Is it possible for Carlos Sainz to use Williams as a stepping stone to secure a seat at Red Bull?
Carlos Sainz could use a Williams seat as a springboard to his “great objective” of a Red Bull return for the F1 2026 season, it has been claimed, with the outgoing Ferrari star “close” to making a decision on his future.
Sainz remains without a seat for the F1 2025 season, having learned over the winter that he will be replaced by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
Carlos Sainz to join Williams with one eye on Red Bull?
After being ruled out of the previous race in Saudi Arabia due to appendicitis, the Spaniard made an impressive comeback in the 2024 F1 season. He delivered his best-ever start, ultimately culminating in a remarkable victory at the Australian Grand Prix.
Sainz’s exceptional performance had caught the attention of Red Bull and Mercedes, offering promising prospects for his F1 future. However, recent developments have significantly limited his opportunities for the 2025 season.
PlanetF1.com revealed ahead of last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix that Mercedes are not currently considering Sainz as an option to replace Hamilton, with the team happy to work to a larger timeframe to identify their new recruit.
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The ongoing controversies within Red Bull have sparked speculation that Verstappen might depart from the team, even though he is contracted until the conclusion of the F1 2028 season. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has openly expressed his interest in acquiring the 26-year-old driver in recent months.
Should Verstappen be unavailable for F1 2025, there is a strong belief that Mercedes will most likely choose to elevate their 17-year-old junior sensation, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is currently competing in F2, as George Russell’s teammate.
During the Miami Grand Prix last month, PlanetF1.com disclosed that the FIA had received a request for special dispensation. This request aimed to permit Antonelli to compete in Formula 1 prior to turning 18, which is the minimum age for drivers to qualify for a superlicence. Rumors also suggest that there is a possibility for him to race for Williams, a customer team of Mercedes, before the end of the season.
It is reported that Sergio Perez is highly likely to secure a new contract with Red Bull. As a result, Carlos Sainz is said to have two options on the table: Audi, who will take over the current Sauber team in F1 2026 and have allegedly presented the 29-year-old with a tempting long-term deal, or Williams.
Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport has asserted that joining Williams could provide Sainz with the necessary flexibility to explore his options for F1 2026, even though his team is currently in eighth place in the Constructors’ standings with only two points from the first eight races of F1 2024.
According to reports, Sainz might agree to a one-year contract with an additional year option, giving him the opportunity to assess the market and chase his ultimate goal of securing a seat at Red Bull.
Verstappen may consider departing from Red Bull and joining Mercedes at the end of the upcoming season, as the new F1 regulations for 2026 regarding engine and chassis are about to be implemented. It is widely believed that Mercedes is ahead in terms of their preparation for these changes.
Red Bull may have to search for two new drivers before the start of F1’s new era, considering the possibility of Perez’s future being questioned once again in a year’s time.
Should Sainz fail to secure a Red Bull seat, there is a strong chance that he could consider a long-term stay with Williams. Their partnership with Mercedes has the potential to greatly improve the team’s performance in Formula 1 starting from 2026.
The revival of Williams would bring back memories of the remarkable progress the team made during the introduction of F1’s V6 hybrid engines in 2014.
After finishing ninth in the Constructors’ standings with a mere five points in the last season of the V8 era in 2013, the team made a significant change by switching to Mercedes engines for the F1 2014 season. This move proved to be fruitful as they climbed up to third place, achieving an impressive nine podium finishes throughout the campaign.
Sainz’s move to Red Bull would mark his return to the team that initially introduced him to Formula 1 back in 2015. At that time, he made his debut with Toro Rosso’s B team, alongside a young Verstappen who was just 17 years old.
Although he performed admirably compared to Verstappen during the 2015/2016 season, the Dutchman earned a promotion to Red Bull’s main team after just four races in the 2016 Formula 1 season. Since then, he has cemented his place as one of the most exceptional drivers in history by clinching three consecutive World Championships.
After his time with Toro Rosso, Sainz continued his journey in Formula 1 with stints at Renault and McLaren. Eventually, he earned the opportunity to become Sebastian Vettel’s replacement at Ferrari for the upcoming F1 2021 season.
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