Carlos Sainz will complete Williams Racing’s driver lineup for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season and beyond, the team announced Monday morning.
With a decade of F-1 competition under his belt, Sainz will join Williams from Scuderia Ferrari on a two-year agreement with options to extend. In his Formula 1 career to date, the 29-year-old Spaniard has achieved three race victories, 23 podiums, over 1,100 career points and is currently sitting fifth in this season’s drivers’ championship.
“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards,” Sainz said in a statement. “It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision. However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F-1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport.
“The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.
“I want to thank James Vowles and the entire Board of Williams for their trust and determination,” Sainz continued. “Their solid leadership and convictions have played an important role in my decision-making. I truly believe that the core of every successful team lies amongst their people and their culture.
“Williams is synonymous with heritage and pure racing, the foundations of the project that lies ahead of us are very strong and I am really looking forward to being part of it starting next year.”
After becoming the only non-Red Bull Racing driver to score a race victory last season, Sainz most recently took victory at this year’s Australian Grand Prix, just 10 days after surgery for appendicitis and has scored four further podiums so far this season.
After Lewis Hamilton was announced as Ferrari’s next driver alongside Charles Leclerc, Sainz was searching for options on the 2025 F-1 grid.
Sainz will be paired with Alex Albon for Williams next season and he will continue to race using the No. 55.
With Sainz in, American Logan Sargeant is out at Williams Racing at season’s end. Sargeant, 23, is currently 20th in the standings with a best finish of 11th at the British Grand Prix this year.
“Williams Racing would also like to thank Logan Sargeant for his hard work and dedication over the past two years. As a graduate of the Williams Driver Academy, Logan became the first U.S. driver to score a point for 30 years when he finished 10th in Austin (Texas) last year, and has played a fundamental role in developing the team.
“Williams will give Logan every support as he looks to continue his racing career for 2025 and beyond.”