Carlos Sainz confirms he would return to the Ferrari F1 team on one condition

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Carlos Sainz has found form at Williams after a difficult start, but is refusing to rule out racing for Ferrari again one day.

Sainz’s excellent run continued in Sprint qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday as he set the eighth-fastest time, outpacing former teammate Charles Leclerc and current teammate Alex Albon.

The Spaniard has scored 32 points in the last six weekends. In the same period, which amounts to a quarter of the season, Ferrari replacement Lewis Hamilton has only scored 35.

Sainz was careful to protect his relationship with Ferrari after they decided not to renew his contract last year. That could pay off in the long term.

Carlos Sainz would race for Ferrari again, but only ‘in the distant future’

Guenther Steiner suspects that Ferrari staff regret letting Sainz go after seeing Hamilton struggle. The seven-time world champion has set the team record for most appearances without a podium.

Sainz remains a popular figure at Ferrari and is still the team’s most recent winner. He took four victories in red, the last of which came at the Mexico City GP in October 2024.

It was recently claimed that Sainz would ‘rush back’ to Ferrari if given the opportunity. In a recent interview, he was asked directly whether he would be open to returning.

“Yes,” he said, via Motorsport.de. “In the distant future.”

Sainz signed a long-term deal at Williams, though there is an exit clause at play next year. It seems as if he wants to see that project through before he considers moving elsewhere.

James Vowles is optimistic that the Mercedes-powered Williams team can win races under the new regulations, so it’s possible (if unlikely) that they’re more competitive than Ferrari in the long run.

Juan Pablo Montoya says Williams’ F1 line-up will only last one more season

Alex Albon was dominating Sainz before the summer break, but now the Thai driver is on a difficult run himself. Juan Pablo Montoya doubts that the Williams line-up, perhaps the highest-rated of all the midfield teams, will last beyond 2026.

“I think that next year, one driver will dominate almost the entire year, and the other will have a horrible year and they will end up making changes,” Montoya told AS Colombia.

Asked if Williams could field a new combination in 2027, he said: “Yes.”

If Sainz is the one who looks for a way out, then there’s every reason to believe that Ferrari will be an option.

However, Oliver Bearman is Ferrari’s most likely signing given that he’s already contracted to the team. If he meets expectations at Haas next year, he could be in line for a promotion.