It's happened: the cork has finally fired out of the bottle. And unexpectedly so, as it turns out; just as everyone had averted its gaze from the glass receptacle's neck, the stopper broke free of its moorings and landed straight into the lap of James Vowles. Carlos Sainz has signed at Williams for 2025 and beyond, ending a seemingly inexhaustible saga of rumour, innuendo, and cyclical links and denials.
The Spaniard abruptly became a free agent for next season when Ferrari delivered its seismic news that Lewis Hamilton was to partner Charles Leclerc, and unwittingly assumed the headline role in the market masquerade ball. There was no shortage of suitors, particularly among the midfield teams looking to beat their rivals to something of a coup.
