After Ferrari extended the contract with Charles Leclerc and subsequently made it clear with Lewis Hamilton for next season, it was clear that Carlos Sainz would have to leave the stable.
Since then, his future in the sport has been uncertain, but now the Spaniard has made it clear with his next employer.
The 29-year-old has signed with Williams, and will thus take Logan Sargeant's place next season. He will compete alongside the Thai-British driver Alex Albon.
Thus, Sainz takes a few steps down in the F1 hierarchy. Ferrari is in third place in the constructor standings with a total of 345 points. In contrast, Williams is doing much worse, lying next to last with a meager four points.
"The ultimate goal of taking Williams back to where they belong, to the top of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to create history again," says Sainz to Williams' website.
The contract is written for two years, with the possibility of extension.