Carlos Sainz joined Williams after Ferrari decided not to renew his contract in order to finalize the signing of Lewis Hamilton for the 2024 Formula 1 season, one of the most impactful moves in the history of modern motorsport. Consequently, the Madrid-born driver had to seek a seat amidst a stagnant driver market that left him with few options.

Despite rumors linking him to teams like Audi, Mercedes, or Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz ended up signing with Williams in an unexpected move, given that the British team has not been truly competitive for many years; however, the Spanish driver signed with them thanks to a lucrative contract and the promise that the team aimed to fight at the front of the grid under the new 2026 regulations.

Reality turned out differently, and Sainz's team has struggled to climb out of the lower midfield. While things could be worse, the fact remains that Williams failed to deliver on the promise made to the Spaniard when he signed. Therefore, in recent weeks rumors began to circulate about the possibility that the Spaniard would leave the team and be replaced with names such as Sergio Pérez among those mentioned.

This week, the renewal of Carlos Sainz's contract was finally announced in a multi-million dollar deal. According to information from the Spanish media outlet Diario Sport, Sainz will have a salary close to 30 million euros and will be one of the highest paid drivers on the entire Formula 1 grid in a contract that would be multi-year.

The 2026 Formula 1 World Championship returns this week following the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Max Verstappen's home race marks the start of the second half of the current season; with over 10 races remaining on the calendar, both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships are still up for grabs—though Mercedes and Andrea Kimi Antonelli hold a commanding lead.

If you don't want to miss any of the action at the Zandvoort circuit, read on for details on US broadcast channels for the Dutch GP. In the United States, the 2026 Formula 1 season and the Zandvoort Grand Prix can be watched via the two options authorized by the FIA as official broadcasters of the pinnacle of motorsport.

The first is F1TV, the platform operated by F1 itself, available via subscription on any internet-connected device and which is also available in other parts of the world. The other option is an Apple TV subscription; this year, the platform has become a fan favorite for following the races, and it's the first season in which they are broadcasting the F1 races. Both options include audio in English and Spanish.