Martin Brundle believes Carlos Sainz must have included key clause in his 2025 Williams contract

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The Dutch Grand Prix has created plenty of speculation around the Williams Formula 1 team’s driver line-up.

Logan Sargeant caused significant damage to his Williams during practice and is now facing calls to be replaced before the Italian Grand Prix.

Whatever the outcome of team principal James Vowles’s deliberation over the American’s future over the next few days, he won’t be in the car in 2025.

Alex Albon will be joined by Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz after he lost his seat to Lewis Hamilton.

It was a bitter blow for the Spaniard but speaking on Sky Sports F1 in the build-up to Sunday’s race at Zandvoort, Martin Brundle was talking about measures he may have already put in place to make sure he’s back at the front of the grid soon.

Although Williams are having a very tough year, Vowles has always made it clear that the Grove-based team are building for the future, with 2025 and the new regulations in 2026 in mind.

That would have gone some way to convincing Sainz that Williams were a better choice than Alpine or Sauber, but the 29-year-old won’t want to wait too long to be challenging at the front of the grid once again.

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

Martin Brundle shares contract clause Carlos Sainz must have included in his 2025 Williams deal

Asked about Sainz’s move to Williams, Brundle said: “It was a tough call for Team Sainz, he’s got his dream drive really, he’s a works Ferrari driver and the other three options that he had really were Sauber which becomes Audi, Alpine and Williams.

“They’re all three-to-five-year projects in reality if they’re going to get to podiums.

“So, it sounds awful but it was his least worst choice to an extent from where he’s coming from.

“But I can see why he’s excited about what Williams can do for him in the future.”

Talking about his contract more specifically, Brundle continued: “If Carlos wants another shot at a front-running, championship potential car or race-winning car, it’s going to be quite tough from there.

“So, maybe he sets his stall out at Williams but I can’t believe he won’t have done a deal where he’s got an exit route, should a Red Bull or a Mercedes seat come available.”

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

Carlos Sainz has shared how his Ferrari negotiations were going before Lewis Hamilton’s announcement

Once Sainz arrives at Williams he would have driven for half of the teams currently in the F1 paddock.

Few drivers even manage to spend five seasons in Formula 1 so this is an achievement in itself.

Ferrari confirmed Charles Leclerc’s contract extension during the winter and it appeared as though the Spaniard was going to follow suit.

Sainz was in negotiations with Ferrari before Hamilton suddenly made himself available to the team.

Once a seven-time world champion offers his services to a Formula 1 team, they’re not going to say no and Sainz was the unfortunate driver to miss out.

However, Brundle thinks Sainz would have negotiated a deal with Williams that would let him move on should a sufficient offer arrive from further down the paddock.