Williams respond to Sainz exit clause rumours

Williams team principal James Vowles has brushed away suggestions Carlos Sainz's contract involves exit clauses.

Sainz will join Williams next year alongside Alex Albon on a multi-year deal following his departure from Ferrari where he will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton.

The Spaniard was linked with several F1 projects prior to his decision to commit to the Grove-based squad.

Remarkably, on the day Sainz was announced as a Williams driver, there was already speculation his two-year deal had clauses that would allow him to leave.

Vowles highlighted the fact that the exact details of Sainz's contract are confined to a very short list of people.

“There are precisely 10 people in the world that know what the interior in the contract holds,” Vowles told media including RacingNews365.

“The Carlos camp knows, and I know what’s inside it. Anything you have read on the internet is speculation and that is it.”

Williams' official release confirmed that Sainz had penned a deal “for 2025, 2026 and beyond”.

Vowles revealed the wording of the official announcement was at the behest of Sainz, rather than the team.

“The message that it’s 2025 and 2026 and beyond did not come from myself, that came from Carlos,” Vowles explained.

“He wanted it to be abundantly clear to all of you, to the world, that he is committed, and this is where he wants to be.”