Carlos Sainz urges Williams to maintain momentum into F1's 2026 regulation reset

Carlos Sainz says his first season with Williams provided "vindication" for his decision to join the team, but he cautions that maintaining its upward trajectory through F1's upcoming regulation reset is "fundamental." The Spaniard helped Williams to a fifth-place finish in 2025, its best result in years, but emphasizes the unpredictable nature of the 2026 rules overhaul makes consistent progress critical.

Why it matters:

Williams's jump to fifth in the constructors' championship represents a significant recovery from the back of the grid, validating team principal James Vowles's long-term project. For Sainz, who chose Williams after losing his Ferrari seat, the results back his career move. However, with sweeping new chassis and power unit regulations arriving in 2026, the team faces a pivotal test to solidify its regained relevance and not fall back into obscurity.

The details:

• Sainz's performance was key to Williams's 2025 result. After a settling-in period, he outscored teammate Alex Albon 48 points to 3 over the final eight rounds, securing two grand prix podiums and a sprint podium.
• The team's total of 137 points for the season marked a stark improvement, exceeding its combined points tally from the entire 2018-2024 period by 53 points.
• Sainz acknowledges the unpredictability of the 2026 regulations, stating it's impossible to know where any team will land, but stresses the importance of not stalling the visible progress Williams has made.
• His confidence is rooted in the team's development work and simulator sessions for the new car, part of Vowles's project to modernize the team's facilities and infrastructure to contemporary standards.

What's next:

The 2026 season represents a leap into the unknown for the entire grid. For Williams, the challenge is twofold: navigate the regulatory reset successfully while continuing the cultural and technical revival under Vowles's leadership. Sainz's call for sustained progress underscores that 2025's result is viewed as a foundation, not a final destination, in the team's quest to return to the sharp end of Formula 1.