'Ferrari level' contract with 'mega' pay reportedly prepared for F1 driver to stay after 2026 season

The Formula 1 season has entered ‘silly season’ as constructors start to consider who will be in their driver line-up next season, which could see several moves around the paddock.

While the teams will be weighing up their options on who can make up their team; however, there the drivers are also considering their futures on the grid as they look to driver for a constructor that gives them the best chance of winning a Grand Prix of a Drivers’ Championship.

At present there are several drivers that are out of contract at the end of the year, which could trigger mass changes, including Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, and Franco Colapinto.

As teams aim to lure a driver to their team, particularly if they are aiming to sign a quality individual, they may have to offer a significant contract to ensure they capture their target’s signature.

Now according to Autosprint, Williams are considering offering their driver, Carlos Sainz, a significant increase to his current deal as they aim to ensure he is not signed up by any other constructors.

It is being reported that the Spaniard is being offered a deal worth €30 million (£25.7m) in this contract extension, which would be equivalent to £9.8m a season.

Sainz is free to leave Williams at the end of this year; however, he does have the option to extend his current deal until either 2027 or 2028.

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Yet, the worrying drop-off in performance from the Williams team may be leading him to explore alternative options in the projects at Alpine and Aston Martin. There has also been a suggestion from the report that he could head up a driver partnership with Australian Oscar Piastri at Audi next season, if Max Verstappen were to make the move from Red Bull to McLaren.

Williams’ regression throughout the season has been clear for all to see and it can be partly explained by their failure by missing pre-season testing in Barcelona and creating an overweight car.

The team currently resides ninth in the Constructors' Championship, and on too many occasions already this season it has been a battle to get out of Q1.

Sainz has only finished in the points on three occasions, each time placing ninth to give him six points in the overall championship, while his teammate, Alex Albon, has five points from placing 10th in Miami and eighth in Monaco.

This poor showing, and the fact he has the chance to leave has opened the door to rumours that the former Ferrari driver may leave, but it is no surprise that Williams will be aiming to lock down the Spaniard’s future due to the quality he possesses, to help turn the team around.