Carlos Sainz extends Williams contract

British Formula One team Williams Racing has announced that their Spanish driver, Carlos Sainz, has signed a new multi-year contract with the team which will see him remain on the grid with Williams beyond the Formula One 2027 season. The announcement also means that Williams have confirmed their driver lineup for the Formula One 2027 season with Alex Albon also continuing with the team, as announced a day before Sainz’s announcement. 

After making his debut with Toro Rosso in 2015, Sainz made his first switch in 2017 when he joined Renault but it wasn’t until his move to McLaren in 2019 that he shot to prominence, becoming one of the most consistent drivers on the grid. At McLaren, he spent three seasons between 2019 and 2021 and picked up his first podium as well at the Brazilian Grand Prix 2019. Sainz moved to Ferrari to replace Sebastian Vettel in 2021 and he picked up his first career win with Ferrari as well at the British Grand Prix 2022. He was the only non-Red Bull winner during the Formula One 2023 season before he left Ferrari at the end of the Formula One 2024 season. 

Sainz joined Williams in 2025 and with Williams having a competitive machinery, Sainz along with teammate Albon pushed Williams to a fifth place finish at the Constructors’ Championship while he finished ninth in the Drivers’ Championship as he picked up his maiden podium with Williams at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 and was on the podium again at the Qatar Grand Prix 2025, finishing third on both occasions.. The 2026 season has been a tough one for Williams as they have fallen down the grid again with Sainz having scored six points in the first half of the season through three ninth place finishes in China, Miami and Canada. 

Carlos Sainz, commented,

“I’m thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team family! I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background. We have what it takes to turn this around together. I’m as committed as I was on day one to helping get Williams back to where it belongs, and I look forward to creating more memories with the team.”

James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing, said,

“From the moment he joined, Carlos’ talent behind the steering wheel and dedication back at the factory have been extremely valuable for this project – working day in, day out with his engineers to find every millisecond. He is a leader of this team, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s possible as we continue to rebuild it. It’s not just his racecraft and speed that stand out, but the work he does behind the scenes in the pursuit of high performance. Carlos shares the belief and ambition we have at Atlassian Williams F1 Team and is pushing every day to deliver it. Along with Alex, I truly believe we have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid, and a team capable of fighting for every ounce of performance together.”