Carlos Sainz To Drive for Williams in 2025: What Does This Mean for F1?

F1 Analysis

Jul 30

With Lewis Hamilton’s unexpected move to Ferrari, Carlos Sainz was left without a seat on the grid for 2025. Fan speculation as to who the Spaniard would be driving for began early on, yet as the season continued and more contracts were announced, Sainz’s choices began to narrow. An official multi year contract with Williams Racing was announced July 29, 2024. What does this mean for Sainz and the rest of the F1 grid?

About the Contract

According to the Williams Instagram post, Sainz will be driving for the team in “2025, 2026, and beyond.” In another video shared, Sainz described his future in F1 as driving for Williams “for the next few years.” Though we don’t know for sure just how long exactly Sainz will be driving for Williams, it’s clear that he is taking his relationship with the team seriously and possibly looking for a long term rapport.

The Williams Team

In the 2023 season, experienced former Red Bull driver Alex Albon scored 27 of the team’s 28 points. Rookie driver Logan Sargeant scored just one of these points. With two seasoned drivers who formerly raced for top teams, Williams could very well be seeing Albon-level results doubled. Finishing seventh in the constructors championship in 2023, Williams could be seeing midfield results with Sainz’s addition to the team.

Alex Albon

Albon has been driving for Williams since 2022 and is the clear number one driver of the team currently. In a particular controversy, Albon was given Sargeant’s undamaged car when he crashed his own beyond short term repair, leaving Sargeant unable to race. Albon’s priority to the Williams team is clear- but how will this dynamic change with Sainz? The Spaniard is coming off a high after four competitive years with Ferrari, with dozens of podiums and multiple race wins under his belt. With William’s small budget, if another similar situation arises like the case of Sargeant’s car, who will the team turn to as their number one?

Logan Sargeant

With Sainz coming in 2025, American driver Logan Sargeant will be left without a seat in what would be his third season in Formula One. As of Sainz’s announcement, a seat in Kick Sauber, Mercedes, Alpine, and RB remain possibilities for Sargeant. However, due to his mediocre performance particularly compared to his teammate Alex Albon, many believe Sargeant will be left without a seat and will leave F1 altogether, possibly to pursue his racing career in IndyCar or another motorsport series.

The Grid

For the past decades, Williams has sat at the bottom of the grid in both drivers and constructors standings. With the addition of another experienced driver and race winner, will F1 see Williams reemerging as a more competitive midfield team?

Was it the Right Move?

Fan opinions are mixed regarding Sainz’s move. While many believe Sainz’s talent will be wasted on a bottom team, others think the move will allow Sainz to create a long term relationship and restore Williams to its former glory. Only time will tell, making the prospect of the 2025 season even more exciting.

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