But Williams have struggled in recent seasons and last took a podium finish in 2021, while their last race victory came via Pastor Maldonado’s shock win back at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.
Williams team principal James Vowles stated that Sainz joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties.
He highlighted that Sainz has repeatedly demonstrated his talent and race-winning pedigree, emphasizing the team’s upward trajectory.
With AFP
