Carlos Sainz is expected to remain at Williams for the 2027 Formula 1 season. According to information from the Spanish press, the driver is about to sign a one-year contract renewal with the team.
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The renewal would represent a vote of confidence in the project led by James Vowles, even after a season below expectations in 2026. Sainz joined Williams after leaving Ferrari, in a signing seen as important for the British team’s plans.
In his first season with the team last year, the Spaniard achieved podiums in Azerbaijan and Qatar, results that represented Williams’ first appearances among the top three since 2017, excluding George Russell’s second place at the 2021 Belgian GP, held under rainy conditions.
In the current season, Sainz has also held a significant advantage over Alex Albon in qualifying sessions. The Spaniard outqualified his teammate in nine of eleven duels, with an average difference of 0.311 seconds in his favor, and has scored six of the eleven points Williams has earned so far.
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However, the team’s performance fell short of expectations. The FW48 failed the Barcelona shakedown test in pre-season and started the championship with a significant excess weight, although Williams has taken measures to reduce the problem. A major upgrade package is planned for the Azerbaijan GP.
According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Sainz is expected to confirm his commitment to Williams, precisely with the one-year extension. The driver was linked to a possible departure, including speculation about Audi, but the main market alternatives seem limited, with Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren maintaining their current pairings, while Audi would be satisfied with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
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