Is Carlos Sainz edging closer to a 2025 Williams drive? James Vowles has claimed it should be an ‘easy decision’ for Carlos Sainz to join Williams for the F1 2025 season.
Sainz remains without a seat for next season after Ferrari announced the signing of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton for 2025. While Sainz’s impressive start to the season, including his victory at the Australian Grand Prix, had led to speculation of offers from top teams like Mercedes and Red Bull, those opportunities have recently closed.
Reports ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix suggested that Mercedes is no longer considering Sainz to replace Hamilton. Instead, Mercedes is keeping an eye on Max Verstappen’s situation at Red Bull. If Verstappen is unavailable, the team is likely to sign the 17-year-old Italian sensation, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Meanwhile, Red Bull has confirmed that Sergio Perez will stay with the team, signing a new two-year contract. This leaves Sainz with options narrowing down to Williams and Sauber, who will rebrand as Audi in 2026.
At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Vowles openly expressed his pursuit of Sainz and aimed to finalize Williams’ 2025 driver lineup soon. Williams’ technical partnership with Mercedes and their preparations for the F1 2026 rule changes make them an attractive option for drivers of Sainz’s caliber. Vowles told Sky F1, ‘Williams isn’t the same Williams it was three years ago. We want two world-class drivers to be a part of our stable going forward… In 2026, we have one of the best power units – if not the best power unit – coming to our car.’
A report from Spain recently claimed that Sainz has already signed a contract for the 2025 season. However, Sainz angrily denied these claims, emphasizing the importance of finding the right long-term project. He told reporters in Montreal, ‘The only thing I can tell you is there is nothing locked in. I’ve seen reports in the media, people saying I’ve signed. You look at those things, it makes me laugh… I think ’26 is going to be a lottery.’
Sainz also stressed the need for a medium to long-term project to be successful in Formula 1, indicating that he is looking for more stability in his future ventures.
As the F1 2025 season approaches, the question remains: where will Carlos Sainz land? Williams appears to be a strong contender, but only time will tell if Sainz will make the ‘easy decision’ Vowles suggests.
Source: Planetf1
