Rumors: Carlos Sainz may return to McLaren

      The season of rumors about driver transfers has started earlier than usual this year. Recently, we wrote about a scenario in which Oscar Piastri might move from McLaren to Red Bull Racing, and now a new batch of rumors has emerged.

      The Spanish Marca reports that if Piastri indeed decides to leave the team from Woking, Carlos Sainz will be vying for the vacant spot. The Spanish driver has previously raced for McLaren and has maintained friendly relations with CEO Zak Brown and current world champion Lando Norris.

      Sainz's contract with Williams expires at the end of 2026, and Carlos will soon need to decide on the continuation of his career. It is no secret that Williams' performance this season is far from the expectations of both fans and the team itself, and Sainz will have to make a difficult decision about whether to stay in Grove or not.

      It is clear that the option of returning to McLaren seems preferable, but there are no guarantees that by the time Williams asks Carlos to make a decision this year, there will be clarity regarding Oscar Piastri's plans.

      The Australian will leave McLaren only if he signs a contract with Red Bull Racing for Max Verstappen's seat, and the four-time world champion, who has a contract until the end of 2028, is unlikely to announce his departure from the team if he does make such a decision before the end of the current season.