Carlos Sainz might be making moves behind the scenes again. According to Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle, the Williams driver is “keeping his options open” for the 2027 season as his current team struggles to find pace under the new regulations.
Sainz took a bold gamble when he chose Williams over Audi after being replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. That decision, announced in early 2024, left the Spaniard with limited choices as seats filled up fast across the grid.
Despite winning two Grands Prix in 2024 and being widely respected for his talent, Sainz ended up at Williams. The team enjoyed a strong 2025, even scoring two podiums and finishing fifth in the constructors’ championship.
But 2026 has been a completely different story. Both Sainz and teammate Alex Albon have struggled to score points, and the Grove-based outfit has fallen behind.
Brundle brought up Sainz’s future during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying coverage, noting the family connection to Audi. Sainz’s father, Carlos Sainz Sr., won the 2024 Dakar Rally with Audi, and sources have long linked the younger Sainz to the German manufacturer.
“He really committed to it, didn’t he?” Brundle said of Sainz’s Williams move. “He decided not to go to Audi, which I believe his dad wanted to.
So I would imagine Carlos is keeping his options open.”
Brundle described Sainz’s current situation as a “cul-de-sac” at a time in his career that is “not optimal to say the least.” He added, “Hopefully Williams have an answer for 27.”
With only a one-year contract at Williams, the rumor mill is already spinning about where Sainz might land next. Could a reunion with Audi finally happen, or will another top team come calling?
