Sainz: 2026 Rules Will Force Williams Progress 'In the Bin'

Carlos Sainz admits that the significant progress he made adapting to the Williams FW47 during his impressive 2025 campaign will effectively be thrown "in the bin" due to the radical regulation changes set for 2026. Despite the frustration of losing his hard-earned setup knowledge, the Spaniard views the upcoming reset as a golden opportunity to make a massive leap up the grid.

Why it matters:

Sainz secured two podiums and guided Williams to fifth in the Constructors' Championship last year. However, the 2026 rules—featuring active aerodynamics and increased electrical energy—will fundamentally alter how the cars drive, neutralizing the current pecking order and forcing every driver to relearn their craft.

The details:

• Resetting the clock: Sainz revealed that the new car will feel "completely raw," making the transition feel like joining a new team rather than evolving the current package.
• Driving style: The specific adjustments he made to his driving style to extract performance from the Ferrari and Williams are no longer relevant. "All the changes I've made... they can all go in the bin," he told RacingNews365.
• Equal footing: While Sainz was one of the few adapting to a new team in 2025, he notes that next year, "22 of us start from scratch," creating a wide-open development race.

What's next:

Sainz believes that while stable rules would only allow for incremental gains, the 2026 overhaul provides the volatility needed for an "unexpected big jump." He remains optimistic that Williams can exploit this clean slate to close the gap to the front-runners much faster than anticipated.