Carlos Sainz feels 2026 F1 regulations have impacted the grid negatively after seeing test gaps

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Several Formula 1 drivers have heavily criticised the new regulations in 2026 during pre-season testing, and Carlos Sainz has also seen their negatives.

Williams’ pre-season has been far from smooth, having missed the Barcelona shakedown after failing FIA crash tests. Sainz did express frustration over the ordeal, with the Grove outfit immediately on the back foot compared to their rivals.

The Spaniard and teammate Alex Albon would get out on track in the FW48 in Bahrain in early February, and are partaking in the final official test before the season opener in Melbourne in March.

As the drivers get to grips with the new cars under the 2026 F1 regulations, several have expressed concerns, with Max Verstappen calling it ‘Formula E on steroids’. Lewis Hamilton referred to the cars as like GP2 machines, whilst also stating how complex they are for fans to understand.

The driver he replaced at Ferrari has also explained how he feels the new rules have impacted him in a negative way. Sainz wanted more time in Williams’ 2025 car, as he was starting to get to grips with the machine, having scored two podiums in Baku and Qatar.

Carlos Sainz doubts the 2026 grid will be separated by half a second in Melbourne

Speaking with Williams teammate Albon on the official Williams YouTube channel, the Spaniard discussed how the 2026 regulations will impact the gap between the field. In 2025, half a second separated first to last, but he has doubts that will be the case this season.

“I remember back in 2019, there were very big gaps between teams,” he said. “My feeling is, at least at the beginning of this year, the gaps are going to be big. Maybe not as big as back then, a bit smaller, but still bigger.

“Last year in Q1, there were 20 cars in half a second. I really doubt the fact that in Australia, race one, there’s going to be 20 cars in half a second.”

Albon added: “I think there will be two cars between half a second.” Sainz then said: “I think if we are all within 3 seconds…” before Albon cut him off: “And I don’t think that that’s going to happen.”

“You don’t think that we’re…” said the Spaniard, before Albon replied: “I don’t think from top to bottom it will be 3 seconds.”

Sainz then continued: “And we were within half. So that proves to you what a new regulation also does in a negative way, because for us, as drivers, to be honest, Abu Dhabi or the last few races of last year was fun knowing that we all were within a couple of tenths of each other.”

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How are Williams doing in Bahrain after early testing problems?

Williams team principal James Vowles says the ‘priority’ is to correlate data in Bahrain. After missing the shakedown in Barcelona, the team have to ensure that they get as much mileage as possible.

On the first day of the second test at Sahkir, Sainz and Albon both racked up 55 laps. The former was eighth on the timesheets, 1.6 seconds off the pace of George Russell at the top of the timesheets.

George Russell starts Week 2 at the 2026 F1 Bahrain test on top! But what stood out the most?

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Williams are making strong progress, considering how far behind they were at the start of pre-season. The mileage is there, as well as some decent reliability from the Mercedes power unit, but there are still some issues to resolve.

Williams were suffering ‘grip’ problems during the first test in Bahrain. Albon and Sainz were struggling with stiff setups, leaving them lagging behind in race simulations compared to Haas and Alpine.