Carlos Sainz, preparing for his second year with Williams, aims to increase his technical contributions to the team as they approach the 2026 Formula 1 season. During the 2025 campaign, the Spanish driver played a key role in helping the Grove-based outfit achieve its best points total and highest Constructors’ Championship standing in several years.
Progress and Performance During the 2025 Season
Despite facing challenges early in the year, Sainz secured two podium finishes in Baku and Qatar, boosting Williams to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of midfield competitors. Initially, he struggled to match his teammate Alex Albon’s performance with the FW47, but drawing on his extensive experience, he adapted and extracted greater performance from the car as the season progressed.
Preparation to Shape the FW48 for 2026
With a full season’s experience familiarizing himself with the team, Sainz is eager to deepen his involvement with the FW48’s development. He expressed a strong desire to influence the car’s design and setup philosophy, aiming to create a base that offers greater comfort and ease to the drivers from the outset.
“First of all, I cannot wait to also have an influence on the design of the car,”
Sainz told Motorsport Week.
“The setup philosophy, and the direction that the car can take into next year, to make the drivers feel a bit more comfortable or a bit more at ease from the get-go from the baseline of the car that we put on track.”
He also highlighted the importance of driver input once the season begins, especially related to software development in partnership with High Performance Powertrains (HPP), which supplies the team’s Mercedes power units.
“I think the power unit is going to be a huge thing, and having two experienced drivers like Alex and, in that sense, could help.”
Looking Ahead to Pre-Season Testing and the Future
Sainz and Alex Albon will soon evaluate the FW48 during initial pre-season testing in Barcelona, providing their first insights into the new car. The Spaniard’s aim is to leverage his experience and growing influence to push Williams forward in the competitive midfield battle and possibly beyond, building on the team’s positive strides in 2025.
