That’s according to F1-Insider who claim the speculation is ‘over’, Sainz ‘has now decided’ when he will be in 2025, and his ‘choice is Williams.’ The 29-year-old, a winner of three Grands Prix, has reportedly put pen to paper on a ‘one-year contract’ worth €10 million per season that includes an option to extend. As for what persuaded him to choose Williams instead of Alpine or Audi, that’s a special clause in the contract that means he may never race for Williams. ‘Above all,’ reads the report, ‘his contract is said to contain a clause that allows him not to start his job at Williams at all or to quit if the opportunity arises to move to Mercedes or Red Bull in 2025.’ https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/carlos-sainz-has-decided-10m-deal-for-f1-2025-with-special-exit-clause-report/ar-BB1qLcqn
I guess that he took a short pay check and a short contract over a fast car. He may have buried his F1 future hoping something better will be available in 2026. By then, his small victories at Ferrari will be very old news...and Williams won't be the level of team that will give him anything to boast about. Plus, he isn't getting any younger.
That's my take as well. Ricciardo jumps into Perez's seat. It's a last make or break for Ricciardo should he jump into that roll and be Max's teammate.
It would be a good excuse for Marko & Co to get rid of 2 drivers at the end of the year: Perez they want to "terminate" anyway, and Ricciardo they don't know what to do with. I can imagine Helmut Marko already rubbing his hands at the prospect !!
I'm not sure I would sign with someone who has the firm determination to leave me at first chance thus considering my team an undesirable and unattractive one. Particularly when he has no bargaining power, literally, nobody wants him and in the end, neither Williams who is not particularly interested in retaining him either. And perhaps for a good reason, when he attempts to sing "smooth operator" it's like he's summoning the devil, it freezes my spine, babies cry and wolves howl in despair.
Looks like it's officially confirmed: https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/22c46812-ee00-494b-b96d-80f19303ec95/williams-racing-welcomes-carlos-sainz Bye Sargent. "Williams Racing today announces that Carlos Sainz will complete the team’s driver line-up for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season and beyond. With a decade of F1 competition under his belt, Sainz will join Williams from Scuderia Ferrari on a two-year agreement with options to extend. In his Formula 1 career to date, the 29-year-old Spaniard has achieved three race victories, 23 podiums, over 1,100 career points and is currently sitting fifth in this season’s Drivers’ Championship. After becoming the only non-Red Bull Racing driver to achieve a race victory in 2023, Sainz most recently took victory at this year’s Australian Grand Prix, just ten days after surgery for appendicitis, and has scored four further podiums so far this season. Carlos will race alongside Alex Albon for Williams Racing for 2025 and into the new F1 regulations era as the formidable pairing look to spearhead the team’s mission to return to the front of the grid. He will continue to race using number 55."
making hay while the sunshines. he outdrove Leclerc on several occassions. williams is lucky to have him. red bull missed an opportunity.
Done deal. Toto's right hand man is running Williams so we'll see how it shakes out. He's been transforming that place, taking it out of 2 decades ago. The real question now is Alpine, they were waiting for Carlos' decision. Alpine said Mick is their guy if Carlos doesn't work out.
Perhaps not, it depends upon how the Perez/Ricciardo/Lawson seat shakes out. Also Mercedes could place Antonelli in the second Williams seat and pair Carlos with George. It is a fluid situation, I think that it was a solid move by Carlos.
Give Alpine 1-2 seasons and they'll turn around. Going with Mercedes for engines is a good first move, along with getting Flavio on board to do what he does.
I very much doubt that even if true someone like Mick can’t afford to waste a few more years with a team like that
Sainz' contract with Williams reminds me so much of the Zero Hours Contract offered by some employers in UK (no names). You have a job, but often no work to do ! You can stay in bed most days until the phone rings. I never understood the logic of it, apart that it's a way of massaging the stats.
