Carlos Sainz gave a long interview ahead of the 2026 season, reflecting on his move to Williams and the mixed opinions about his decision. He stated, “That’s life; I think there’s always an obstacle in your path, and you have to overcome it. Last year, I had to prove to everyone that the decision to join Williams was the right one, with those podiums, and also show myself that I could be that leading driver,” he said in an interview with Europa Press after an event with Estrella Galicia 0,0.
The winter brought numerous challenges, with the Grove-based team starting the season on a difficult note. The FW48 encountered various issues during design, with a delay already present—and acknowledged—before the championship began. Yet, Sainz remains confident, aware that time and hard work can offer great opportunities: “This year the challenge will be to recover from a tough season start, and I’m sure next year will bring another obstacle. It’s a recurring theme in my career; I enjoy overcoming these setbacks. I hope that one day I’ll have a perfect car to win the World Championship,” he added.
A career full of milestones
Since entering Formula 1, Carlos Sainz has raced for several teams, including three historic brands: McLaren, Ferrari, and now Williams. He has managed to reach the podium with all of them, while with Ferrari he also achieved his first poles and victories. However, #55 did not hide that the two podiums achieved in 2025 with Williams were the most satisfying: “The podiums with Williams tasted better than any other podium in my career. I would also include the McLaren podiums because they were a team in a similar situation,” he commented.
“While podiums with Ferrari were almost an obligation—the cars could compete for podiums and wins—at McLaren or now with Williams, they were more of a surprise, not something owed. It was really exciting to achieve them,” he added.
Criticism and doubts: the other side every driver faces
Opinions about Carlos Sainz have always been mixed. On this point, he admitted that when criticism is not constructive, it simply needs to be ignored. “There will be people who appreciate me greatly, even more than I deserve, and others who will not like me at all and will oppose everything I am. Honestly, I don’t care, it doesn’t keep me awake at night, and it never will,” he added.
“All I try to do is enjoy all the support I receive from Spanish fans, which is extraordinary. I try to absorb it and let it help me improve every day. What matters to me is how I am perceived by those who know me, the team managers, the engineers I work with, and everyone who has worked directly with me: that they have a good opinion and positive evaluation.”
How much longer will we see him on the grid?
Finally, when asked about how long he plans to continue in the F1 Circus, Carlos Sainz did not provide many details but clarified that retirement is not on his agenda: “I don’t have a crystal ball to know if I will still want to compete at 42 or not. I’ll have to see what F1 is like then, see what level I am at, and evaluate if I’m ready to fight for a World Championship. If I’m at the level I am now and with the desire I have now, you can be sure I will have no reason to retire,” he concluded.
As Carlos Sainz enters another chapter of his career with Williams, his reflections reveal a driver who finds more satisfaction in the struggle of an underdog than the expectations of a frontrunner. Whether the FW48 can overcome its initial design setbacks remains to be seen, but Sainz’s determination suggests that his journey through F1’s most storied teams is far from over.
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