Williams thinks about Perez
Sergio Perez is a credible candidate for the Williams of 2027. As hinted by several statements in recent weekends, the relationships within the Grove team are not the best: Carlos Sainz is undoubtedly the most disappointed of all, after James Vowles’ promises at the end of 2024. Considering the team’s difficulties, stemming from a delay in the delivery of the FW48, Smooth Operator could pack his bags and make way for Perez, according to the Japanese of as-web.
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Perez returned to F1 in 2026 after a sabbatical year. Red Bull did not confirm him for 2025, preferring first Liam Lawson and then Yuki Tsunoda, but the huge difficulties of the two young drivers have reassessed Checo‘s work alongside Max Verstappen. And so the Mexican was the first choice of Cadillac for the Americans’ debut in F1.
The Americans are experiencing the typical difficulties of a team that until January 2025 had not even started the hiring process to form the working groups at the pits and in the factory. For this reason, Cadillac chose Perez and Valtteri Bottas, two very experienced drivers, to provide good technical guidance to the car and show the working standards required of an F1 team. Tasks that Perez is performing better: the Mexican was faster than Bottas in the first part of 2026 and even came close to scoring his first point in Monte Carlo.
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Williams, which saw Cadillac approach in the first part of the championship, has taken note of Perez’s work. It would be an ideal marriage, giving Checo a career finale in a prestigious team and Williams a credible replacement for the possible departure of Sainz.
And Sainz?
The Spaniard is not happy at Williams, and is wondering whether to stay. The former Ferrari driver has a market in mid-field teams, and unlike two years ago cannot demand a top-tier team: a pity, because the second half of 2025 saw a sometimes very fast Sainz. However, within a few months, the scenario has completely changed, seeing Smooth Operator fighting at the back of the grid. His future could be influenced by Fernando Alonso’s choice for 2027: if the two-time world champion retired, Sainz could be a good choice for Aston Martin. Otherwise, a door could open for Sainz at Alpine in place of Franco Colapinto, while the Audi hypothesis lost strength after Mattia Binotto’s departure.
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