Sainz Stays Silent on Williams Exit Details

Williams F1’s James Vowles keeps tight-lipped about any exit clauses in Carlos Sainz’s contract, though Sainz asserts his full commitment.

Williams F1 Team Principal, James Vowles, stated that any information regarding potential exit clauses in Carlos Sainz’s contract with Williams is “speculation, nothing more.”

The current Ferrari driver will move to Grove next season under a contract that spans “2025, 2026, and beyond,” a phrase specifically chosen by Sainz himself to signify his commitment to the team.

Speculation has suggested that Sainz’s contract with Williams includes a special clause allowing him to renounce or leave if opportunities to race with Mercedes or Red Bull arise next season or in 2026.

Additionally, the Williams team principal noted that the contract’s details are known only to a very restricted group, indicating that any paddock rumors are merely that.

“There are precisely ten people in the world who know what’s in the contract. The lawyers, Carlos’s camp, and myself. We are the only ones who know what’s inside.”

“So, anything you read on the internet or hear in the paddock is just speculation, nothing more—and that’s all I’m going to say on the matter. Like any contract, there are clauses, you know, but of course, I’m not going to reveal them.”

“The message given, 2025, 2026, and beyond in our press release title didn’t come from me, it came from Carlos. He wanted it to be perfectly clear to all of you, to the world, that he is fully committed and that this is where he wants to be.”

Asked if he wanted to criticize the source of this rumor (spread by DAZN Spanish commentator Antonio Lobato, ed):

“No, no. I’m not saying it’s anyone at this table, just that there are only a handful of people in the world who know what we’re talking about.”

“And it’s not even disclosed within the team either. And it’s certainly not the journalists outside this motorhome who can know.”

Why not announce the contract during the Belgian GP? Vowles had clearly displayed his optimism on Sunday morning before the race.

“Because the moment it seemed realistic was when he put pen to paper. That was the only time I thought it seemed realistic, and that was on Monday.”

“I got burned earlier in the year, around Barcelona, I thought we were in a very good position—and it’s our fault, we had a terribly bad race, and you can’t do that in professional sport. And Alpine put out a big offer at that time.”

“But it has been a rollercoaster, sure, the driver market hasn’t really had ups and downs, it was constantly discussions about it.”

“No team really committed or decided on their direction, and that includes up to now, last weekend, where there are still discussions about where Sergio Perez is going? What changes will that bring?”

“And when you have that instability, it’s quite normal that a driver won’t commit to you until he knows what the future holds, and what doors are closing.”

“That’s my take on it. Like I said, until I put the pen to paper with him, I wasn’t confident.”