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Sainz Sounds Alarm: Williams Falls Further Behind Despite Weight Loss
Carlos Sainz has expressed deep concern over the stagnating performance of Williams, which continues to struggle to stay connected with the grid despite weight-saving efforts.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-07-10T07:13:03.000Z - 2 min read
Carlos Sainz appears to be losing patience with Williams. Following the Silverstone Grand Prix, the driver launched a sharp criticism of the team's stagnating performance, despite promises of a fresh start under the new 2026 regulations. What initially looked promising due to an early development focus on the new car has turned into deep disappointment.
The start of the season was blighted by severe excess weight, carrying up to 28 kilograms over the limit. Although significant weight has since been shed, it has barely translated into lap time. In fact, after a slight uptick in Miami where the team secured its only double-points finish, Williams appears to be falling even further behind the frontrunners and midfield in races like Austria and most recently Silverstone. Sainz pointed to a 'worrying trend' and a 'missing load' on the car.
Team principal James Vowles acknowledges the underlying issues within the organization. He points to outdated processes and a lack of reliable data, which led to crucial design flaws that were only uncovered too late. This resulted in an unavoidable three-week delay and an overweight car at the season opener. Vowles emphasizes that building the required expertise and infrastructure—something top teams spent decades developing—remains in its infancy at Williams.
Williams is now going all-in with the introduction of a so-called 'B-spec' car at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late September. This major overhaul includes a new chassis and aims not only to shed further weight, but primarily to resolve aerodynamic balance and the 'three-wheeling' issue—a phenomenon that leaves drivers feeling like passengers while increasing wheel-lock risks.
For Sainz, the success of this B-spec is critical. The Spaniard, who maintains close dialogue with Vowles, turned down rival teams to leave his mark on the Williams project. While his commitment remains, team management must now prove they have mastered the fundamentals of car development and can break this worrying stagnation to deliver the desired progress.