Williams Racing’s team principal, James Vowles, has taken a firm stance against rumors of an exit clause in Carlos Sainz’s new contract. The rumor mill has been full of speculation with claims that Sainz, set to join Williams in 2025, might depart early if opportunities arise at either Red Bull Racing or Mercedes.
Carlos Sainz’s agreement with Williams spans two years starting from the 2025 season. However, amidst the uncertainties surrounding the career trajectories of Max Verstappen at Red Bull and potential shuffles at Mercedes, whispers of a possible exit clause in Sainz’s contract began to circulate. These rumors suggest that certain conditions in the Spaniard’s contract would allow him an early exit should seats at these top-tier teams become available.
Addressing these rumors head-on, Vowles exposed the speculative nature of these claims. He commented, as quoted by Planet F1:
“There are precisely 10 people in the world that know what the interior of the contract holds. The Carlos camp know and I know what’s inside.
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“The message ’25, ’26 and beyond’ [in Williams’ official announcement] did not come from myself. That came from Carlos.
“He wanted it to be abundantly clear to all of you – to the world – that he is committed and this is where he wants to be.”
Sainz’s stated dedication is a clear indicator of his intent to stick with Williams, potentially putting to rest the speculations about his early departure. The Spanish driver commented in a press release from Williams:
“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards. It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision.
“However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport. 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. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.
“I want to thank James Vowles and the entire Board of Williams for their trust and determination. Their solid leadership and convictions have played an important role in my decision-making. I truly believe that the core of every successful team lies amongst their people and their culture. Williams is synonymous with heritage and pure racing, the foundations of the project that lies ahead of us are very strong and I am really looking forward to being part of it starting next year.”