2025: Sainz to Williams
The drivers’ market has seen an important chapter with the official announcement of the transfer of Carlos Sainz in Williams from next season, with the Spaniard remaining at Grove in 2026. An agreement between the British team and the current Ferrari driver that had already been in the air for several weeks, in addition to the hypothesis of a contract that the #55 could have signed with Sauber (future Audi) or with Alpine.
Why not Red Bull?
However, what particularly surprised even Williams team principal James Vowles was the almost zero pressure from two top teams such as Mercedes and Red Bull to secure Sainz from 2025, both looking for new drivers and with the Milton Keynes team having recently reconfirmed Sergio Perez when the relationship between the latter and the Anglo-Austrian team seemed to have reached the end of the line with the arrival of the summer break.
Norris’s words
A choice, that of continuing the rest of the season with the Mexican driver (in addition to the two-year renewal signed at the beginning of June), which did not even convince Sainz’s former teammate at McLaren, namely Landon Norris. For the latter, in fact, Red Bull should have focused on a driver with the qualities of the Spaniard to partner world champion Max Verstappen: “I don’t know what their plans are, but honestly the easiest thing is to say Red Bull – the British replied to Sky F1 when asked if he was surprised that Sainz had not been considered by either Red Bull or Mercedes – from my point of view it should have gone there. I’m biased, I know Carlos, Checo and this kind of stuff, but Carlos deserves a lot. He is one of the best drivers in F1, he has proven it countless times. I am a good friend of his.”
An opinion shared by many
An opinion that Norris reiterated also in relation to Sainz’s move to Williams, where he will complete the line-up with Alexander Albon for the next two seasons: “I’m happy for him, that he will remain in F1 and that he has obtained a guide who will allow him to try to bring Williams back to the top. – the fact that he is paired with Alex will be good for F1 at the same time, so it’s a good thing, but I’m sure a lot of people would say he should have gone to Red Bull. It’s not a decision that’s up to me.”
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