Carlos Sainz, born on September 1, 1994 in Madrid, is a Spanish Formula 1 driver who races for Williams in 2026, alongside Alexander Albon.

The son of rally champion Carlos Sainz started his motorsport career in karting. After finishing fourth in his debut season in Formula BMW Europe, he caught the attention of Helmut Marko and joined the Red Bull Junior Team.

Winning the Formula Renault 3.5 title secured him a seat at Toro Rosso, where he made his Formula 1 debut in 2015 alongside Max Verstappen. Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing in 2016, while Sainz remained at Toro Rosso.

In 2018, Sainz moved to Renault for one season before joining McLaren, replacing Fernando Alonso. There, he partnered Lando Norris. The duo helped McLaren return to competitiveness, with Sainz finishing sixth in the championship. That progress continued into 2020. In 2021, he joined Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc.

Sainz raced for Ferrari between 2021 and 2024. In his first season, he scored three podiums and finished ahead of Leclerc in the standings.

In 2022, he claimed his first Formula 1 victory at the British Grand Prix. In 2023, he was the only driver outside Red Bull Racing to win a race, taking victory in Singapore.

His time at Ferrari ended in 2024 after it was announced that Lewis Hamilton would join the team in 2025.

In July 2024, Sainz signed with Williams, becoming teammate to Alexander Albon. Despite initially trailing his teammate, he made a strong impression.

At the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Sainz finished third, securing Williams’ first podium in years. He added another podium in Qatar later that season. Together with Albon, he helped Williams finish fifth in the constructors’ championship, their best result since 2017.

Sainz remains at Williams in 2026 alongside Albon under team principal James Vowles. The major regulation changes offer new opportunities, with all teams effectively starting from scratch.

Williams has shown clear progress in recent years, and with two experienced drivers, the team could move closer to the front. Sainz will also have two home races in 2026, with Grands Prix in Madrid and Barcelona.

After Ferrari announced Hamilton’s arrival for 2025, Sainz had to find a new team. Interest was high, but he chose Williams.

That decision proved successful. While Williams was not a front-running team, Sainz consistently scored points and achieved strong results. His podium in Azerbaijan was celebrated as a major milestone for the team. He added another third place in Qatar.

Although Sainz scored more podiums than Albon, he finished ninth in the championship, just behind his teammate in eighth.

A notable moment in 2025 was the addition of a unicorn sticker named “Sparkles” on Sainz’s helmet. This followed a request from a young fan, who asked him to include a unicorn design.

Sainz used the sticker for the first time in Baku, where he immediately secured a podium. The unicorn remained on his helmet for the rest of the season and will continue in 2026.

Sainz has been outspoken about FIA decisions, particularly regarding penalties. After the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2025, he said he struggled to understand certain rulings and felt the regulations were applied too strictly.

He also criticised the increased focus on drivers’ partners during broadcasts. The FOM later responded to these comments.

Sainz has been in a relationship with Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson since 2023. The relationship followed his breakup with Spanish influencer Isa Hernaez.

His father, Carlos Sainz Sr., competed in the 2025 Dakar Rally. However, his campaign ended early after a crash on the second day.

In 2025, Sainz earned a base salary of around 10 million dollars at Williams, with an additional 3 million in bonuses. His net worth is estimated at around 50 million euros.

Carlos Sainz was born on September 1, 1994 in Madrid. He is 30 years old, stands 1.78 metres tall and weighs 64 kilograms.