Carlos Sainz's Longtime Sponsor Estrella Galicia Joins Williams on Multi-Year Deal

The Williams F1 Team has secured a multi-year partnership with Spanish non-alcoholic beer brand Estrella Galicia 0,0, a longtime personal sponsor of driver Carlos Sainz, commencing with the 2026 season. The deal comes just a week after the team confirmed the end of its one-season partnership with another Sainz-affiliated sponsor, Spanish bank Santander.

Why it matters:

Sponsorship stability is crucial for midfield teams like Williams, and landing a multi-year deal with a recognizable brand represents a significant commercial win. The move also underscores the influential pulling power of star driver Carlos Sainz, whose personal backer is now investing directly in his team, potentially strengthening his integration and value within the squad.

The details:

• Estrella Galicia 0,0 has backed Sainz since his junior Formula 3 career in 2013, following him to Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari.
• The new partnership expands the brand's presence from just Sainz's helmet to team-wide assets, including placement on the halo and rear wing endplates of the FW48 car, plus branding on both Sainz and Alex Albon's helmets.
• The brand will be served in the team's hospitality unit at European races in 2026.
• This follows Williams's confirmed split with Santander, which joined as a partner in late 2024 but was replaced for 2026 by Barclays as the team's official banking partner.
• Santander, which remains the retail banking partner of Formula 1, will continue as a race sponsor at eight Grands Prix, including the Spanish rounds in Barcelona and Madrid.

What's next:

The Estrella Galicia deal provides Williams with renewed commercial momentum as it enters the pivotal 2026 regulatory cycle. For Sainz, having a deeply loyal sponsor embed itself within the team structure could further solidify his position as a cornerstone of Williams's rebuilding project. The team's ability to convert a driver's personal sponsor into a team partner may set a precedent for how squads leverage star driver appeal for long-term financial gain.