Peter Windsor highlights Carlos Sainz’s ‘mistake’ with Williams contract

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Carlos Sainz has finally decided on his immediate future in Formula 1 following months of contract deliberations.

The Spaniard had several offers, including ones from manufacturer teams such as Audi and Alpine, but eventually went with Williams after talks with team principal James Vowles.

Vowles spoke of the ’emotional swings’ that came with negotiating a contract with Carlos Sainz, having first made contact with him in Abu Dhabi last season.

Williams was seen as the best move compared to the other two offers, which included either an unproven engine project for 2026 in Audi or unrest at the top of Alpine.

Peter Windsor believes Sainz has made a mistake in one key area of his contract when discussing it on his YouTube livestream.

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

Peter Windsor outlines why Carlos Sainz made a mistake with Williams

Sainz reportedly has a clause in his £8.5 million per year contract with Williams, which stipulates that he can leave the team if he receives offers from either Mercedes or Red Bull.

Vowles has denied this is the case and pointed out that most people within Williams do not know the specific details of the contract, let alone journalists within the F1 paddock.

Even if the contract does contain this clause, Windsor believes Sainz made a critical mistake when stipulating the terms in his multi-year deal with the Grove outfit from 2025.

“Carlos has signed this weird contract where the minute there is availability at Red Bull or Mercedes, he can walk away from the Williams contract. That also brings with it a slightly weird relationship between the driver and team in terms of confidentiality and information, working closely together,” said Windsor.

“Personally, I think Carlos has made a mistake. If he has not included Ferrari in that, I think he’s made a big mistake because if it doesn’t go brilliantly for Lewis or Charles has an issue with Lewis, Ferrari will have a seat as early as 2027.”

Carlos Sainz contract changes dynamic at Mercedes

The existence of the clause means it changes the dynamic at Mercedes for 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, as it could mean Sainz is promoted to the Silver Arrows if he does not meet performance clauses.

Mercedes was seen as an ideal destination for Antonelli due to their poor form at the start of the season, which was expected to last through into 2025 before picking up at the end of the season.

READ MORE: F1 2025 driver line-up with every team’s confirmed entry for the grid

But now they have experienced an uptake in form following a breakthrough in the development of the W15, Antonelli might be expected to deliver podiums and race wins early into his F1 career.

So far he has not shown this type of form in Formula 2 and although part of it is down to Prema’s difficulties, the Italian has still made a series of rookie errors while on track.

Sainz would be an ideal and experienced candidate, given Williams’ ties as an engine customer to Mercedes.