Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz ended the speculation about his future on Monday by announcing he will join Williams for the 2025 F1 season.
Sainz became the highest-profile free agent for the upcoming season after it was announced that the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton would take his spot at Ferrari. Since then, Sainz has been linked with several teams, including Alpine and Sauber, which will transform into Audi in 2026 but rejected those opportunities for a chance to drive with Williams.
“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,” Sainz said in a statement. “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 added that he will be driving for Williams in “2025, 2026, and beyond.” He replaces American Logan Sargeant at Williams while teaming up with Alex Albon.
Sainz made his debut in Formula One in 2015 with Scuderia Toro Rosso. He also raced for Renault and McLaren before joining Ferrari in 2021. The Spaniard has three wins, 23 podiums, and five pole positions in his F1 career. He is currently fifth in the Driver’s Rankings for 2024, having won the Australian Grand Prix.
Williams was formed in 1977 and has won nine Constructors’ Championships. However, its most recent championship came in 1997, and the team struggled lately, failing to finish in the top five since 2017.
