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."
