Carlos Sainz’s move to Williams also brings with it sponsorship from Santander, the British team announced on Monday. The major Spanish bank has been active in Formula 1 for years and has also been a personal sponsor of the 30-year-old driver since 2021. This new partnership dispels rumors that Sainz would be moving to ‘big brother’ Mercedes next year, rather than Williams.
The Santander logos will be displayed on the Williams car during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Carlos Sainz will then make his first ‘official’ laps for the team. On Monday, he already drove the FW46 during a so-called filming day. On such filming days, teams are allowed to conduct limited testing with their current Formula 1 cars as an exception. It appears that Williams strategically saved this filming day to give Sainz extra time in the FW46.
Mercedes Rumors Dispelled
“From now on, the Santander logo adorns our cars,” team boss James Vowles announced. “In 2025, the name will be prominently displayed on the FW47, the drivers’ helmets, and the team clothing. We are proud to add Santander to our growing list of iconic and innovative partners.” Juan Manuel Cendoya, Vice President of Santander Spain, also expressed his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to partner with Williams. Moreover, it’s fantastic that we can continue to support Carlos Sainz in this new phase of his career.
In recent days, rumors have been circulating that Carlos Sainz might be moving to Mercedes. In this scenario, the young Andrea Kimi Antonelli – who is making his debut with the Silver Arrows next year – would have to move to Williams. However, the new partnership between Williams and Santander seems to debunk these speculations. Santander became a sponsor of Sainz in 2021 when he moved to Ferrari. This is a logical collaboration, considering Santander’s long-standing relationship with Ferrari and its previous role as a sponsor during Fernando Alonso’s tenure with the Italian team.
