Carlos Sainz could be in line to complete a surprise transfer to Williams in 2025, with reports emerging that he is locked in talks with the Formula 1 team over a drive.
Speculation has continued to rumble since the campaign began regarding where Sainz will end up amid Ferrari’s choice to replace him with Lewis Hamilton next term.
Sauber is understood to be courting Sainz’s signature as it prepares to morph into a works Audi entrant from 2026 once brand-new technical changes are introduced.
But while it is touted that the marque has named the end of the month as a deadline to receive an answer, Sainz has been keen to review the opportunities at the top.
However, Red Bull is leaning towards retaining Sergio Perez, while Mercedes appears set on promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli in case it can’t acquire Max Verstappen.
According to Autosport, though, the Spaniard’s prospective options might not boil down to the Sauber/Audi venture, with Williams now entering the frame to sign him.
Williams announced earlier this month that Alex Albon has penned a multi-term contract extension, but Logan Sargeant’s period with the squad appears to be ticking.
The Grove-based camp has shown encouraging signs under boss James Vowles, who has highlighted the desire to renovate the outdated facilities at its British base.
Albon explained that his decision to renew came down to his faith in Williams being well-poised to make marked progress under the rules reset compared to its rivals.
The Anglo-Thai racer alluded to the British outfit’s Mercedes engine deal as a potential advantage, with the German marque voicing positive signs about its 2026 unit.
With Albon having disclosed Williams is thinking “outside the box” when it comes to the future, Vowles admitted he galvanising a setup geared towards the long-term.
“The 2025 car is in the tunnel, it’s as simple as that,” Vowles said at Imola. “And you’re doing that to get ahead of yourself in time for actually 2026 and 2027.
“All the way through my messaging will continue to be the same: it’s not that I don’t care about these years [before 2026], but I want us to be successful in the future.
“To do that, I’ve got to make some pretty harsh decisions in order to transform the organisation.”
Speaking to media including MotorsportWeek.com in Monaco earlier on, Sainz suggested that there were developments ongoing that hadn’t been documented online.
“Behind the scenes I know more,” the outgoing Ferrari driver commented. “You have the rumours and everything, but don’t worry, I’m not going to let slip anything.
“I’m going to just put all the options on the table and make the right decision. I can just tell you that, once I open my mind up, everything will happen very quickly.
“It’s all about putting everything together that I feel like I need on my next new contract.”
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