It’s happened: the cork has finally fired out of the bottle. And unexpectedly so, as it turns out; just as everyone had averted its gaze from the glass receptacle’s neck, the stopper broke free of its moorings and landed straight into the lap of James Vowles. Carlos Sainz has signed at Williams for 2025 and beyond, ending a seemingly inexhaustible saga of rumour, innuendo, and cyclical links and denials.
The Spaniard abruptly became a free agent for next season when Ferrari delivered its seismic news that Lewis Hamilton was to partner Charles Leclerc, and unwittingly assumed the headline role in the market masquerade ball. There was no shortage of suitors, particularly among the midfield teams looking to beat their rivals to something of a coup.
After all, this was a driver also linked with the vacant seats at Red Bull and Mercedes, a three-time winner who has become famed for his cerebral approach and tactical wizardry to plot his races. Alongside his accolades accrued after nearly a decade in F1, Sainz measured up to Max Verstappen in their Toro Rosso year-and-a-bit together, led McLaren alongside a still-green Lando Norris, and has found parity with Leclerc in their time together at Ferrari. Any one of F1’s current great-and-good, and Sainz has at least matched them on a regular basis.
It’s not a surprise to see why Williams wanted Sainz and, as soon as it became clear that the Madrid-born driver was on the market, Vowles knew that he had to make a play for him. He’s finally got his man, but might be a slight understatement that he had to fight a little bit to secure his services.
When Sainz’s unexpected joblessness for 2025 became apparent, Sauber was the first on the scene. The Swiss outfit is keenly awaiting its 2026 rebrand to Audi, and made Sainz a very lucrative offer to join Nico Hulkenberg at the team as it looked to make a statement in its preparations for the new regulation set.
But Sainz was never truly convinced by the offer. Sauber has declined significantly, doing naught but tread water as it sits in an uncomfortable holding pattern for 2026. Audi had to accelerate its takeover process at the start of this year as it became clear erstwhile owner Finn Rausing was not going to invest more money into a team he was not going to own for much longer.
Sainz was never especially convinced by the prospect of joining the Sauber team that will morph into Audi
Photo by: Mark Sutton
Even considering the…
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