Carlos Sainz Proposes Radical Rotating Driver Format for F1

Carlos Sainz has revealed a radical vision for Formula 1 that would see drivers rotate through every team on the grid, spending two races with each constructor to create what he calls a true Drivers' Championship. The Spaniard, currently 14th in the 2026 standings with six points for Williams, proposed the concept while admitting it would "never" actually happen.

Why it matters:

Sainz's proposal strikes at the heart of F1's oldest debate: how much of success belongs to the driver versus the car. Under the current system, championship hopes are often sealed by contract negotiations years in advance. His concept would completely decouple driver performance from team affiliation, forcing direct talent comparison across identical sample sizes and reshaping how the sport measures individual excellence.

The details:

• Sainz envisions a 20-race season where each driver spends exactly two races with each of the 10 teams, sampling the same machinery as their rivals.
• Drivers would be employed directly by Formula 1 rather than individual teams, functioning as independent contractors.
• The Drivers' Championship would reward outright individual performance, while Constructors' standings would still be determined by points scored for each specific team.
• The Williams driver admitted the idea is "slightly crazy" and has no chance of real-world approval.
• In the actual 2026 standings, Sainz sits 14th with six points, while Williams holds eighth in the Constructors' Championship with 11 points.

Between the lines:

While Sainz's rotating format remains pure fantasy within F1's commercial reality, it reflects driver frustration over being trapped in uncompetitive machinery. The idea echoes paddock conversations about parity and proving individual talent when car performance varies so dramatically. For now, Sainz's championship hopes remain firmly tethered to Williams' development path rather than any grid-wide musical chairs.