Sainz’s Move To Williams Confirmed, And Red Bull Decided On Perez’s Immediate Future.

The Formula 1 driver market received two big announcements a few days after the Belgian Grand Prix.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz ended months of speculation with news that he will join Williams in 2025 on a two-year deal. The Spaniard was forced to find a new team after Ferrari signed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton to partner Charles Leclerc.

Sainz was linked with a move to factory teams Alpine and Audi who will officially join the grid in 2026 after buying Sauber. The 29-year-old mulled over which team to join, and it took close to eight months, clandestine meetings, and lots of persuasion from team principal James Vowles to sign the Spaniard.

“The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity,” Sainz said in a Williams statement.

The Spaniard teams up with another former Toro Rosso driver Alex Albon for the Grove team.

Team principal James Vowles said: “In Alex and Carlos we will have one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid and with huge experience to guide us into the new regulations in 2026.”

Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021 and the 29-year-old has achieved three race victories with the Italian team. He has 23 podiums and over 1100 career points.

2026 will see a new set of regulations for the sport, and the Mercedes-powered team will look to give Sainz and Albon the best package. The team finished seventh in the constructors’ championship in 2023 and is currently ninth after securing four points from 14 races.

Perez Will Remain A Red Bull Driver… For Now

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez will be driving for the team after the summer break, BBC F1 reported.

De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, reported that Horner said: “Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver, despite all the speculation of late. We look forward to seeing him perform on circuits where he has done well before.”

The Mexican driver’s future has been in doubt due to a string of bad results. He has scored a paltry 28 points in his last eight races, an average of 3.5 points.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and Horner admitted their dissatisfaction with the 34-year-old’s performances which included two consecutive DNFs. Marko said Perez ”completely collapsed” in Sunday’s Belgian GP. The Mexican started on the front row but finished seventh in a disappointing race. 

Perez’s poor performances have put the team under pressure in the constructors’ title battle with McLaren who trail the energy drink team by 42 points. McLaren has gained nine points per race on average to Red Bull since the Miami GP.

Red Bull is in danger of losing the constructors’ title for the first time in two years and Perez’s poor form is the chief reason. The Milton-Keynes team might not have the fastest car on the grid, but Verstappen has shown that the RB20 is still a competitive car.

Whatever is going on in Perez’s head at the moment affects his driving. It’s worth remembering that the former McLaren driver scored four podium finishes in the opening six races in 2024. He has to return after the summer break with a strong result at the Dutch GP to keep his seat, otherwise, Horner and co will be forced to look elsewhere.

Sean Parker

Sean Parker is a motorsport journalist and sports content creator at The South African. He has worked for the country's premier motoring publications, and is a Formula 1 contributor to Bet.co.za, the Bet Central podcast, and Vision View Sports radio.