Carlos Sainz highlights 'huge' 2026 power unit role and eager for Williams pre-season influence

Carlos Sainz is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to shape Williams’ 2026 Formula 1 car from the ground up, while identifying the team’s Mercedes power unit as a potentially "huge" performance differentiator under the new regulations. The Spaniard, entering his second season with the team, emphasized the dual impact of driver input on car philosophy and software development as critical factors for success.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulatory overhaul represents a complete reset, making driver feedback during the car's conceptual phase more valuable than ever. For a midfield team like Williams, which achieved its best constructors' finish in nearly a decade in 2025, optimizing both the chassis and power unit integration from the start could be the key to leapfrogging rivals or, at minimum, consolidating its improved position.

The details:

• Sainz specifically highlighted the chance to influence the "setup philosophy" and baseline car design before it hits the track, aiming for a package that makes the drivers feel "more comfortable or a bit more at ease from the get go."
• He pointed to the Mercedes power unit, supplied by High Performance Powertrains (HPP), as a major variable, noting that experienced drivers like himself and teammate Alex Albon can play a significant role in its software development throughout the season.
• Despite Williams' strong 2025 season, which included two podiums for Sainz and fifth in the championship, the driver is tempering expectations for 2026. He acknowledged that stable regulations would have given him more confidence in the team's ability to make incremental gains, but the new rules create uncertainty for every team.

The big picture:

Sainz’s comments reflect a mature approach to a regulation change, balancing optimism for the team's potential with realism about the risks. He joined Williams viewing it as a long-term project to return to the front, and 2026 is the first major milestone. His focus is on the team staying "super focused and calm" as the reset could just as easily lead to a competitive misstep as it could to a breakthrough, depending on which team finds the optimal design direction or a regulatory loophole first.