Williams has confirmed its driver line-up for the 2027 Method 1 season after saying the dedication of Carlos Sainz on a multi-year deal.
The Spaniard’s information comes a day after team-mate Alex Albon agreed just a one-season extension for next year, which would be the Thai-Briton’s sixth marketing campaign with the Grove outfit.
For Sainz, 2027 shall be his third season at Williams and comes regardless of a torrid 2026 because the group is ninth within the standings after 11 rounds, with simply 11 factors and none from the final 5 races.
“I’m thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Williams F1 Crew household,” stated Sainz, who joined from Ferrari the place he gained 4 grands prix.
“I actually imagine within the folks that type this group, each on the manufacturing unit and on the race tracks, and the investments and exhausting work which can be taking place within the background.
“We now have what it takes to show this round collectively. I’m as dedicated as I used to be on day one to serving to get Williams again to the place it belongs.
“I look ahead to creating extra reminiscences with the group.”
Alexander Albon, Williams, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Sainz’s dedication might come as an preliminary shock contemplating how poor 2026 has gone, failing to kick on from 2025 the place his two podiums helped Williams end fifth – its highest championship place since 2017.
The British outfit began the 2026 regulation change with an obese automotive and reducing this has been its primary focus all through the season, maybe on the expense of growing aerodynamically.
So hypothesis grew to become strife that Sainz was probably trying to transfer on for subsequent 12 months together with his contract expiring on the finish of 2026, however his solely possibility would have been one other midfield group.
The 31-year-old will subsequently stay for Williams’ fiftieth season in F1, having since gained 9 constructors’ titles, seven drivers’ championships and 114 grand prix victories.
Williams reckons Sainz’s extension “displays the belief either side have constructed as Williams continues investing in all areas wanted to problem in F1 and add to its legacy”.
Crew boss James Vowles added: “From the second he joined, Carlos’ expertise behind the steering wheel and dedication again on the manufacturing unit have been extraordinarily useful for this mission – working day in, time out together with his engineers to search out each millisecond.
Carlos Sainz, Williams, James Vowles, Williams
Photograph by: Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
“He’s a pacesetter of this group, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s doable as we proceed to rebuild it.
“It’s not simply his racecraft and pace that stand out, however the work he does behind the scenes within the pursuit of excessive efficiency.
“Carlos shares the idea and ambition we have now at Williams and is pushing each day to ship it.
“Together with Alex, I actually imagine we have now one of many strongest line-ups on the grid, and a group able to combating for each ounce of efficiency collectively.”
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