Sainz remains confident in Williams despite missing Barcelona shakedown

Carlos Sainz has expressed frustration at missing Williams' pre-season shakedown in Barcelona due to car development delays but maintains his confidence in the team's long-term project and his role in its improvement.

Why it matters:

For a driver joining a new team, maximizing pre-season track time is crucial for adaptation and development. Sainz's public support, despite the setback, underscores his commitment to Williams' rebuilding phase and provides stability as the team navigates early hurdles ahead of a critical regulation change in 2026.

The details:

• Williams skipped its planned private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya "following delays in the FW48 programme," costing Sainz valuable early mileage.
• Sainz admitted the situation was "frustrating" and that he "would have loved to be in Barcelona to get that head start."
• He revealed the team faced unexpected "issues" and "bumps in the road" during the winter, forcing a revised preparation plan.
• Despite the disrupted start, Sainz said his confidence in the project is not damaged, calling it a "realisation" of the work ahead.
  • He pointed out that even as a podium-finishing, fifth-place team in 2024, Williams has "a massive margin of improvement" in many areas compared to top teams.
• The Spaniard emphasized his role is to help the team progress, stating, "I knew this was going to be the case and I'm here for trying to help in every area."

What's next:

The focus shifts to making the most of the official pre-season test in Bahrain. Williams has two three-day sessions to prepare the FW48 before the season opener in Australia on March 6-8. Sainz's ability to provide clear feedback and help the team optimize its package in this compressed timeframe will be his first major test.