Carlos Sainz has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Williams, revealing that excessive car weight is not the only issue to address. The Grove-based team is striving to recover after a decidedly difficult start to the 2026 season. According to Carlos Sainz, the FW48 presents multiple technical shortcomings that still need fixing, and engineers are actively working to bring updates to improve performance.
Sainz scores points in China, but circumstances help
In China, the Spanish driver managed to reach the points zone, but the result was largely influenced by numerous retirements among drivers ahead of him. On the other side of the garage, Alex Albon’s car did not even make it to the grid due to a mechanical issue detected before the start.
Securing ninth place is certainly a positive note in a moment of total difficulty. However, when evaluated in context, this performance does not erase the fact that the English team has experienced a slow and challenging start to the season.
Sainz explains the team’s new approach
Carlos Sainz emphasized how he and the team must approach this season despite the weight issues and other factors that are slowing down the FW48. For both him and Alex Albon, achieving significant results, such as a podium like they managed in 2025, will be a tough challenge.
“I will have to focus on the small victories or the minor progress we can achieve as a team. Because it’s clear that what we’ve done in this first half of the season won’t even be enough to get past Q1,” the former Ferrari driver stressed.
However, it’s not just the extra kilograms holding back the FW48’s performance. Carlos Sainz explained:
“I thought [in China] my lap was good enough to reach Q2, but we know where the weight would place us in the timesheets. At the same time, I believe it’s not just about weight. We need to make significant progress in terms of overall performance if we want to prove our value and continue to push ourselves to the limit.”
Williams finds itself at a crossroads where survival depends on more than just a diet for the car. The technical staff at Grove must now balance a weight-reduction program with a complete aerodynamic overhaul if they hope to give Sainz and Albon a car capable of more than just a Q1 exit. Based on the content of these recent admissions, the road back to the midfield battle will be long, and the “small victories” will be the only currency for success in the coming weeks.
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