Banco Santander will be a sponsor of Williams starting from tomorrow’s tests, with Carlos Sainz’s presence in the British team being a decisive factor.
The partnership between Williams and Banco Santander is official. The Spanish bank, one of the largest in the world with 171 million total users, will follow Carlos Sainz in his journey with the British team, thus leaving Ferrari. This is the statement from Williams:
Williams Racing’s Official Statement
Williams Racing is pleased to announce a new multi-year partnership with Santander, set to begin in 2025. Santander, one of the world’s leading banks with 171 million customers globally, will join the team as the official retail banking partner of Formula 1, starting next year.
Santander has chosen Williams as a global platform to connect with customers, offering exclusive experiences with access to the paddock and events for drivers, and to increase brand visibility, particularly in the United States, where three F1 races will be held, and the team will feature the Santander Openbank brand. The Santander or Openbank logos will be featured on the FW47, on the drivers’ helmets, and on team uniforms throughout 2025, as Williams’ challenge will be led by Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, one of the most formidable driver lineups on the grid.
“Williams Racing is proud to add Santander to our growing list of iconic and innovative partners for 2025 and beyond,” said James Vowles, Team Principal of Williams Racing. “Teaming up with a global banking giant trusted by millions of people worldwide is another significant step in our transformation, and we look forward to working with Santander to engage and excite fans in the years to come.”
To celebrate the announcement of the partnership, the Santander brand will appear on the FW46 during this week’s end-of-season tests in Abu Dhabi, where Spanish driver Carlos Sainz will drive a Williams for the first time. The announcement continues the commercial momentum and growth of Williams as the team strengthens in all areas in search of future success in the championship. Williams has recently announced extended and expanded partnerships with Duracell, Gulf Oil International, and Kraken for 2025, as well as F1’s first autonomous vehicle partnership with the robotaxi company Zoox.
Juan Manuel Cendoya, Global Head of Communications, Corporate Marketing, and Research at Santander and Vice President of Santander Spain, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Williams Racing on a strategic deal that allows us to continue offering exclusive experiences to our customers and to continue supporting Carlos Sainz in his new phase. This is one of the most historic teams with the greatest legacy in F1, completing our role as the official retail banking partner of the competition with a focus on our key markets.”
