look news india
Paris, July 30 (HS). Formula One driver Carlos Sainz has signed a contract with Williams Racing for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The 29-year-old Spaniard is in his final season at Ferrari and is currently fifth in the F1 driver standings.
“I am very pleased to announce that I will join Williams Racing from 2025. It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and it has taken me some time to announce my decision,” Sainz said in a statement on Monday.
He added, “However, I am confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am very proud to join such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport. The ultimate goal of getting Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge I embrace with enthusiasm and positivity. I believe this team has all the right elements to make history again and from January 1, I will give my best to take Williams forward along with every single member of the team.”
Sainz took his third career F1 win at the Australian Grand Prix in March. He has also finished third four times this season, including most recently at the Austrian GP on June 30.
Williams team principal James Vowles said, “Carlos joining Williams is a strong signal of intent from both sides. Carlos has proven time and again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with a proven race-winning record, and this underlines the direction we are heading in. Carlos brings not only experience and performance, but also a strong desire to extract every millisecond from the team and the car; his fit is perfect.”
Sainz replaces Logan Sargeant and will race alongside Alex Albon at Williams. Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton will replace Sainz at Ferrari.