A potential Max Verstappen exit could ignite the driver market, reuniting Carlos Sainz with Zak Brown as the Spaniard eyes a high-stakes return to a front-running seat.
Max Verstappen could end up defining the future of more than one current Formula 1 driver if he decides to leave Red Bull Racing in the near future — whether through retirement or an unexpected team change. The Dutch driver has made clear his strong dissatisfaction with the current state of the category under the new 2026 regulations, and his future at Red Bull beyond the current campaign is no longer considered entirely certain by those monitoring the market closely.
For Sainz, currently in the second year of a two-year deal with Williams that includes an option for 2027, the timing of any market disruption would be significant. According to analysis published in Diario Marca, if a seat at the front of the grid were to open — particularly at McLaren — Sainz would be extremely motivated to pursue it.
"Carlos Sainz would also be highly interested in a team where he was happy and that he only left to join Ferrari, an opportunity nobody turns down. Not even Verstappen, if it were offered to him."
The personal dimension adds further weight to the speculation: "Zak Brown has maintained a strong friendship with Sainz that predates and continues beyond his departure from the team, the two are reported to play golf together regularly, and both share Monaco as their home — a familiarity that goes well beyond the purely professiona".
How Many Years Did Carlos Sainz Sign With Williams?
After leaving Ferrari, Sainz continued his Formula 1 career with Williams. For a long time, Audi appeared to be the frontrunner for his signature, but Sainz himself saw little benefit in that option. Red Bull and Mercedes also appeared to be monitoring the Spaniard at various points, and Alpine was equally complimentary about his achievements. In the end it was Williams, and Sainz said he thought long and hard about it.
Through an official press release, the British team confirmed: "Williams Racing has today announced that Carlos Sainz will complete the team's driver lineup for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season and beyond. With a decade of Formula 1 competition behind him, Sainz joins Williams from Scuderia Ferrari on a two-year contract with options to extend."
Whether those options lead him to remain at Grove — or whether the market opens a very different door — remains one of the most compelling storylines of the current season.
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