Carlos Sainz (Williams): Plan failed, cold shoulder from Audi

In the 2026/2027 transfer chess game, Max Verstappen is the king. Everything hinges on the decision of the four-time Formula 1 champion. However, rumours of Verstappen moving to McLaren, taking a break from Formula 1, or even retiring from the sport are likely to come to nothing. The signs point to him honouring his contract with Red Bull Racing.

Carlos Sainz’s management team has been waiting to see what happens with Verstappen. But it is slowly dawning on the Spaniards that there will be no chance of moving from Williams to Red Bull Racing.

And the plan to spread rumours of alleged interest from Audi has also failed. Audi has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the two drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg.

Furthermore, the Ferrari option has fizzled out: a return to Italy is not possible because Lewis Hamilton has regained his former form and Charles Leclerc is tied to Ferrari for years to come.

This leaves the 31-year-old Sainz with just one real option: a new deal with Williams. According to Spanish newspapers, the Madrid-born driver has reached an agreement with the long-established British team, which could be announced before the Zandvoort Grand Prix weekend.

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The four-time Grand Prix winner had opted for a two-year contract with Williams in 2024 because he was convinced by team principal James Vowles’ vision.

However, a solid 2025 season (ninth in the World Championship, third-place finishes in Azerbaijan and Qatar) was followed by a sobering reality: Sainz currently lies only 15th in the World Championship standings, with six points and three ninth-place finishes in Shanghai, Miami and Montreal. Most recently, Carlos has failed to score points on six consecutive occasions.

The 2022 and 2024 World Championship runner-up (with Ferrari) is now reported to have negotiated a higher salary with Williams in order to commit to the team for a further two years – albeit with sophisticated performance-related clauses. It is reported that if the team fails to meet these targets, Sainz will be free to seek a new deal for 2028.