Carlos Sainz Insists He's Having One of His Strongest F1 Seasons Despite Williams Woes

Carlos Sainz maintains he is delivering some of his best work in Formula 1 despite Williams languishing near the back of the 2026 grid. The Spaniard insists his performances are being overlooked simply because the team's overweight, downforce-deficient car keeps him outside the top 10.

Why it matters:

Sainz's self-assessment challenges the narrative that a driver's value is tied solely to visible results. With Williams failing to capitalize on the 2026 regulation reset, Sainz risks being forgotten in the midfield shuffle despite outperforming teammate Alex Albon across every head-to-head metric this season. His comments highlight how F1's obsession with the front of the field often obscures strong work in struggling machinery.

The details:

• Sainz told media including RacingNews365 that he has been "on it" since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, calling 2026 "one of my strongest years, probably in F1."
• He has scored three ninth-place finishes this season, a sharp drop from Williams' fifth-place finish in the 2025 constructors' standings.
• Williams' current challenger is reportedly overweight and lacks downforce compared to its rivals, leaving Sainz unable to fight for points regularly.
• Despite the deficit, Sainz leads Albon in all internal metrics and praised his engineering team for maintaining motivation while "maximising every race."

What's next:

Williams continues to chase upgrades to address the car's fundamental weight and aero issues, though significant gains under stable 2026 regulations may prove difficult. Sainz's confidence in his own form suggests he remains a valuable asset for the team's long-term project, but he will need a competitive car soon to turn private validation into public results. If the Grove squad cannot deliver, Sainz's patience—and his ability to attract future opportunities—will face increasing strain.