Sainz commits to multi-year contract with Williams F1 Team


By Williams F1 Team
August 19 2026

 Sainz commits to multi-year contract with Atlassian Williams F1 Team
 
Sainz extends into 2027
 

• Carlos Sainz has agreed a new multi-year contract with Atlassian Williams F1 Team, confirming his trust in the team’s comeback project
• The 31-year-old Spaniard has delivered standout results since joining Williams in 2025, including two Grand Prix podiums and a Sprint podium
• Announcement completes Williams’ line-up for 50th anniversary year in 2027, after Alex Albon extended his record-breaking journey with the team
• Carlos Sainz: “I'm as committed as I was on day one to helping get Williams back to where it belongs, and I look forward to creating more memories with the team.”

Atlassian Williams F1 Team today announces that Carlos Sainz has agreed a new multi-year contract with the team, in a show of faith in Williams’ long-term project to compete at the front of the F1 grid.

The four-time race-winner joined Williams in 2025 and has played an instrumental role in driving forward the team’s rebuild, combining a detailed engineering approach with raw speed, smooth racecraft and a relentless determination to improve performance in every area.

Today’s announcement completes Williams’ driver line-up for its 50th anniversary year in 2027, after Alex Albon also committed his future to the team yesterday. Together the pair form one of the most formidable and experienced line-ups on the F1 grid, with more than 370 Grand Prix starts, over 1,600 points and 31 podiums between them. Both drivers are united in their commitment to lead Williams back towards the front despite a difficult 2026 – with firm belief in the progress being made behind the scenes to deliver that ambition.

Last year the pair combined to deliver Williams’ best season since 2016, with Carlos delivering some standout results for the team. The highlight was the Spaniard’s maiden Williams podium with a P3 finish in Baku, which he followed with a Sprint podium in Austin and another visit to the rostrum in Qatar. The 31-year-old’s renewed commitment reflects the trust both sides have built as Williams continues investing in all areas needed to challenge in F1 and add to its legacy of nine Constructors’ World Championships and 114 race wins.

And it means Carlos – just one of three drivers alongside Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell to have competed for Williams, McLaren and Ferrari – will help lead Williams as the team joins the other two iconic F1 squads in celebrating 50 years of competing in the sport.

Carlos Sainz: "I’m thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team family! I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background. We have what it takes to turn this around together. I’m as committed as I was on day one to helping get Williams back to where it belongs, and I look forward to creating more memories with the team."

James Vowles, Team Principal: "From the moment he joined, Carlos’ talent behind the steering wheel and dedication back at the factory have been extremely valuable for this project - working day in, day out with his engineers to find every millisecond. He is a leader of this team, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s possible as we continue to rebuild it. It’s not just his racecraft and speed that stand out, but the work he does behind the scenes in the pursuit of high performance. Carlos shares the belief and ambition we have at Atlassian Williams F1 Team and is pushing every day to deliver it. Along with Alex, I truly believe we have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid, and a team capable of fighting for every ounce of performance together."

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Sainz commits to multi-year contract with Williams F1 Team
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 19/08/2026 14:18
Williams F1
19/08/2026 14:18
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Anderis
19/08/2026 14:31
Hmmm... so rumours were saying one year deal but the announcement is saying a multi-year contract.

I wonder if that means a multi-year deal but some pretty convenient exit clauses for Sainz?

Damon96
19/08/2026 14:40
Yes, I’d assume multi year but with performance clauses but I’m happy with that. Team need to deliver a decent car, if it does we have a very good driver and car.

With Alex I assume we now know next year will be his last year with the team as he was only a one year contract.

If we deliver a decent car, unless he has a major turnaround compared to Carlos then I assume we’ll be looking for someone who can match Carlos.

Stu69
19/08/2026 14:43
Bless him. It turns out it is all about the money! Stayed for the cash not the car.

Qv Corse
19/08/2026 15:53
I wonder if Colapinto might be returning in 2028 then if Alex is not offered another deal.

j-s
19/08/2026 16:06
Good for williams, good for me

GroveF1
19/08/2026 17:54
Guaranteed both will be keeping their options open for next year, but Albon is not as marketable to other teams hence only signing one year. Sainz’s team know a top team can break his contract. Albon? Hmm not so sure.

I don’t feel the Audi rumours were really there all a long term dream of his father not Sainz. As ppl say don’t always do what your parents want.

Now it’s up to Williams to deliver and Sainz to stop being so publicly and PR critical

crusty_bread
19/08/2026 18:06
Great news, but this comes much sooner than expected. Very odd timing. I thought we'd be waiting on the b spec to give sainz more data to go on. Instead he re signs a multi year deal whilst we are languishing at the back. I don't know how vowles pulled it off tbh. I'm guessing Sainz's options elsewhere just dried up rapidly. Either that or he's always been sold on the williams vision relative to viable alternatives and his complaints and timing were all designed to cash in whilst williams held a weak hand.

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