Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has reached an agreement with Williams Racing for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The Spanish racer is currently in his final season with Ferrari and is currently ranked fifth in the driver standings for Formula 1 (F1).
“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025,” Sainz said on Monday. “It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons, and I have taken my time to make my decision.”
“However, I am fully convinced that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey, and I am extremely proud to become part of such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes have raced and made their mark on our sport. The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where they belong – at the front of the grid – is a challenge I embrace with excitement and positivity,” he added.
Sainz has already secured his third F1 victory at the Australian Grand Prix in March. Additionally, he has achieved four third-place finishes this season, most recently at the Austrian Grand Prix on June 30.
The 29-year-old Spaniard will replace Logan Sargeant and will race alongside Alex Albon at Williams. Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton will step in as Sainz’s successor at Ferrari.
Sainz, who also attracted interest from Sauber/Audi and Renault-owned Alpine, expressed confidence that Williams has “all the right ingredients to create history again.”