Carlos Sainz

The son of rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr., Sainz began his motorsport career—like most other F1 drivers—in karting. After finishing fourth in his debut season in the Formula BMW Europe class, his first year in a single-seater, he caught the interest of Helmut Marko. He was then recruited into the Red Bull Junior Team. Winning the Formula Renault 3.5 title a few years later earned him a seat at Toro Rosso, where he made his debut in 2015 alongside Max Verstappen. Verstappen moved to Red Bull Racing in 2016, while Sainz remained at Toro Rosso.

In 2018, Sainz moved to Renault, where he stayed for just one year. He then made the switch to McLaren, where the seat left by the departing Fernando Alonso was available. At McLaren, he became teammates with Lando Norris, with whom he developed a close friendship. Sainz, alongside Norris, helped McLaren return to the forefront with a sixth-place finish in the championship. That upward trajectory continued in 2020. The following year, Sainz moved to Ferrari, where he drove alongside Charles Leclerc. In 2025, Sainz will race for Williams after Lewis Hamilton took his seat at Ferrari.

The Spaniard will race for Williams in the 2025 season, after making the move from Ferrari. He had been without a team for a short time after Lewis Hamilton joined the Italian Scuderia, but it was later revealed that Sainz had made the switch to Williams under team principal James Vowles.

In 2024, Carlos Sainz remained a key driver in Formula 1, racing for Ferrari. After his strong performances in previous seasons, where he consistently achieved top results, he continued to be a reliable and respected driver for the team. In 2024, Sainz won two Grand Prix races. He crossed the line first in both Australia and Mexico City.

Sainz moved to Ferrari in 2021, where he became teammates with Leclerc. The transition to the historic F1 team proved fruitful for the Spaniard. He achieved three podium finishes that year and finished ahead of Leclerc in the championship. In 2022, Sainz struggled with the new generation of F1 cars, while Ferrari began the season as a serious contender with Leclerc. Nevertheless, Sainz claimed his first F1 victory at the British Grand Prix. In 2023, he was the only driver to win a race outside of Red Bull Racing, winning the Singapore Grand Prix. His time at Ferrari came to an end in 2024 when it was announced that Hamilton would be joining the Italian team for 2025. Sainz continued his career at Williams.

In July 2024, it was announced that Sainz would continue his career with the Williams team. Sainz will be Alexander Albon's teammate at Williams in the 2025 season, a role Albon also held in 2024.

Sainz is currently dating Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson. Their relationship began a few months after his breakup with Spanish influencer Isa Harnaez, with whom he had been in a six-year relationship.

Carlos Sainz’s father, also named Carlos Sainz, participated in the 2025 Dakar Rally. However, things didn’t go as planned, as the elder Sainz crashed on the second day of the rally, and the officials deemed the car unfit for racing, ending his rally early.

Sainz was born on September 1, 1994, in Madrid, Spain. He is 30 years old and will celebrate his 31st birthday on September 1, 2025. The Williams driver is 1.78 meters tall and weighs 64 kilograms.

Sainz has earned a significant income throughout his career. In 2024, he earned a base salary of $10 million at Ferrari, with bonuses bringing his total earnings to $19 million. Estimates vary for his net worth, but according to Forbes, it was $19 million in 2024.

Stay up to date with the latest news about Carlos Sainz and his team, Williams. From official announcements, updates, and performance on the track to preparations and activities outside the F1 season, you’ll read it all first on GPblog.com.