Carlos Sainz set to sign £8.5m one-year deal with F1 team that includes special release clause

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Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz may have finally settled on his next Formula 1 team after months of deliberation with his team.

Carlos Sainz heads into the summer break knowing his decision will likely trigger the final seats on the grid for the 2025 season to be filled.

However, his options look limited and a strong performance in qualifying from Sergio Perez almost certainly rules out a return to the Red Bull group unless the Mexican has a disastrous race.

A report from F1 Insider suggests that Sainz may have finally been offered a deal by one of the midfield teams on the grid that suits his demands.

Sainz considers himself a top driver on the grid and his victory in Australia earlier in the year enhanced his reputation greatly having just returned from appendix surgery.

However, teammate Charles Leclerc has marginally outperformed him this season, justifying Ferrari’s decision to replace the Spaniard with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

It’s meant teams who wouldn’t normally have had a chance of signing the 29-year-old have suddenly been in the frame and despite Toto Wolff suggesting Sainz is an option for Mercedes, that doesn’t appear to be on the cards.

Instead, Sainz looks set to join Williams replacing Logan Sargeant and joining fellow Red Bull academy graduate Alex Albon in 2025.

An F1Oversteer exclusive last month suggested Sainz and Williams would team up next season and despite many twists and turns that now looks set to happen.

The deal is very much weighed in Sainz’s favour and even includes a clause that would see him lining up for another team at the start of next year if certain criteria are fulfilled.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship

Carlos Sainz set to sign one-year contract with Williams for 2025

The report from F1 Insider suggests that Sainz is set to bring an end to the speculation surrounding his future very soon.

Teams and drivers can enjoy the summer break after the Belgian Grand Prix and Wiliams and Sainz would both be more relaxed if they can confirm a detail before the paddock heads to Zandvoort at the end of August.

F1 Insider believe that Sainz will sign a one-year contract with Williams with both sides of the deal having the option to trigger an extension.

However, the £8.5-million-a-year deal includes a special clause that other teams on the grid weren’t willing to offer Sainz.

The 29-year-old is allowed to leave Williams before the end of the 2024 season if he’s offered a race seat at either Red Bull or Mercedes.

It would be a huge blow to Williams to lose out on Sainz before he even jumps in the car and James Vowles will know sooner rather than later if Red Bull are going to make a change.

Perez’s future will be discussed by Red Bull on Monday with a trio of drivers hoping to jump into his seat alongside Max Verstappen.

Meanwhile at Mercedes, if Wolff does want to bring in Sainz, then Williams will be offered the chance to bring in Kimi Antonelli for the upcoming campaign.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

Carlos Sainz needs to improve during the Belgian Grand Prix

Ferrari have had the fourth-quickest car over the past few races, but the wet conditions in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix offered the Italian team a unique opportunity.

Exceptional qualifier Leclerc grabbed it with both hands and put his car on pole position after Verstappen’s 10-place grid penalty.

Unfortunately, Sainz will line up on the fourth row behind both Mercedes and McLaren cars.

Brundle accused Sainz of overdriving during Q3 and will hope the drier conditions forecast for Sunday will benefit him.

Williams won’t be too concerned about one qualifying session, especially when the driver he’s replacing ended up in 19^th.