Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz appears to have two concrete options on the table for next season when his current contract expires.
Williams and Audi – who are currently Sauber – appear to be pushing hardest to sign Carlos Sainz from Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
A report from the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has shared more details about the contracts Sainz reportedly has in front of him.
F1Oversteer understands that Williams believe that they are in line to sign Sainz although nothing in Formula 1 is certain until a driver signs on the dotted line.
Team principal James Vowles has already publicly courted Sainz and would love him to partner Alex Albon next season, stating that he wants two ‘world-class’ drivers, via Sky Sports F1, in his cars next year.
Although Audi are flush with cash – Helmut Marko suggested Red Bull couldn’t match their offer to Sainz – they appear to be behind Sainz in his thinking at this stage.
Williams may also have a ‘decisive’ advantage over Audi as they are believed to be offering Sainz a deal that could allow him to explore other options on the grid earlier in his contract.
Considering Sainz has already proved this season that he’s capable of being a race-winning F1 driver, that may really appeal to the Spaniard.
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Williams could have ‘decisive’ advantage over Audi in Carlos Sainz talks
When Carlos Sainz discovered that he was losing his Ferrari seat before the 2024 season even began, he appeared to have a few great options in front of him.
Plenty of movement was expected in the market and Mercedes, Red Bull and Aston Martin all potentially had available seats.
However, teams moved quickly to consolidate what they already had, with Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez handed contract extensions.
Sainz couldn’t even capitalise on his remarkable victory in Australia and was suddenly looking further down the paddock than he would have liked.
The Audi project immediately stood out as a front runner considering his father’s connection with the team.
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They’ll be the newest works outfit on the grid in 2026 and Nico Hulkenberg quickly committed to the project.
However, Sainz has reportedly already missed one deadline to sign for Audi and Williams have sensed an opportunity.
Vowles believes that he can bring Sainz to the Grove-based team and is willing to make one concession that Audi may not want.
The Germans are aiming to build a long-term project around their drivers, while Vowles understands that F1 doesn’t always work like that.
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Williams aiming to pair Alex Albon with Carlos Sainz in 2025
The report from Gazzetta dello Sport shares the ‘decisive’ difference in the offers that Williams and Audi have made to Sainz.
Audi want Sainz to sign a multi-year contract but they believe that the Spaniard may only sign a one-year deal with Williams.
It would include an option to extend his stay until the end of the 2026 season and the first campaign under the new regulations.
However, if Sainz wants an immediate return to the front of the grid, then a year at Williams might be enough to keep him in the frame for a top seat.
Williams are working hard behind the scenes to lift the team up the standings.
They would likely want more than 12 months to convince Sainz that he should stick with the project but he’s still an upgrade on Logan Sargeant even if they only have him for a year.
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