Carlos Sainz explains why he is optimistic at Williams despite agreeing on gap to midfield F1 rivals

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Carlos Sainz had a fairytale first season with Williams last year, but that has quickly turned into anger following the team’s regression in F1’s new era of regulations.

Out of all of the seasoned drivers who swapped F1 outfits at the start of the 2025 campaign, Carlos Sainz was the only one who ended the year on a high note.

Sainz secured two podiums over the course of the year, which is mightily impressive considering Williams’ status as a midfield contender.

His replacement at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, didn’t manage a single top-three finish during the entirety of the term, despite teammate Charles Leclerc claiming seven of them in identical machinery.

However, 2026 hasn’t started optimally for the Grove-based outfit, with development delays seeing Williams completely miss the first shakedown of the season in Barcelona.

It has put them on the back foot compared to the rest of their rivals on the grid, and Sainz is in agreement with the common sentiment regarding Williams’ chances in the upcoming term.

• READ MORE: ‘Angry’ Carlos Sainz must activate Williams exit clause after seeing 2.5-second gap in F1 testing

Carlos Sainz reveals his ‘anger’ at Williams for their regression from last year

During an interview with SoyMotor following the conclusion of the second week of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Sainz was asked if he had any inside knowledge on where Williams may land within the pecking order this year.

The Spaniard replied, “I think it’s impossible to know. That said, I agree with you that we’re not ahead of the midfield. Or, we’re not ahead of the midfield positions.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t be there or that we can’t be there at some point in the season, but I do have to analyse variations. In just a few tests, I don’t get the feeling that we’re up there.”

The Spaniard also drew attention to an issue with the new regulations, which is something that has been a hot topic in recent weeks among his peers.

Sainz feels like the wind now plays an even bigger part in the entry and exit of each corner, adding, “We need to improve both the software and the car to make it more consistent and give the driver a better feeling.

“Then, once the qualifying lap starts, I would say it’s not that different. The car is harder to handle because it has less aerodynamic load, and it’s more sensitive to the wind.”

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen predicts any ‘good team’ with Mercedes engines to be competitive in 2026

McLaren top the mileage charts after Bahrain testing 🏎️

But do any of these totals change your expectations for the season? 🤔

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Williams plan to upgrade their FW48 after it looked like an ‘absolute dog’ in Bahrain tests

One of the most damning verdicts of the British constructor during the two-week Bahrain test came from Jolyon Palmer, who likened the Williams FW48 to an ‘absolute dog’ during an Alex Albon stint behind the wheel.

However, engineers at Grove do have some plans in place to bridge the gap between themselves and the rest of the field.

The biggest issue is the weight of the new F1 car. Williams are planning to give the FW48 a ‘makeover’ ahead of the season-opener in Melbourne, which will hopefully aid Albon and Sainz’s charge this year.

It’s still very early days for the iconic British outfit, and they can still take confidence from their impressive showing last year to turn things around again this year.