Sainz: Williams' Early 2026 Slump Forced Crucial Internal Changes

Carlos Sainz says Williams' miserable start to 2026 was a "test of faith," but the early crisis forced internal changes the team might never have made otherwise. After overachieving with two podiums in 2025, Grove arrived late and overweight with the FW48, missing the Barcelona shakedown entirely and opening the year two-and-a-half seconds off the pace.

Why it matters:

Sainz joined Williams expecting a gradual midfield rebuild, yet last year's success raised expectations for the new regulations. When the FW48 exposed deep operational flaws instead of building momentum, it risked derailing the project entirely. His decision to back James Vowles and treat the slump as a catalyst for reform—not a reason to panic—signals the kind of stability a recovering team desperately needs.

The details:

• Sainz held direct talks with Vowles and senior management to trace where the 2026 project went wrong, concluding the shock accelerated structural and cultural changes that were long overdue.
• The FW48 was the only car that failed to complete a lap during January's Barcelona shakedown, with weight reduction proceeding slowly due to cost cap constraints.
• Sainz noted that 2025's strong results—Williams' best since 2017—had masked underlying weaknesses, drawing a parallel to McLaren's difficult 2023 start that preceded its title-contending turnaround.
• He argued that recovery is "never a straight line," and that hitting this severe bump has already shifted both mentality and engineering approach at Grove.

What's next:

Williams continues to methodically strip weight from the FW48, though budget limits prevent an overnight fix. Sainz believes the painful lessons learned will stop history from repeating, but the team must prove its internal reforms translate to lap time before the midfield battle hardens. If the changes take root, Williams could still salvage its 2026 campaign and build a stronger foundation for the future.