A disappointing 2026
When Carlos Sainz chose Williams in 2025, he also did so hoping that the regulatory change planned for 2026 could give a further boost to the historic English team.
The Mercedes power unit seemed to guarantee competitiveness for the Spaniard and so his choice seemed to rest on solid hopes.
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What Sainz had not foreseen, however, was that Williams would plunge into a real technical crisis, making it last by a wide margin among the Mercedes-powered teams.
If the Silver Arrows scored 379 points, McLaren 220 and Alpine 61, Williams only earned 11.
Is Sainz staying at Williams?
Carlos Sainz has not hidden a certain disappointment in recent weeks, but there have been very few market rumors about him, since the 4 top teams have shown no signs of wanting to change their driver line-ups.
“The plan is to decide during the break, but we have to evaluate things calmly,” the former Ferrari driver explained.
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After the rumors of recent days, the Spaniards from Marca took stock of Sainz’s situation: “Negotiations are ongoing. Sainz and his management are focused exclusively on Williams and the renewal. The driver’s plan would be to renew for only one year“.
The figures for the renewal would not be the huge ones recently emerged: “It will certainly be an improvement on his current 13 million contract, but 30 seems exaggerated. The news of the extension with Williams could come at any time after next Monday”.
After 11 races in the 2026 season, Sainz is fifteenth in the standings with just 6 points, one more than his teammate Alex Albon.
Among the constructors, Williams is ninth and only ahead of Aston Martin and Cadillac.
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