The future of Carlos Sainz has recently overtaken that of Max Verstappen’s in terms of media coverage. Now, the Spaniard has confirmed where his Formula 1 future lies.
Sainz has endured a miserable 2026 so far, with Williams struggling towards the wrong end of the grid, having improved drastically in 2025, helping the Grove-based squad to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship, via two podium finishes.
The 31-year-old has turned down a chance to drive for the nascent Audi team for Williams, and recent speculation was linking Sainz with a u-turn to the German marque for next season.
But in an announcement from Williams today, the four-tme Grand Prix-winner is committng his future to Williams, with a “multi-year contract”.
In a statement, Sainz said: “I’m thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team family! I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background.
“We have what it takes to turn this around together. I’m as committed as I was on day one to helping get Williams back to where it belongs, and I look forward to creating more memories with the team.”
Carlos Sainz ‘shares belief and ambition’ that Williams can compete again – Vowles
The truncation in Williams’ trajectory towards the sharp end of the table has left Team Principal James Vowles come under scrutiny from some circles.
But Sainz’s continuation with the team will provide a welcome boost for Vowles and the team, as it looks to reverse its challenging first half of 2026.
“From the moment he joined, Carlos’ talent behind the steering wheel and dedication back at the factory have been extremely valuable for this project – working day in, day out with his engineers to find every millisecond,” Vowles said.
“He is a leader of this team, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s possible as we continue to rebuild it. It’s not just his racecraft and speed that stand out, but the work he does behind the scenes in the pursuit of high performance.
“Carlos shares the belief and ambition we have at Atlassian Williams F1 Team and is pushing every day to deliver it. Along with Alex, I truly believe we have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid, and a team capable of fighting for every ounce of performance together.”
Sainz and Williams will look to start the second half of the campaign on a positive footing this weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Sainz’s contract extension is the second in as many days that Williams can celebrate, having tied down teammate Alex Albon to another year.
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