The Spanish driver had initially been one of the most outspoken critics of the new regulatory framework, but he now appears satisfied with the role drivers have played in the process of refining the rules.
Carlos Sainz has changed his mind
He had been among the drivers most critical of the new regulations—partly due to his role as a director of the GPDA (the so-called “union” representing Formula 1 drivers), and also because his Williams team did not exactly begin this new era in the strongest fashion. However, Carlos Sainz Jr. now seems to be adjusting his stance, showing a more open and constructive attitude toward the revolutionary set of rules that, over the first three races of the season, have significantly altered the driving style required to handle the fastest single-seaters in the world.
In line with what was also reiterated in recent days by Stefano Domenicali—who appeared quite pleased with how drivers have collaborated in shaping modifications to the rules—the Spanish driver expressed satisfaction with the recent updates, while still waiting to truly experience their impact on track during the upcoming Miami Grand Prix weekend.
The Spanish driver’s view
“From the very beginning,” said Carlos Sainz, speaking to Dazn Spain, “I have always said that we needed to keep an open mind because, with such a major regulatory change, not everything was going to work perfectly right away. However, I’m happy to have seen a certain level of proactivity and some changes already being implemented. These are modifications that will probably have an effect, even if there may still be other areas we’ll need to adjust in the future.”
“But I’m pleased that action is being taken, and I’m looking forward to seeing what impact it will have on the cars—whether we’ll be able to push them to the limit in qualifying and how they will perform on track,” he added.
This represents a significant vote of confidence, not only considering his role as director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (a position he shares with George Russell), but also in light of the strong criticism he had expressed toward the regulatory framework following the heavy crash involving Oliver Bearman during the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
“The accident,” he had said at Suzuka, “is linked to something that both the FIA and FOM had already been warned about by the drivers. It was only a matter of time. We are reaching speed differences of 40–50 km/h, and this incident was inevitable.”
“I hope that Formula 1 reconsiders its position, because it is clear that these regulations have gaps and issues that need to be addressed before heading to Miami,” Carlos Sainz had concluded while commenting on the crash of the young British driver.
The positive feedback from Carlos Sainz therefore suggests that the ongoing dialogue between the drivers and F1’s governing bodies is finally yielding constructive results. As the grid prepares for the Miami Grand Prix, the focus now shifts to whether these proactive regulatory tweaks will successfully balance the thrill of pushing the cars to the limit with the safety requirements demanded by the modern era of racing.
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