Carlos Sainz is inching ever closer to picking his next destination in Formula 1. Sainz has been at the centre of the driver market since the winter, when Ferrari announced they were replacing him with Lewis Hamilton.
Inevitably, the Spaniard has tried to remain at the front of the F1 grid. With the doors to former team McLaren closed, Red Bull and Mercedes offered the only chance of doing so.
The world champions may have a vacancy for next year if Sergio Perez doesn’t do enough to earn a new contract. But ‘the word is’ that they don’t particularly want Sainz either way.
That’s partly because there’s a risk of further ‘tension’ with Max Verstappen. They had a fractious relationship during their rookie campaigns at Toro Rosso back in 2015.
As for Mercedes, timelines have been an issue thus far. Toto Wolff has offered him a guaranteed one-year contract, but that comes with the risk of losing his seat to Verstappen or Kimi Antonelli in 12 months’ time.
What’s more, the Silver Arrows are prepared to bide their time before finalising their Hamilton replacement. And that’s a luxury Sainz doesn’t have given that he’s without a drive for next year.
The 29-year-old does have a longstanding offer on the table from Audi. But he’s been holding out for something better before he accepts.
Williams have now made acceptable offer to Carlos Sainz
According to The Race, interest from Williams has now reached an advanced stage. There has been an offer and a counteroffer behind the scenes, culminating in a ‘satisfactory’ proposal.
The Grove outfit has clearly demonstrated that it has the resources to sign one of F1’s A-listers. Sainz has won three Grands Prix, most recently in Australia in March, and taken 21 career podiums.
Of course, it now remains to be seen whether he’s willing to sign the contract. But he’s evidently ‘open to the idea’, otherwise negotiations wouldn’t have progressed this far.
The report raises the possibility that Sainz could sign with the British team for two years at first. Then, come 2026, he’d have the option to make another move if things weren’t working out, with a clear picture of the hierarchy after the regulation changes.
He’d already know the identity of his teammate for the duration of that deal. Williams have recently tied Alex Albon down to a multi-year extension.
The big incentive Williams can offer Carlos Sainz
On the face of it, it’s hard to understand why Williams are more attractive than Sauber/Audi. They too have failed to score a single point this season.
James Vowles’ team do boast an iconic legacy within the sport, with 114 wins and 16 combined championships over nearly 50 years of racing. But they’re a long way from those heights at the moment.
Ted Kravitz expressed surprise when he heard about the negotiations in the Monaco Grand Prix paddock. But he also feels that they’re a marker of Vowles’ ambition as he simultaneously pursues Adrian Newey ahead of the designer’s Red Bull exit.
Crucially, Williams will be racing with a Mercedes power unit come 2026. And Sainz is aware of rumours that they have stolen a march on their competitors with their new-look engine.
Even if 2025 may be a year of pain, Williams could consequently make big strides the following season. It would still be a major gamble, but there isn’t a perfect option available.
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