Carlos Sainz has described Williams’ 2026 performance as ‘a bit of an eye-opener,’ admitting the team’s current standing was not within his expectations for the season. The Spanish driver joined Williams after the 2024 season, securing two podium finishes in his inaugural year with the Grove-based outfit.
Williams concluded the 2025 season in fifth place in the Constructors’ standings, a result Sainz considered an ‘overdelivery’ given his initial expectations when signing his contract. The FW47 proved to be a competitive car, often within three to four tenths of pole position.
The 2026 regulation changes, which had been a long-term focus for Williams, have presented significant challenges. The FW48 chassis has been notably overweight compared to its rivals, contributing to a difficult start to the current campaign.
The 2026 minimum weight limit was set at 724kg plus tyre mass, a reduction of over 30kg from the previous year. Williams’ FW48 is reportedly more than 20kg over this new limit, marking the largest known deficit on the grid.
This weight issue stems from failed FIA crash tests, which necessitated late structural reinforcements and additional carbon fibre skins for homologation. Manufacturing process weaknesses further compounded the team’s recovery efforts.
Team Principal James Vowles confirmed the FW48’s excess weight earlier this year, outlining a plan to reduce it. He indicated that the cost cap implications of achieving the target weight could impact the team’s development later in the season.
Sainz currently holds six points at the halfway point of the 2026 season. His individual results include ninth-place finishes in Japan, Miami, and Canada, each contributing two points to his tally.
Williams has not scored any points in the last five races, with both Sainz and teammate Alex Albon finishing two laps down at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix. The team currently sits ninth in the Constructors’ standings with 11 points.
Alex Albon, now in his fifth season with Williams, has seen Sainz deliver a more convincing performance through 2026. Many Grands Prix have effectively become extended test sessions for the team.
Martin Brundle, a former F1 driver and Sky Sports pundit, has commented that Sainz’s F1 career is ‘stalling out’ at Williams. This assessment follows the team’s sharp decline from its 2025 form.
An upgrade package is anticipated for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late September, though expectations for its impact have been tempered. Albon noted that the scale of upgrades seen from other teams, such as Aston Martin in Hungary, remains aspirational for Williams.
Vowles previously described the team’s current task as ‘flying the plane and rebuilding it at the same time,’ acknowledging the long-term nature of their recovery. He highlighted that the winter period exposed significant infrastructure deficiencies that require substantial resource allocation.
