Carlos Sainz has just told Williams the only thing that will ensure he stays in 2027

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Carlos Sainz has just set Williams a clear target if they want him to renew his contract for the 2027 F1 season, having endured a miserable start to the 2026 regulations era.

Williams secured a coup back in 2024 when they signed Sainz amid competition from Alpine and Audi, after Ferrari elected against renewing his deal in order to welcome Lewis Hamilton to Maranello. But the dream that team boss James Vowles sold Sainz on has not developed.

Sainz joined Williams in 2025 knowing full well that the Grove outfit were already betting on the 2026 F1 regulations being their path to regular podium results. Yet the Williams FW48 is arguably only the ninth-best car, as they are still trying to find downforce and reduce weight.

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Carlos Sainz will use Williams’ Azerbaijan Grand Prix upgrades to decide his future

The situation in Grove might now even see Sainz leave Williams when his contract expires at the end of 2026, rather than using his option for 2027. Ralf Schumacher is certain that Sainz “wants to leave Williams”, and he has even suggested that Carlos Sainz Sr is seeking options.

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For now, Sainz continues to maintain appearances and show his commitment to Williams in public. Yet SPORT reports that Sainz has set Williams a deadline of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 24-26 to convince him to stay, as the team are set to reveal upgrades in Baku.

Vowles revealed at Silverstone that Williams now intend to debut essentially a B-spec car in Baku, with an updated chassis at the core of their “huge upgrade”. But Sainz’s future could hinge on the package, as he snapped at Silverstone that Williams’ upgrades “aren’t working”.

Sources close to Sainz now believe that he views Williams’ Baku upgrades as his deadline to see enough progress to stay for 2027. Sainz Sr is even believed to be exploring any openings at Audi or Alpine, as Sainz Jr will not stay at Williams just because he feels valued by Vowles.

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Audi have often been touted as a possible destination for Sainz, should he leave Williams. It has also been said that Sainz is interested in working with Audi F1 boss Mattia Binotto again, although Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are both said to possess contracts for 2027.

There has even been talk in the paddock recently that Audi may release Hulkenberg from his contract to sign Sainz. But Audi F1 project lead Binotto has stressed that the team are “very happy” with Hulkenberg and Bortoleto as they are two “very fast” and “first-choice” drivers.

Binotto’s comments may not silence the suggestions that Audi are interested in hiring Sainz for 2027, however, especially all the while that Williams continue to struggle. Sainz has only achieved three top-10 Grand Prix finishes in the first nine rounds of 2025, with the last being in Canada with a third P9 of the season so far. Teammate Alex Albon has two top-10 finishes.