Sainz: Williams' 2026 slump was a shock, but action plan restored my faith

Carlos Sainz says Williams' regression in 2026 came as a genuine shock, admitting the FW48 is "not good enough" after an unexpectedly strong 2025 campaign raised expectations. With only seven points across the opening five race weekends, the team has fallen well adrift and put James Vowles' rebuild under scrutiny.

Why it matters:

Williams convinced Sainz to gamble his career on a long-term rebuild away from Ferrari, making this slump a critical test of Grove's transformation. The sharp contrast between last year's podiums and this season's two-second deficit raises real questions about whether the team's infrastructure can match its ambition.

The details:

• Sainz described the FW48 as lacking downforce and carrying excess weight, leaving the car roughly two seconds off the pace at the start of the year.
• He and teammate Alex Albon have managed only seven points across five weekends, a dramatic fall from the team's fifth-place finish in 2025.
• Sainz admitted that surprise podiums in Azerbaijan and Qatar last season raised expectations beyond Williams' true operational level.
• The Spaniard likened the slump to McLaren's early-2023 struggles, arguing setbacks can force necessary internal "changes of approach" that otherwise stay hidden.
• After what he called "very open" talks with Vowles, Sainz says the team has implemented a concrete action plan that has restored his belief in the project.

What's next:

Williams is pairing weight reduction with strategic aerodynamic upgrades to maximize limited resources. The team will also skip the FW49 and race the FW50 next season, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its 1977 F1 debut. Sainz and Alex Albon will hope the milestone car marks the moment Williams stops regressing and emulates the McLaren-style resurgence it badly needs.