Lewis Hamilton’s surprising move to Ferrari sent seismic waves throughout the driver’s carousel. The Briton decided to make a move after enduring a back-to-back underwhelming season. While Hamilton relived his childhood dream of driving for Scuderia, Carlos Sainz had to vacate his seat. The Spaniard won at the Australian GP and had a decent run throughout the season. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari put Sainz’s F1 future in question. There were endless speculations regarding which team could sign him.
Ultimately, he joined hands with Williams, a team that has been struggling to perform in the past few seasons. However, after the official confirmation, there were rumors that the Spanish racer could swap sides with Red Bull. The Milton Keynes-based outfit is in a second driver crisis as Sergio Perez continues to disappoint. Rumors surfaced suggesting that Sainz’s contract with Williams includes a clause allowing him to join Red Bull if they come calling.
Williams Officials Quashes Sainz’s Red Bull Clause Theory
Carlos Sainz, currently racing for Ferrari, is set to join Williams in 2025, positioning him to lead the team as they adapt to the sweeping new regulations coming to F1 in 2026. His move to Williams follows a significant shake-up at Ferrari, where Lewis Hamilton’s unexpected switch to Maranello for 2025 left Sainz without a seat. During this transition period, Sainz was rumored to be in talks with various teams, including Red Bull as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez, Sauber/Audi, and even Mercedes to fill Hamilton’s spot. Ultimately, he opted for a long-term contract with Williams.
However, the driver transfer drama hasn’t entirely quieted. Recent reports have hinted at a possible clause in Sainz’s Williams contract that could allow him to leave if Red Bull showed interest. This speculation arises amidst uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s driver lineup, especially as Perez’s recent struggles saw Red Bull’s constructors’ championship hopes dwindle, with the team dropping to third. Despite Perez’s recent contract extension, questions linger, partly due to his underwhelming performances, leaving Verstappen to carry much of the team’s efforts through 2024.
Williams quickly addressed these rumors. In a statement to GPFans, a senior Williams source dismissed the claims as pure speculation, emphasizing that there had been no discussions or contractual provisions allowing Sainz a pathway to Red Bull.
Could Sainz Reunite With Ferrari In The Future?
Although Carlos Sainz is set to depart Ferrari at the end of the season to join Williams, team principal Frederic Vasseur expressed openness to collaborating with him again in the future. Sainz’s exit paves the way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari. Vasseur, who faced the difficult task of making this change, emphasized that the decision was driven by the significance of Hamilton’s career achievements rather than any shortcomings on Sainz’s part.