Carlos Sainz has firmly denied that he ever seriously considered leaving Williams amid speculation linking him with an Audi move for 2027. The Spanish driver recently signed a new multi-year contract with the Grove-based team, securing his future during a difficult season.
The rumors surfaced after Carlos Sainz and his teammate Alexander Albon extended their contracts. This decision came as a relief to team principal James Vowles, who had openly admitted his fear of losing both drivers. The 2026 season has been tough for Williams; the FW48 has lost ground in the pecking order and failed to score points in the last six rounds.
“No, it was just the usual paddock rumours,” Sainz told Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview. “I can confirm that this year I never seriously considered going anywhere else.” This statement also quashes speculation that he might have been tempted by Audi's project, a team he had previously considered before joining Williams in 2025.
Sainz's new contract has drawn attention. While Albon only signed an extension for 2027, Sainz secured a “multi-year” deal, hinting at a commitment that runs at least until 2028. However, he remained elusive when asked whether this agreement closes the door on a future move to a top team.
“The usual process is that, before signing a contract, you always assess the overall situation,” Sainz explained. “But when we put everything on the table, another aspect emerged that is very important to me: I’ve never liked leaving a team when it’s going through a difficult period. It’s not in my character to go somewhere else if the situation has become worse since I joined the team.”
Sainz acknowledged that this season has been far from ideal but remains committed to the Williams project. “Nobody in the team is happy with the current situation, and we’re all pushing to change it as quickly as possible. But, as I said, it’s not in my nature to abandon ship when things get tough,” he added.
Sainz's decision to stay provides much-needed stability for Williams amid their performance struggles. With a contract binding him until at least 2028, the team now has a solid driver foundation to rebuild, even though the road to the top remains long.
Baca Juga
Liberty Media siapkan Plan B untuk F1 2027 jika perang Teluk berlanjut. Andrea Stella balas Toto Wolff soal budget cap, Lando Norris mulai bicara seperti juara, dan kabar MotoGP terkini.
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Aston Martin dan Honda fokus perbaiki driveability mesin baru setelah Alonso finis kesembilan di GP Belanda. Masalah yang sama disorot pebalap dan Newey.
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