Carlos Sainz has agreed to extend his stay at the Atlassian Williams F1 Team with a multi‑year contract that will keep him on the grid at least through the 2027 season and potentially beyond. The 31‑year‑old Spaniard had previously hinted that his future with the outfit was uncertain after a second year that fell short of the promising results achieved in 2025, making his decision to lock in a long‑term deal a notable surprise for many observers.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, just one day after Williams confirmed that his teammate Alex Albon had also signed a one‑year extension to remain with the squad for 2027. Both drivers had been operating under contracts that were due to expire at the close of the 2026 campaign. Williams issued a statement saying: "Atlassian Williams F1 Team today announces that Carlos Sainz has agreed a new multi‑year contract with the team, demonstrating confidence in our long‑term project to compete at the front of the Formula 1 grid.
The four‑time race winner joined Williams in 2025 and has been instrumental in driving the team's rebuild, blending a meticulous engineering mindset with raw speed, smooth racecraft and an unrelenting desire to improve performance in every area." Sainz’s recruitment by Williams last season was hailed as a major coup for team principal James Vowles. The Spaniard became available after Ferrari released him to make room for the return of Lewis Hamilton.
During his four‑year stint at Ferrari, and earlier during a two‑year spell with McLaren, Sainz consistently delivered strong performances, cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s elite drivers. In his own words, Sainz expressed enthusiasm for the renewed partnership: "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." His first season with Williams was a learning curve; after an initial period of adaptation to the car’s characteristics, Sainz finished 2025 on a high note, securing podium finishes in Azerbaijan and Qatar.
Those results helped Williams climb to a comfortable fifth place in the Constructors' Championship, raising hopes that the team could carry momentum into the new technical regulations introduced for 2026. However, the 2026 campaign has been disappointing so far.
The team has amassed only 11 points from the first eleven rounds and currently sits near the bottom of the constructors' standings. The shortfall has sparked questions about the pace of the car’s development and the effectiveness of the engineering upgrades. Vowles praised Sainz’s contribution, stating: "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." Looking ahead, the season will resume after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract. The extended deal for Sainz signals that both driver and team are committed to tackling the challenges ahead, aiming to translate the promise shown in 2025 into consistent podiums and, ultimately, a return to the front of the grid.