Sainz highlights return of Williams' historic 'three-wheeling' issue with FW48

Carlos Sainz has revealed that a fundamental and unsettling vehicle dynamic flaw, which makes the Williams feel like it's cornering on three wheels, has resurfaced with the new FW48. The problem, first noted by Sainz when he joined the team, was previously masked by higher downforce but has been exposed by the 2026 regulation changes, forcing the team into a critical investigation during the sport's unexpected April break.

Why it matters:

This issue strikes at the core of Williams's competitive revival. A car that is terrifyingly unpredictable for its drivers undermines all development and prevents the team from building a stable platform to close the gap to the midfield. With the grid tightly packed, solving this foundational flaw is more urgent than chasing pure performance upgrades.

The details:

• The flaw is described as a deficit in inside-front tyre load, creating a sensation that the car is lifting a wheel in high-speed corners, severely compromising driver confidence and cornering stability.
• Sainz first identified the characteristic upon his debut in Abu Dhabi last year, and the team worked to mitigate it through setup and development throughout the 2025 season.
• The 2026 aerodynamic regulation changes, which reduced overall downforce, have acted like "stripping away a band-aid," allowing the underlying mechanical issue to flare up again as a primary performance limiter.
• Teammate Alex Albon has corroborated the issue, clarifying that while the tyre isn't physically leaving the track, the loss of a proper contact patch makes the car treacherous to drive.
• The unexpected cancellation of early-season races has provided Williams a crucial, if desperate, window to analyze the problem while others focus on performance gains.

What's next:

The team is in a race against time and relativity. All efforts are channeled towards a major upgrade package for the Miami Grand Prix.

• Sainz has stated the team needs to address three key areas: the fundamental vehicle dynamic, excessive car weight, and a lack of downforce.
• However, he tempered expectations by noting that progress in Formula 1 is relative; a significant step forward may only maintain the status quo if rivals improve at a similar rate.
• The pressure is immense for Miami to deliver a fix that not only solves the driving instability but also provides enough performance to begin closing the gap to the teams ahead.