Carlos Sainz was reportedly set to be announced as a Williams driver at the Spanish Grand Prix. But instead, the uncertainty over his future persists.
The F1 paddock was ‘certain’ that Williams were about to unveil Sainz. James Vowles has been determined to combine with Alex Albon from 2025 onwards.
But a late offensive from Alpine seems to have altered the picture. The Spaniard previously raced for the team in 2018, while they were still under the guise of Renault.
The French brand have a vacancy to fill for next year after agreeing to part ways with Esteban Ocon. Reserve driver Jack Doohan has been the favourite up to this point but he could be moved aside if a three-time race-winner is available.
Alpine failed to score a point in the first five races of the season, leaving them joint-bottom of the constructors’ championship. However, the team have made tangible progress since.
They have now finished in the top 10 at four of the last five events, and each of the last three. A first double-points effort of the season in Canada was followed by another in Barcelona last weekend.
Alpine engine talks key as Carlos Sainz changes his mind
According to Formu1a.uno, Sainz’s interest in joining Alpine had previously ‘waned’. In addition to their on-track woes, they were in a state of disarray behind the scenes amid an ongoing exodus of key personnel.
That meant it was a choice between Williams and Audi, but the 29-year-old now appears to have changed his mind. He sees Bruno Famin’s squad as a viable option for next year, even if they may not be the favourites.
There are two reasons for this shift. The first is the arrival of Flavio Briatore in an advisory role, even if it’s a move that has baffled Damon Hill.
Briatore won championships in management positions at Benetton in the 1990s and Renault in the 2000s, and has now returned to try and change the team’s course. Meanwhile, Alpine are also exploring potential engine supply deals.
There is ‘talk’ in the paddock that they could strike a deal with either Mercedes or Honda ahead of the 2026 regulation changes. In Sainz’s eyes, this makes the ‘prospect more attractive’.
Indeed, one of the reasons he’d favoured Williams up to this point was their tie-up with Mercedes. There are rumours that the German manufacturer have an early edge over the field in the powertrain department.
Damon Hill issues verdict on Sainz clash with Charles Leclerc
When Ferrari told him that they would be replacing him with Lewis Hamilton, Sainz assured them that he would push until the final corner of the final lap of the season. But it’s also true that he no longer has anything to lose at Maranello.
There were signs of that at the start of the Spanish GP as Sainz made an aggressive move on teammate Charles Leclerc, resulting in minor contact between the two drivers. Sky Sports F1 pundit Hill believes the latter was to blame because he should have backed out.
In the end, Leclerc came home ahead as he put together a superior strategy. The Monegasque ran the softs for the final stint, while Sainz was on the hards after stopping earlier.
It may be difficult for Fred Vasseur to manage the dynamic between the two drivers until the end of the season. They won’t be able to take the fight to Red Bull effectively if they allow their rivalry to impede cooperation.
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