The moment has arrived: the cork has finally popped out of the bottle. And surprisingly, it was when everyone’s attention was diverted from the neck of the container that the stopper shifted free and landed right in James Vowles’ lap. Carlos Sainz has officially signed with Williams for the 2025 season and beyond, putting an end to an endless saga of speculation, whispers, and repeated connections and disavowals.
The Spanish driver quickly became a free agent for the upcoming season when Ferrari announced its significant news: Lewis Hamilton will team up with Charles Leclerc, leaving Sainz to take center stage in the driver market’s masquerade. Interested parties were abundant, especially among midfield teams eager to secure a potential gem.
After all, this was a driver linked with open seats at Red Bull and Mercedes— a three-time race victor renowned for his analytical approach and race strategy. With nearly ten years of experience in F1, Sainz has matched the likes of Max Verstappen during their time at Toro Rosso, partnered with a nascent Lando Norris at McLaren, and has compared equally with Leclerc at Ferrari. He has consistently held his ground against some of F1’s elite.
It’s easy to see why Williams sought Sainz, and once it was clear that the Madrid-born driver was available, Vowles recognized he had to make his move. Saying he had to fight to secure Sainz may be an understatement.
When Sainz’s unexpected availability for 2025 became known, Sauber seized the opportunity first. The Swiss team, gearing up for its 2026 rebranding to Audi, made a lucrative offer for Sainz to join Nico Hulkenberg, aiming to establish a strong presence ahead of the new regulations.
However, Sainz was never entirely swayed by this offer. Sauber had deteriorated significantly, merely maintaining a stagnant position as it awaited the 2026 shift. The urgency for Audi’s takeover increased earlier this year when it became apparent that the previous owner, Finn Rausing, wouldn’t invest more in a team he wouldn’t retain ownership of much longer.
Sainz was never especially convinced by the prospect of joining the Sauber team that will morph into Audi
Photo by: Mark Sutton
Despite familial connections— Carlos Sainz Sr.’s victory in this year’s Dakar Rally with Audi—there were plenty of other opportunities available for Sainz The Younger when he initially received Sauber’s offer. For instance, there was the vacant seat at Mercedes previously held by Hamilton. Additionally, Red Bull had not yet confirmed Sergio Perez’s contract, and Aston Martin might have taken interest in Sainz had Fernando Alonso opted for a change to a more competitive team.
Were these ambitions unrealistic? Perhaps. It certainly seemed that way when Alonso secured his future with Aston Martin for another two years and Red Bull renewed Perez’s contract for 2025 onward.
Mercedes also appeared to be off the table as teen sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli has long been lined up for a seat alongside George Russell. The 17-year-old is considered pivotal to the team’s future, and team principal Toto Wolff’s preference for Antonelli stems from disappointment over Verstappen’s potential entry into F1 back in 2014. For Sainz, Mercedes might only have provided a temporary option, risking becoming an unwanted presence if Antonelli’s signing was postponed until 2026.
Sainz was significantly more impressed by the Williams battleplan. Vowles has laid out his vision, and the backing from owners Dorilton Capital will continue to fuel it.
When Williams approached Sainz, Vowles had a compelling vision to share, one he has communicated with characteristic precision. On the surface, it likely seemed less appealing compared to the Audi deal: given the financial disparities, his salary at Williams wouldn’t come close.
Audi offered a factory team contract, while Williams would remain a Mercedes customer team at least until 2030. Moreover, in reading any Vowles interview over the past year and a half, it’s clear that the Grove team requires further investment in its facilities to progress beyond the mid-field.
Yet, Sainz was far more intrigued by the Williams strategy. Over at Audi, preparations for 2026 conveyed a sense of stagnation, burdened by internal disputes between Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann. At Williams, however, Vowles has already set his plans in motion, with support from Dorilton Capital assured.
On Sunday, Vowles rated his chances of securing Sainz’s signature as “out of 100, more than 50% – how’s that? I feel optimistic. But I’ve encountered setbacks this year.” This refers to Williams nearly finalizing a deal earlier in the season, before Alpine disrupted the negotiations with a last-minute offer for Sainz.
Despite the scale of the rebuilding efforts facing Williams, Sainz has been impressed by the vision put forward by Vowles
Photo by: Williams
The previously stagnant French team awakened upon realizing Esteban Ocon wouldn’t continue with them. Contrary to popular belief on social media, Ocon was not unceremoniously dismissed; it was more a collaborative understanding.
Discontented with Alpine’s poor beginning to 2024 and the feeling of not being heard by the team management, Ocon sought change. In the meantime, team principal Bruno Famin was growing tired of the contentious dynamic with Pierre Gasly. Flavio Briatore’s unexpected return as a figure at Alpine served as another catalyst for transformation, as he harbored ambitions to replace Ocon with arguably the top driver for 2025.
Briatore laid out a strategy involving dropping the Renault power unit for 2026 while switching to a Mercedes customer deal, with plans for a revamped technical setup led by David Sanchez, just out of a brief tenure at McLaren.
This direction intrigued Sainz enough that he paused his discussions with Williams, delaying his decisions significantly as he refused to finalize anything during the hectic triple-header schedule. Additional layers of complexity emerged, causing a noticeable shift in Vowles’ demeanor.
Red Bull extended Perez’s contract, banking on him regaining his form, yet his performances remained lackluster despite the new deal. Mercedes resurfaced temporarily, as Antonelli’s initial F2 season proved challenging—after being a former powerhouse, Prema struggled with the new 2024 Dallara chassis. Antonelli himself admitted uncertainty about his readiness for F1 after his promotion from Formula Regional.
Vowles had to revisit discussions elsewhere and considered Valtteri Bottas as a primary reserve in case Sainz opted out. Bottas’ current form this season had been obscured by a troublesome Sauber chassis. Despite earlier concerns regarding Ocon’s adaptable racing style, he too became a serious consideration. Both drivers are well-known to Vowles, but ultimately, Ocon made his future clear by signing with Haas for 2025 as Kevin Magnussen’s replacement.
Sainz’s final choice boiled down to a direct contest between Williams and Alpine. Between the two, Williams presented a sense of stability derived from a consistent vision and identity, whereas Alpine appeared to be shifting towards an uncertain quasi-manufacturer identity before its inevitable sale due to insufficient brand equity with the Renault group. Despite Briatore being a considerable draw, he hasn’t yet had sufficient time to exert full influence over the team’s direction— and Famin, despite his good intentions, doesn’t match Briatore’s charm.
Uncertainty over the Alpine team’s direction meant it was not as appealing a destination for Sainz
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Ultimately, Sainz finalized his deal with Williams. The agreement is portrayed as a two-year contract with options for extensions, and Vowles has clarified that there will not be a clause allowing Sainz to exit for a top team.
So, why choose Williams? Vowles set the narrative the day before Sainz’s confirmation: “Here’s what he told me, which resonated deeply. ‘When I commit, I need to dedicate myself completely, heart and soul, 100%—and that means having no doubts.’ And that was why he was taking his time. That resonated with me.”
Of the choices available, Williams embodies perhaps the most intriguing narrative. Vowles has been diligently plotting the team’s pathway back to prominence, aiming to rebuild from their last championship in 1997. He has presented Sainz with the chance to play a key role in this process, assisting in the comprehensive restoration of a storied team that narrowly escaped the brink of extinction.
Albon will greatly benefit from Sainz’s presence in the Williams camp, and the team will have access to his wealth of experience and insights to hasten their progress.
It’s unnecessary to elaborate on what Williams gains from Sainz, as he ranks among the top drivers on the grid in terms of raw talent. He provides a reliable standard for the team to measure itself, aiding in assessing Alex Albon’s performance in the other car, and presenting the competition that Albon has missed previously while partnered with Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant. Albon will greatly benefit from Sainz’s presence in the Williams camp, and the team can leverage his extensive knowledge and strategies to build towards F1’s competitive pinnacle.
Sainz’s next move will initiate the subsequent phase of the driver market: the only remaining matter is filling a Mercedes seat, a potential opening at Red Bull pending the outcome of a key meeting, the available spot at Sauber alongside Hulkenberg, and who will join Gasly at Alpine. Bottas stands to be the most affected by Sainz’s agreement with Williams, which likely pushes Sauber to consider extending his contract moving forward. Then there’s the situation regarding Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson, or even Perez. An answer on that front shouldn’t be long in coming…
How F1’s remaining driver market puzzle pieces fall into place is set to be a point of intrigue over the coming weeks
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
