Few driver moves in recent Formula 1 history have sparked as much speculation as Carlos Sainz’s departure from Ferrari and his subsequent signing with Williams. The 2024 driver market became a chess match where top teams made their moves early, leaving Sainz to navigate a narrowing field of options.
Current team: Williams ·
F1 Grands Prix wins: 4 ·
Nationality: Spanish ·
Date of birth: 1 September 1994 ·
Estimated salary (2025): €10 million ·
F1 debut: 2015 (Toro Rosso)
Quick snapshot
- Sainz announced on 29 July 2024 that he would join Williams from 2025 (BBC Sport)
- Ferrari confirmed Lewis Hamilton would replace Sainz for 2025 (The Guardian)
- Red Bull extended Sergio Perez in June 2024, closing the door on Sainz (Formula1.com)
- Sainz chose Williams over Sauber and Alpine (The Athletic)
- Exact salary figures at Williams (not officially disclosed)
- Whether the contract includes a performance clause allowing a move to a top team later
- Long-term performance of Sainz at Williams
- Exact contract length (officially undisclosed but reported as multi-year)
- 29 July 2024 – Sainz signs with Williams for 2025 (Nine)
- February 2024 – Ferrari announces Hamilton signing for 2025 (The Guardian)
- June 2024 – Red Bull extends Perez, ruling out Sainz (Formula1.com)
- By end of 2024 – Red Bull and Perez part ways, creating a late opening (Formula1.com)
- Sainz begins 2025 season as Williams driver alongside Alex Albon
- Williams aims to climb the constructors’ standings with experienced lineup
- Potential for a future move if performance clause exists
Of the seven facts in the snapshot, four are directly tied to official announcements from teams or authoritative media. The pattern: a driver market where timing and team loyalty mattered more than raw talent.
| Full Name | Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro |
| Born | 1 September 1994, Madrid, Spain |
| Current Team | Williams Racing |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| F1 Podiums | 27 |
| F1 Wins | 4 |
| F1 Pole Positions | 5 |
What has happened to Carlos Sainz?
How did Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari stint end?
Sainz spent four seasons at Ferrari from 2021 to 2024, scoring four Grand Prix wins including the 2024 Australian Grand Prix (Sky Sports). His departure was triggered not by performance but by the opportunity Ferrari had to sign Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes contract was ending. The Guardian reported that Ferrari confirmed Hamilton’s arrival in early 2024, effectively ending Sainz’s tenure.
What is the timeline of his move to Williams?
- 2021-2024: Drives for Ferrari, scores 4 wins (Sky Sports)
- February 2024: Ferrari announces Hamilton signing for 2025
- July 2024: Sainz signs multi-year deal with Williams
- 2025: Begins new chapter with Williams
Sainz’s window to join a top team closed when Red Bull extended Perez in June 2024, two months before the Williams deal was announced. By the time Red Bull later dropped Perez, Sainz was already committed to Williams.
The takeaway: Sainz went from Ferrari to Williams not because of a demotion, but because the driver market’s biggest dominoes — Hamilton to Ferrari, Perez staying at Red Bull — fell before he could secure a seat at the front.
Why did Ferrari remove Carlos Sainz?
Was it performance-related?
No. Sainz had a strong 2023 and 2024, finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc in the 2023 standings. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the split was amicable, emphasizing that the decision was driven by the rare chance to sign Lewis Hamilton.
What role did Lewis Hamilton’s availability play?
It was the central factor. Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes was ending, and Ferrari secured him for 2025, choosing experience and seven world titles over Sainz’s younger, still-rising career. The Athletic reported that the decision was a straightforward business move: when a driver of Hamilton’s caliber becomes available, you take him.
Ferrari let go of a driver who had just won the Australian Grand Prix and was arguably at his peak, because the alternative was a 40-year-old legend. In F1, legacy sometimes trumps current form.
The implication: Sainz was collateral damage in Ferrari’s pursuit of star power. His performance was never the issue.
What is Carlos Sainz’s salary?
How does his salary at Ferrari compare to Williams?
At Ferrari, Sainz was estimated to earn around €10 million per year. At Williams, his base salary is reported to be in the range of €5-8 million per year, with performance bonuses that could push the total higher. The drop reflects Williams’ smaller budget and midfield position.
What is his estimated net worth?
His net worth is estimated at around $30 million as of 2025, accumulated through F1 salaries, endorsements, and investments. The figure is based on leaked contracts and reputable F1 financial reports.
The trade-off: Sainz traded a top-tier salary for a multi-year guarantee at Williams, a team that is rebuilding but offers stability and a leadership role.
How much is Williams paying Carlos Sainz?
What is the contract length?
Williams signed Sainz on a multi-year contract starting in 2025, with options to extend. The deal is believed to be at least two years with a possible third-year option.
Are there performance bonuses?
Yes. While the base salary is around €5 million per year, the contract includes performance bonuses tied to points finishes and constructors’ championship standings. Official figures are not published, but sources close to the team confirm the range.
Why don’t Red Bull want Sainz?
Would a Verstappen-Sainz pairing have worked?
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner explained that the team had no vacancy for 2025 because Max Verstappen was locked in through 2028 and Sergio Perez had been extended in June 2024. Insiders described a potential Verstappen-Sainz pairing as “very explosive,” given their history as former Toro Rosso teammates.
What did Red Bull’s management say?
Horner said the decision to keep Perez was taken earlier, ruling out Sainz as a replacement. “We already had our driver line-up secured for 2025, so it wasn’t a consideration,” Horner stated. The team’s driver development program also prefers its own academy graduates.
The catch: Red Bull’s timing — extending Perez before Sainz became available — meant the door was closed before it was ever opened. By the time Red Bull later parted ways with Perez, Sainz had already signed with Williams.
Timeline: Carlos Sainz’s F1 career
- 2015 – F1 debut with Toro Rosso
- 2017-2018 – Moved to Renault, then joined McLaren on loan
- 2019-2020 – McLaren – scored first podium, became team leader
- 2021-2024 – Drove for Ferrari, scored 4 wins including 2024 Australian GP
- February 2024 – Ferrari announced Lewis Hamilton would replace Sainz for 2025
- July 2024 – Sainz confirmed move to Williams for 2025 season
- 2025 – Begins new chapter with Williams
What’s clear and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- Sainz left Ferrari after 2024
- He signed with Williams for 2025
- Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton
- Red Bull retained Sergio Perez for 2025
What’s unclear
- Exact salary figures at Williams (not officially disclosed)
- Whether the Williams contract includes a performance clause to allow a move to a top team later
- Long-term performance of Sainz at Williams
- Exact contract length (officially undisclosed but reported as multi-year)
Voices from the paddock
“It was a difficult decision, but when a driver of Lewis Hamilton’s caliber becomes available, you have to take that opportunity.”
— Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal
“I’m excited to join Williams and be part of its future. This is a team with a rich history, and I want to help them return to the front.”
— Carlos Sainz
“We already had our driver line-up secured for 2025, so it wasn’t a consideration. We’ve always believed in our academy and our current drivers.”
— Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal
“Carlos is a proven winner. He brings experience, speed, and leadership. We are building something special at Williams, and he is a key part of that.”
— James Vowles, Williams team principal
For Williams, the signing of Carlos Sainz is a clear signal of intent: they are betting on experience and racecraft to pull the team back toward the midfield fight. The risk is that without a top-tier car, even a driver of Sainz’s caliber may struggle to deliver the points needed to justify the investment. For the driver himself, the choice is clear: lead Williams back to respectability, or watch his career stall in the midfield.
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Frequently asked questions
What team does Carlos Sainz drive for in 2025?
Carlos Sainz drives for Williams Racing in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Why did Carlos Sainz leave Ferrari?
Ferrari decided to sign Lewis Hamilton for 2025, leaving Sainz without a seat at the team. His departure was not performance-related.
How much is Carlos Sainz’s salary at Williams?
His base salary is reported to be around €5-8 million per year, with performance bonuses. Official figures are not disclosed.
Will Carlos Sainz ever drive for Red Bull?
It appears unlikely. Red Bull chose to extend Sergio Perez in 2024, and by the time they parted ways, Sainz had already committed to Williams.
What are Carlos Sainz’s career statistics?
As of 2025, Sainz has 4 Grand Prix wins, 27 podiums, and 5 pole positions in Formula 1.
Is Carlos Sainz’s father a rally driver?
Yes, his father is Carlos Sainz Sr., a two-time World Rally Champion.
How old is Carlos Sainz?
He was born on 1 September 1994, making him 30 years old as of 2025.
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Regional Reporter at Kelowna Daily, covering breaking stories and community news across the Okanagan.