Carlos Sainz will stay with the Williams F1 Staff past the 2026 Method 1 season after agreeing a brand new multi-year contract with the Grove-based British outfit.
The Spaniard’s renewed dedication represents a serious vote of confidence in Williams’ long-term undertaking, regardless of the staff going through a difficult 2026 marketing campaign.
Sainz joined Williams firstly of 2025 and has since established himself as a key determine within the staff’s rebuilding course of, each on and off the monitor.
The four-time Grand Prix winner has delivered a few of Williams’ strongest outcomes lately. His standout performances in 2025 included a third-place end on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, his first podium with the staff, adopted by a Dash podium in Austin and one other third-place end on the Qatar Grand Prix.
Past his outcomes, Sainz has turn out to be an vital contributor to Williams’ technical growth. His detailed suggestions, engineering method and expertise from earlier spells with McLaren and Ferrari have made him a worthwhile asset because the staff continues its efforts to return to the entrance of the grid.
Sainz and Albon to guide Williams into 2027
The announcement additionally completes Williams’ driver line-up for its fiftieth anniversary season in 2027. Alex Albon confirmed his personal continued dedication to the staff yesterday, that means Williams will retain the identical skilled pairing for the following part of its rebuild.
Collectively, Sainz and Albon have greater than 370 Grand Prix begins, over 1,600 factors and 31 podium finishes between them. Their mixed expertise is anticipated to be significantly worthwhile as Williams appears to be like to show its important funding in infrastructure, personnel and expertise into constant on-track efficiency.
Whereas 2026 has proved tough for the staff, each drivers stay satisfied that progress is being made behind the scenes.
For Sainz, the choice to increase his keep displays his perception that Williams has the mandatory foundations to ultimately problem the established front-running groups.
“I really imagine within the folks that type this staff, each on the manufacturing unit and on the racetracks, and the investments and arduous work which can be taking place within the background,” Sainz stated. “We’ve what it takes to show this round collectively.”
The Spaniard added that his motivation has not modified since becoming a member of the staff.
“I’m as dedicated as I used to be on day one to serving to get Williams again to the place it belongs, and I sit up for creating extra reminiscences with the staff.”
Vowles: Sainz is a frontrunner of the staff
Williams Staff Principal James Vowles praised Sainz’s contribution to the organisation and highlighted the work the 31-year-old carries out away from the highlight.
In response to Vowles, Sainz’s worth extends far past his efficiency throughout Grand Prix weekends, with the driving force working intently with engineers on the manufacturing unit and monitor to extract each doable acquire from the automotive.
“From the second he joined, Carlos’ expertise behind the steering wheel and dedication again on the manufacturing unit have been extraordinarily worthwhile for this undertaking,” Vowles stated.
“He’s a frontrunner of this staff, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s doable as we proceed to rebuild it.”
Vowles additionally believes Williams now possesses one of many strongest driver combos on the grid.
“Together with Alex, I really imagine we have now one of many strongest line-ups on the grid, and a staff able to combating for each ounce of efficiency collectively,” he added.
A major milestone for Williams
Sainz’s extension carries extra significance due to Williams’ historical past. The Spaniard is certainly one of solely three drivers, alongside Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell, to have raced for all three of Williams, McLaren and Ferrari.
His continued presence means he’ll play a central function as Williams celebrates 50 years of competing in Method 1 in 2027.
The staff enters that milestone season with an formidable goal: to construct on its historic legacy of 9 Constructors’ Championships and 114 Grand Prix victories whereas establishing itself as a daily contender on the entrance of the fashionable Method 1 grid.
For now, Williams has chosen stability. With Sainz and Albon each dedicated to the undertaking, the staff can focus its consideration on closing the efficiency hole and making certain that its important funding behind the scenes interprets into outcomes on monitor.
For Sainz, in the meantime, the message is evident: regardless of the difficulties of 2026, he nonetheless believes Williams can return to the place the place its historical past suggests it belongs — combating on the entrance of Method 1.
