Carlos Sainz admits Williams’s poor 2026 start makes him question the project’s direction for the first time. The drop-off follows an encouraging 2025 that delivered late-season podiums.

Williams scores points in only three of the first five races, all ninth places in China, Miami, and Canada. The form contrasts sharply with last year’s trajectory.

The FW48 averages the ninth-fastest package. Alpine, also a Mercedes customer, sits fifth in the standings, underlining Williams’s relative deficit after finishing fifth in 2025.

The FW48 misses its first pre-season test and carries excess weight. Sainz says the car remains fundamentally short, even if the weight is removed.

He argues the shortfall spans multiple areas, not only mass. That echoes Williams’s wider restructuring under Piers Thynne’s leadership. A realistic target is front-of-midfield by season’s end.

The scale of the slump shocks Sainz. He moves from podium contention late in 2025 to starting 2026 more than two and a half seconds off the pace at times.

That early gap triggers a deep internal review. Sainz credits James Vowles and management for decisive corrective actions aimed at preventing a repeat.

The process rebuilds confidence. Sainz also accepts 2025 likely over-delivered, inflating expectations after two podiums and a rapid late-season car.

The weight problem needs time under the cost cap. Williams must prioritise upgrades and aero efficiency while integrating key technical hires and a recent wave of signings.

Sainz keeps the focus on execution. He points to solid personal results amid the struggle and expects stepwise gains as Williams stabilises development through 2026.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.