Carlos Sainz’s 2025 season struggles have persisted as he grapples with inconsistent results and reliability problems during the Formula 1 campaign. The Spanish driver entered the summer break following a disappointing 14th-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, reflecting ongoing difficulties at Williams F1 despite showing promising speed at times.
Though the season has featured moments of competitiveness, Sainz has found it hard to translate pace into strong finishes, often being hampered by mechanical issues and misfortune. This has left the 30-year-old driver increasingly frustrated as he seeks stability at his Grove-based team.
Recent Performances Highlight a Rocky Start to the Season
Since joining Williams F1, Sainz has struggled to meet expectations, especially when compared to his teammate Alex Albon, who has consistently placed in the top ten and currently stands eighth in the drivers’ championship after 14 rounds. Sainz’s last top-10 finish came at the Canadian Grand Prix in June, and he has frequently fallen short in races since then.
His inability to finish higher at the Hungaroring, starting from 13th on the grid and dropping to 14th by race end, underscored the ongoing challenges this season. While Sainz insists he has adapted well to his new environment, the Williams FW47’s poor reliability has heavily impacted his results.
Carlos Sainz Opens Up About His Frustration at the Season’s Halfway Point
Reflecting on the first half of the 2025 season, Sainz described it as a tumultuous journey marked by inconsistency and setbacks. He expressed deep frustration at being unable to string together strong finishes despite feeling the car’s pace.
“It’s a difficult question to write in a report card, but I would say it’s been with some highs and lows. Extremely frustrating because I feel like I’ve had a lot of pace in the car,” said Sainz. —Carlos Sainz, F1 Driver
“I’ve adapted to the team quickly. Right from the beginning, I felt with good speed in the car, but it’s been very difficult to put two results together through the whole first half of the season,” he added. —Carlos Sainz, F1 Driver
The driver also noted a string of bad luck affecting his campaign, including reliability problems, accidents, and other misfortunes that turned promising races into disappointing results. These setbacks have prevented Sainz from fully capitalizing on his potential within the Williams team.
Personal Life and Support During a Challenging Season
During the Formula 1 mid-season break, Sainz has been spending quality time with family and friends, including his father, Carlos Sainz Sr, and girlfriend Rebecca Donaldson. Donaldson, a Scottish model, has publicly shown support for Sainz, recently sharing moments from her workouts and being present at key races like the Hungarian GP.
The pair enjoys relaxation time on a yacht as they take advantage of the summer hiatus, providing Sainz with a needed mental break ahead of the season’s second half.
Looking Ahead to the Season’s Second Half
As the F1 calendar resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix on August 31, Carlos Sainz will aim to overcome the hurdles that have defined his 2025 season so far. Both driver and team hope for improved reliability and better race outcomes to reverse the string of disappointing performances.
Sainz’s adaptation to Williams shows promise, but the pressure remains high to convert this early potential into consistent points finishes. The driver’s response to these challenges will be critical not only for his personal standing but also for Williams’ competitiveness as the season progresses.
