F1 news: Carlos Sainz signs for Williams on multi-year deal ahead of Ferrari exit

Williams have announced the signing of Carlos Sainz for the 2025 Formula One season.

The Spanish driver has agreed a two-year deal featuring multiple extension options ahead of his exit from Ferrari at the end of the year.

Lewis Hamilton’s move to the Scuderia left Sainz’s F1 future in doubt despite being regarded as one of the sport’s top talents, with a switch to either Mercedes or Red Bull quickly deemed unlikely despite appearing to be a good fit.

Instead, the 29-year-old who has won three races and racked up 23 podiums over a career spanning nearly 200 grands prix will head to the British marque.

Williams sit ninth in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship with just four points and have not finished inside the top five teams since 2017.

Sainz has insisted he is ready for the “challenge” of bringing them back towards the top of the grid.

He said: “I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards.

“It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision. However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport.

“The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.”

Sainz will partner Alex Albon at Williams, who confirmed Logan Sargeant’s departure in Monday’s announcement. The move leaves just a handful of seats free for next year with Mercedes yet to confirm their replacement for Hamilton while Alpine, Sauber and RB have roles unfilled.

Williams team principal James Vowles stated: “Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties.

“Carlos has demonstrated time and again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race-winning pedigree, and this underlines the upwards trajectory we are on. Carlos brings not just experience and performance, but also a fierce drive to extract every millisecond out of the team and car; the fit is perfect.

“In Alex and Carlos we will have one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid and with huge experience to guide us into the new regulations in 2026.”