Helmut Marko on Carlos Sainz’s transfer and secret « exit clause »

Carlos Sainz recently put an end to what appears to be one of the most eagerly awaited answers in the transfer market. By announcing his arrival at Williams for two full seasons, he finally put an end to months of speculation. Yet, since his announcement, rumors have been rife. Also in vogue in the paddock, they did not take long to reach the ears of Helmut Marko, who reacted to them.

A last chance in Formula 1

With a contract this time officially signed, the Spanish driver will remain on the grid for the next Formula 1 seasons. However, it almost did not happen. He, who was the most sought-after driver at the beginning of the year, saw teams lose interest over time. As reported by Helmut Marko, head of Red Bull, Williams therefore appeared as the last option for the Spaniard.

« It is understandable that Carlos decided to go to Williams, because what would have been the alternatives? » he asked. « Audi will certainly not be one of them next year if we look at their achievements. And at Alpine, it is not known if they will get the Mercedes engine in 2025 or only in 2026. I would say it was the best solution for him in his situation. »

If Helmut Marko mentions Audi and Alpine in his interview with Speedweek, it is because these two teams were the last ones still in the running alongside Williams. Initially, Mercedes had also expressed interest in Carlos Sainz. But as the driver took his time to respond, the German team eventually turned to their junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli who could arrive in Formula 1 as early as 2025. Yet with less experience, team principal Toto Wolff had simply indicated that he had grown tired of the situation.

Information already denied.

Reviews and criticisms have not stopped pouring in since the announcement just two weeks ago. However, the biggest danger has been the rumors about his premature departure. While he had barely joined the team, media reports were already talking about an exit clause in his contract. He, who allegedly joined the team out of spite, supposedly has the chance to terminate his commitment immediately in order to join Red Bull or Mercedes. Statements that James Vowles has publicly denied.

However, team leader Helmut Marko has added fuel to the fire in recent days. Last week, the team manager at Williams decreed that few people actually knew the driver’s contract. This would not have left any chance for the media to know the details. Or at least not enough to report such agreements. No one knows where he got his information from, but it seems that Helmut Marko also heard it. “Of course, it’s tragic that he’s having his best season at Ferrari and not getting a seat in a top team. But things should move forward at Williams, there’s also a powerful engine there,” he started. ” Apparently, there is a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if an offer came from a much more reputable team.”

If we believe the official information shared by James Vowles, Carlos Sainz’s contract does not contain a similar clause. But considering Max Verstappen’s exit clause that was only made known this year, it is not impossible that it undergoes the same fate.