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Carlos Sainz has revealed his favourite aspect of the 2026 F1 regulations, after admitting that he ‘shouldn’t enjoy’ them as a pure fan of the sport.
As one of the directors of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), Carlos Sainz has been a key figure on the F1 grid in relaying the frustrations that drivers have had over the sport’s new direction.
Ahead of the new campaign, Sainz urged his rivals to give the new regulations some time, asserting that he would approach F1’s bosses ‘hand in hand’ with Max Verstappen if they were deemed a failure.
Share one thing you love about the 2026 F1 regulations!
With three rounds of the season now in the books, and another on the horizon, the 31-year-old has revealed his satisfaction with F1’s new ruleset, highlighting one aspect in particular that is now amongst his favourites throughout every generation of car he has raced in so far.
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Carlos Sainz names his favourite aspect of the 2026 F1 regulations amid widespread frustration
Speaking to the press during the pre-event press conference for the Miami Grand Prix, the Spaniard applauded the FIA’s philosophy for the 2026 chassis.
After being asked if he has any positive notes on the new rulebook, the Williams star replied, via SoyMotor, “It’s a good chassis; aerodynamically, it’s one of my favourites in Formula 1, and I’ve driven quite a few over the last ten years.
“Switching back to softer suspension makes a huge difference to driver comfort and visibility, especially without that bouncing.”
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All in all, Sainz detailed how he is very much enjoying the current generation of cars, despite the widespread outrage from his peers.
He added, “On a personal level, it’s something I enjoy. Perhaps I shouldn’t enjoy it because it’s not very purist, but the fact is, you have to think a lot whilst driving.
“You have to monitor your load, think differently about how to tackle that qualifying lap or race lap to overtake, and I like having that time to think. But the reality is that Formula 1 should be flat-out, so I have mixed feelings.”
- READ MORE: Carlos Sainz ‘happy’ with F1 rule changes for Miami but expects ‘other things’ still need tweaking
Carlos Sainz also hinted at ‘big improvements’ for Williams later on in the 2026 F1 season
Further along in his words to the media on Thursday afternoon, Sainz also detailed how Williams have some ‘big improvements’ in store for their FW48 after a difficult start to F1’s new era.
He began by noting the new upgrades that the Grove-based F1 outfit have brought to the Miami paddock, saying, “We’ve brought a few upgrades for the car, which is going to look a bit different, but it’s not about the look, it’s about how many tenths they give us.
“In that sense, everyone is bringing a lot of upgrades. I don’t think our position is going to change drastically, although I do hope it’s the start of our comeback over the course of the season.”
However, he’s aware of Williams’ rivals also bringing some new configurations to the Miami Grand Prix, but Sainz hinted at bigger steps being made as the season ensues.
“I feel that although it will be a good step for the team, when you look at it comparatively, if the others bring improvements, we won’t be able to move up much,” the four-time Grand Prix winner added.
“Let’s hope it’s a good first step and we’ll have to wait until later in the season to bring those big improvements.”
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