Carlos Sainz has chosen to continue the adventure with Williams despite a very difficult 2026 season. But the Spaniard admits he demanded guarantees before extending.
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Carlos Sainz did not give up on the Williams project at the first obstacle. Despite a 2026 F1 season far from expectations, the Spaniard has just signed a new multi-year contract with the British team, thus confirming his desire to participate in its long-term rebuilding.
However, this extension was not entirely obvious. After an encouraging first campaign with Williams, marked notably by podiums, Sainz hoped to take advantage of the new technical regulations to make a new step this season.
The reality was much tougher. The problems encountered by Williams caused frustration for its driver, but also real questions about the team’s ability to prevent such a scenario from happening again.
A 2026 season far from expectations
Williams had ended the previous season with serious reasons for optimism. Sainz’s performances notably allowed the team to return to the podium and to approach the new regulations with ambition.
But the first signs of 2026 quickly became worrying.
The Grove team was not even able to participate in the pre-season shakedown held in Barcelona. Even more concerning, its new car suffered from a significant weight problem.
This handicap heavily penalized Williams from the start of the championship and prevented the team from realizing the expected progress.
For Sainz, who had placed many hopes in this new regulatory era, the disappointment was significant.
Yet Sainz never really wanted to leave
Williams’ difficulties naturally sparked speculation about the Spaniard’s future.
But Sainz assures that he never seriously considered leaving the team immediately.
“No, because in a way, I think you know me now,” he replies when asked if he had to be convinced to extend.
“I don’t think it’s in my character to abandon ship when the situation is at its worst.”
A statement that illustrates the four-time Grand Prix winner’s will to remain loyal to the project he chose to believe in when he joined Williams.
“An obstacle bigger than anyone could imagine”
Sainz notably recalls the enthusiasm that accompanied his arrival within the team.
“I think I explained to everyone how committed I was to this project two years ago and how enthusiastic I was.”
But after the podiums obtained last season, no one expected such a regression.
“And as soon as there is an obstacle on the road, a big obstacle, probably bigger than anything we could imagine after last year’s podiums, I don’t think it’s in my nature or character to abandon ship at the first opportunity.”
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For Sainz, leaving at the first real difficulty would therefore have been contrary to the commitment made to Williams.
However, this does not mean he was ready to extend without asking questions.
“I was worried”
The Spaniard admits that the current sporting situation made him have real doubts.
“Deep down, I always wanted to extend, but I was obviously worried and concerned that we had to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Sainz especially wanted to understand why Williams had suffered so much with its 2026 car and what consequences these difficulties would have on future development.
Before signing his new contract, he therefore wanted to get a clear vision of the situation.
“I obviously had to go back to everyone to understand where we are, where we plan to go and how all this has affected our plans.”
Guarantees on the direction of the project
Sainz’s extension therefore also constitutes an important vote of confidence in Williams’ management.
The Spaniard does not hide his disappointment with the current situation, but the explanations received internally seem to have reassured him enough about the team’s ability to correct its mistakes.
His choice also fits into a long-term logic. After joining Williams with the ambition to contribute to its return to the front, Sainz did not want to abandon this project after just one difficult season.
The question now will be whether Williams can turn this trust into results.
Sainz chooses loyalty despite the difficulties
At almost 32 years old, Sainz still has several seasons ahead of him and recently stated he wants to stay in Formula 1 as long as possible.
His new contract with Williams now offers him the stability needed to pursue this goal, while maintaining his commitment to a team still seeking to regain its former place among the sport’s references.
But this extension does not mean the Spaniard accepts the current situation.
Sainz chose not to “abandon ship” at the first big obstacle, while asking Williams to prove to him that the mistakes of 2026 will not happen again. His extension thus represents as much a proof of loyalty as a new challenge thrown to the Grove team.
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