Williams F1 team faces deep performance gap as Carlos Sainz urges a redesign

Carlos Sainz criticised Williams after the Spanish Grand Prix, saying the FW48 is significantly off the pace in medium‑ and high‑speed corners due to excess weight and a lack of downforce. He described the Barcelona weekend as a “realisation” that the team is far from its targets and called for a return to the drawing board.

The British outfit entered the 2026 season late, missed the pre‑season shakedown in Barcelona and ran an overweight car, leaving it eight to nine tenths behind the leaders and well behind midfield rivals. Upgrades introduced in Miami provided a modest step forward, but after seven races the team has only amassed 11 points, sitting eighth in the Constructors’ standings.

Team principal James Vowles admitted mistakes over the winter and affirmed that an upgrade package is in development to cut weight and improve aerodynamics. Both Sainz and teammate Alex Albon remain loyal, with Vowles stating the drivers would discuss any move openly. Albon echoed Sainz’s concerns ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, warning that high‑speed sections of the Red Bull Ring will test the car’s limits.

Sainz also questioned the projected timeline for returning to the podium, noting that Williams’ target of competing for wins by 2028 may be delayed by several months to a year. He said he will press the team to accelerate progress, while acknowledging that incremental gains may not be sufficient to close the deficit quickly.