Williams Racing has confirmed an important upgrade package for both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon as the Formula 1 season reaches the Belgian Grand Prix. This development comes amid a challenging middle portion of the year for the Grove-based team, which started 2025 strongly but has since seen competitors narrow the performance gap. The Carlos Sainz Belgian Grand Prix upgrade is expected to address inconsistencies and help restore the team’s early-season momentum.
Team Principal James Vowles discussed the team‘s current standing and the upcoming improvements in a recent video message.
“We’re now about midway and obviously a very strong start and then fallen away a little bit, as others have added performance to their car. Now, we have a small update coming to Spa. What we really have to do though is just make sure we capitalize on the car performance that we have available to us.” —James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
Currently, Williams holds fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 59 points, but the breakdown reveals a significant disparity between its two drivers. Alex Albon has contributed 46 points, while Carlos Sainz has struggled, scoring only 13 points all season with a single point earned in the last four races.
Challenges faced by Carlos Sainz in the first half of the season
At the British Grand Prix weekend, Sainz openly reflected on his difficult season so far, acknowledging various issues impacting his performance and the team’s execution. Reliability troubles and race weekend mishaps have undermined his campaign.
“Definitely we’re going through a tough period with reliability issues, with weekend execution problems as you could see and the last few weekends I think have been extremely difficult for us as a team.” —Carlos Sainz, Williams Driver
James Vowles also admitted in the team video that Williams has not fully supported Sainz’s potential this year, citing a combination of driver errors, team mistakes, and accidents contributing to the Spaniard’s hindered progress.
“With Carlos, I think we haven’t delivered everything we can with him this year. It’s been a mixture all across the board. There’s been errors that he’s made on track. There’s absolutely been errors that we’ve made on track. There’s been accidents, just accumulation of aspects.” —James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
Williams introduced floor fence modifications at the British GP designed to improve airflow and car efficiency, but the upgrades planned for Spa-Francorchamps are expected to further refine the FW47’s balance and performance on Belgium’s long and technical circuit.
Setbacks at Silverstone and the ongoing struggle for consistency
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone featured a wet, unpredictable race filled with dramatic moments. Williams secured four points thanks to a last-lap overtaking move by Alex Albon on Fernando Alonso to finish eighth. Unfortunately, Carlos Sainz experienced a frustrating race, hampered by contact with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
While pursuing points just behind Leclerc, Sainz was hit when the Ferrari driver took a tight line through Stowe, causing damage to Sainz’s front wing and floor. This affected the car’s pace, resulting in a loss of roughly half a second per lap and dropping him to 12th place by the finish.
“Unfortunately for Carlos when he was running in a strong position, he was hit by Charles… the damage was extensive. It was front wing and floor and the losses probably around about half a second a lap.” —James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
This incident added to a growing list of obstacles for the Spaniard, including missing the Austrian Grand Prix start due to a pre-race brake fire. Despite these ongoing challenges, Sainz remains focused on overcoming adversity.
“I think everything that could go wrong this year so far has gone wrong for me… The one thing that keeps me smiling is the speed that I’ve in the car and with the team… We just don’t seem to get a break in terms of luck, execution of the weekend, reliability… But at some point, it’s going to end and as soon as I get a bit of momentum going, I know what we’re capable of doing.” —Carlos Sainz, Williams Driver
Prospects at Spa-Francorchamps and the path ahead
Known for its demanding elevation changes and rapid corners like Eau Rouge and Blanchimont, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit presents a critical test for Williams’ upgraded FW47 package. The team aims to exploit the improvements designed to enhance car balance and efficiency on this complex track layout.
The Belgian Grand Prix represents a vital opportunity for Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon to convert pace into stronger results, potentially rejuvenating Williams’ 2025 campaign after a turbulent season. The outcome in Belgium will be closely watched, as it may set the stage for the team’s performance in the latter half of the year.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is the net worth of the Williams star Carlos Sainz? According to the popular media outlet Celebrity Net Worth, Carlos Sainz’s net worth lies around $50 million in 2025.
A. Is Carlos Sainz wealthy?
Yes, Carlos Sainz has a significant amount of money. As a famous Formula 1 driver, he earns a high salary through racing contracts. In addition, he benefits from endorsements and sponsorships, which contribute to his wealth. Overall, Carlos Sainz is considered a millionaire.
Q. Is Carlos Sainz intelligent?
A. The Spaniard is both smart and intuitive, carefully planning his way through a race to earn points.
Q. Is Carlos Sainz smart?
A. It’s easy to see why Sainz is called Chilli. The Spanish driver is smart and instinctive, using strategy to score points in races.
