Carlos Sainz has confirmed that his timeline for returning to winning ways in Formula 1 has been ‘delayed’ due to Williams’ performance during the current 2026 season. The Spaniard is expected to make a definitive decision regarding his future for the 2027 campaign during the upcoming summer break.
Sainz stated that his expectations for how long it would take him to secure a race victory, and for Williams to be the team to achieve this with, have been pushed back by ‘a year or two’. He remains confident in the long-term vision and investments being made by the Grove-based outfit.
Williams has experienced a challenging start to the 2026 F1 season, failing to meet the performance gains anticipated under the new technical regulations. The team currently sits eighth in the constructors’ championship with 11 points.
This marks a significant downturn from their 2025 season, where Sainz secured two podium finishes and the team achieved fifth place in the constructors’ standings. So far this season, Sainz’s best results have been three ninth-place finishes.
The 31-year-old driver joined Williams in 2025 after his departure from Ferrari, with a strategic focus on the sweeping 2026 regulation overhaul. His current multi-year contract includes an option to extend beyond the 2026 season.
Sainz had previously instructed his management to defer any discussions regarding his future until the summer break, allowing him to concentrate on the team’s current performance. He now plans to use this period to assess his options.
Speculation linking Sainz to the Audi F1 team for 2027 has reportedly ceased. Audi’s F1 project chief, Mattia Binotto, has indicated satisfaction with the team’s current driver lineup of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Gabriel Bortoleto recently confirmed that his contract with Audi extends to the end of 2027, providing stability for the German manufacturer’s driver pairing. Binotto has publicly expressed contentment with this blend of experience and youth.
Williams Team Principal James Vowles has previously stated that Sainz’s contract could potentially extend through to the 2028 campaign, contingent on the fulfilment of specific performance benchmarks.
Amidst the ongoing driver market discussions, reports from Japan suggest that Sergio Perez could be a candidate for a Williams seat if Sainz opts to depart. Perez is currently with Cadillac, which has also faced a challenging debut season in 2026.
