Loading
Ralf Schumacher believes Carlos Sainz has rejected an offer to remain with Williams beyond the 2026 Formula 1 season, raising fresh questions over the Spaniard’s future and his relationship with team principal James Vowles.
Sainz joined Williams in 2025 on an initial two-year agreement containing options for 2027 and 2028. He moved to Grove after Ferrari chose not to extend his contract in order to sign Lewis Hamilton, with Sainz backing Williams’ plans for the new 2026 regulations.
That anticipated progress has not materialised so far. Williams sits ninth in the constructors’ standings at the summer break, while Sainz is 15th in the drivers’ championship with six points. His most recent top-10 finish came in Canada, where he placed ninth.
Williams began the season on the back foot after delays in producing the FW48. The car started the year significantly overweight and has continued to suffer from aerodynamic instability. Although the team is preparing an upgrade package for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Vowles does not expect it to resolve all of Williams’ problems.
Against that backdrop, reports have linked Sainz with possible moves to Aston Martin or Alpine for 2027. Williams is also understood to have offered him a reported £25.5 million contract to stay, a proposal that would represent a substantial pay rise.
Schumacher told Sky Sports Germany that he was “curious” about Sainz after hearing that the driver had rejected Williams’ offer. He questioned whether the decision could be connected to a possible opening at Red Bull if Max Verstappen leaves, or to a move involving McLaren or Audi.
“Things are tense at Williams. The team made a huge mistake with the car,” Schumacher said, adding that Vowles may have misjudged the challenge of producing a car from scratch under the new regulations. “There’s bound to be a clash there, too.”
Audi has also been mentioned as a possible destination, although the team has made clear that it is not currently seeking to replace Nico Hulkenberg or Gabriel Bortoleto for 2027. For further context on the potential Red Bull route, Carlos Sainz’s Red Bull move could be delayed until 2028.
Schumacher believes a breakdown between Verstappen and Red Bull could reshape the 2027 driver market. Verstappen has expressed strong opposition to the 2026 engine regulations and can now leave Red Bull after an exit clause in his contract became active at the summer break.
Mercedes and McLaren have both been linked with interest in Verstappen. Schumacher also believes Verstappen would be confident of beating Lando Norris if they became McLaren teammates, leaving Sainz’s next move dependent on how the leading teams’ vacancies develop.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.