Carlos Sainz has openly acknowledged that he and Williams continue to face difficulties in consistently performing during race weekends throughout the 2025 F1 season. Despite these challenges, Sainz remains confident that a breakthrough is imminent due to the hard work being done behind the scenes.
Since joining Williams after leaving Ferrari at the end of last year, Sainz has struggled to find form, finishing no better than eighth place in his 14 starts. He currently trails his teammate, Alex Albon, by 38 points in the Drivers’ Championship standings, highlighting the challenges in adapting to his new environment.
Williams Poised for Strong Constructor Standings Despite Driver Struggles
Although Carlos Sainz’s individual results have been underwhelming, the Williams team is on track for its best Constructors’ Championship finish since 2017. The Grove-based squad holds fifth place overall, with an 18-point lead over Aston Martin in the battle for position. This progress reflects a generally positive trajectory for the team, even though Sainz’s adaptation has been slower than expected.
Comparison of Sainz and Albon’s Performance in 2025
Throughout the season, Alex Albon has outperformed Carlos Sainz in both qualifying and race conditions. This discrepancy has drawn attention, underscoring the pressures Sainz faces as he tries to match his teammate’s pace. Speaking at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Sainz framed a potential fifth-place finish in the Constructors’ standings as a sign of Williams’ progress and momentum as the team prepares for major regulation changes planned for 2026.
Despite this, Sainz admitted a continuing struggle with putting all aspects together on race weekends, saying the team’s execution is not improving as hoped. He emphasized that although adapting quickly to the car was not the problem, consistently transferring that into results remains elusive. Nevertheless, he is optimistic about an upcoming improvement, stating,
“I’m pretty sure the result is about to come.”
—Carlos Sainz, Williams Driver
Factors Affecting Sainz’s Adaptation to Williams
One major hurdle for Sainz has been the limited amount of testing available in modern Formula 1, which restricts a driver’s ability to settle into a new car and team setup. He has expressed a wish for more pre-season testing opportunities to ease transitions like his own. Additionally, Sainz pointed out that fans often underestimate how difficult it is to switch teams, referencing Lewis Hamilton’s own struggles adapting to Ferrari this season as an example.
Expert Opinions Highlight Pressure on Sainz
Former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg weighed in on Sainz’s difficult start with Williams during the Spanish Grand Prix. He described the point deficit between Sainz and Albon as
“very, very uncomfortable”
for the Spaniard. Rosberg acknowledged flashes of brilliance from Sainz but characterized his season as inconsistent so far.
Rosberg continued,
“It’s not been the easiest of starts to the season. Alex has done a fantastic job. We’ve seen the flashes of brilliance from Carlos, but it’s been a bit up and down. And also, especially if you look at the points now, he is very, very far behind Alex on the points. That’s very, very uncomfortable for him to be in that kind of situation. But we know he’s a great driver so I’m sure he’ll find his feet there within the team and get going.”
—Nico Rosberg, 2016 World Champion
Rosberg also praised Albon’s performance, adding,
“I think the rest of the season should be a good one, but Alex Albon has been impressive.”
—Nico Rosberg, 2016 World Champion
Outlook for Williams and Sainz as 2026 Regulations Approach
Williams is investing heavily in preparation for the sweeping changes in F1 regulations set for 2026, creating a strong incentive to make steady progress this year. Carlos Sainz’s comments underline a team aware of the challenges still ahead but believing their efforts will soon pay off. While the current struggles frustrate both driver and team, the promising position in the Constructors’ standings and the competitive spirit of teammates like Albon provide motivation to push forward.
As 2025 continues, Williams and Carlos Sainz will aim to convert their work into better race results, setting a solid foundation for the transformative season next year. Their journey reflects the broader pressures and complexities faced by drivers and teams amid evolving F1 landscapes.
