Bottas going back to Williams seems to be getting a bit of momentum as of late, it'd be a very solid, if unspectacular signing for them, if this is the case then I can actually see Antonelli getting fast tracked into the Mercedes seat, nowhere near as much pressure when you're fighting for 5th at best on a weekend rather than the WDC/WCC.
This also leaves Sainz with Red Bull and Sauber/Audi as his two favourable options then, think a lot will depend how much people expect Red Bull/Ford to mess up the new engine regulations, in theory Audi should be at the very worst, a solid engine for 2026, it’s not like they’re brand new to developing hybrid engines after all. With Red Bull, it's hard to say, sure they've poached a lot of staff from elsewhere, but that doesn't guarantee success.
It did give a great taki quote "It's true! I learn that in UK. When balls move, brain is fine. When big crash, scissors, take off the overalls, see the balls, hit the balls, then when balls move, this guy's fine. If balls don't move, then there's a problem with brain damage, I think."
stranger things have happened but i can see Carlos taking a williams seat if only for one season to see what happens with RB and Mercedes come 2026
But will Williams want him only for a year? I know Albon probably didn’t have many options, but Sainz surely had more options than Williams? Maybe they look promising for 2026? Impossible to say though.