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Williams announced the extension on Thursday, ending recent speculation over the Spaniard’s future and locking in its driver pairing for next season following Alex Albon’s commitment to the team a day earlier. Sainz joined Williams at the beginning of 2025 after losing his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton, choosing the former championship-winning squad despite receiving interest from several teams. His first season at Grove delivered two grand prix podiums as Williams climbed to fifth in the constructors’ championship, its strongest finish since 2016. The four-time race winner took third in Azerbaijan before adding another podium in Qatar, while he also finished on the Sprint rostrum in Austin. Williams has struggled to carry that momentum into 2026, with Sainz scoring six points through the opening 11 rounds as the team slipped towards the back of the field. That downturn prompted questions over whether the 31-year-old could look elsewhere for 2027, particularly after he indicated he wanted to assess Williams’ progress during the second half of the campaign. Audi was again linked with Sainz after previously attempting to secure his services ahead of its full works arrival in Formula 1. However, those prospects cooled in recent weeks, with Gabriel Bortoleto confirming he is contracted to Audi beyond 2027 and reports from Spain increasingly pointing towards Sainz remaining at Grove. Williams has now put that uncertainty to rest by securing Sainz on a deal that will extend his stay beyond an initial three seasons with the team. View this post on Instagram “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,” Sainz said. “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.” The announcement follows confirmation that Albon will also remain with Williams in 2027, giving team principal James Vowles continuity as the squad attempts to recover from its difficult season. Albon has been with Williams since returning to Formula 1 in 2022 and became the team’s record-holder for grand prix starts earlier this year. Together, Sainz and Albon have more than 370 grand prix starts and 31 podium finishes between them, providing Williams with one of the grid’s most experienced combinations as it continues its long-term rebuilding program. Vowles said Sainz’s contribution extended beyond his performances on track and had become an important part of Williams’ push to return towards the front. “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,” Vowles said. “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.” Sainz’s extension also means he will remain with Williams when the team celebrates its 50th anniversary in Formula 1 in 2027. He is one of only three drivers, alongside Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell, to have raced for Williams, Ferrari and McLaren during his F1 career.