Sainz surprised by decline, Norris supports McLaren's comeback.

      "Carlos Sainz expresses his shock over Williams' significant decline in performance at the beginning of the 2026 season. Having transitioned from Ferrari to Williams after the 2024 season, he anticipated improvements following a relatively encouraging rookie year, but instead, he finds himself competing at the back.

      "Honestly, we have a lot of weight to lose, that’s no secret," Sainz remarked at Suzuka. "Would a lighter car be beneficial? I believe we can improve.

      "Beyond the weight issue, I think this team possesses the capability to design and create a far superior car than what we've produced so far." The FW48 currently holds the title of the heaviest car on the grid, exacerbated by delays in pre-season development.

      Sainz acknowledges that the extent of the issue has been quite surprising. "It has been a shock to me and the team, very challenging," he stated. "I sensed there would be issues back in December and January, but it's a significant setback, likely larger than I had anticipated."

      He does not expect much change at Suzuka. "We placed 17th in both qualifying sessions... in no man’s land. I don't expect Suzuka to be any different," he commented. "However, more can transpire during races." Sainz believes the new regulations have widened the gap to the front runners. "You would expect us to close the gap with the new rules, but the opposite has occurred - we’re further behind."

      He hopes that the approaching April break will help Williams regain lost ground, particularly by lowering weight and increasing downforce. Meanwhile, at McLaren, defending world champion Lando Norris is also facing a tough start to 2026, though he remains hopeful for an improvement.

      McLaren’s challenges have been even more severe, as reliability issues have prevented both cars from starting in China, with teammate Oscar Piastri yet to participate in a race this season. "This obviously impacted us as a team, and it didn't make a good impression that two cars couldn’t start the race," Norris stated.

      "We've been working diligently to comprehend the reasons behind this and will do everything necessary to ensure it doesn't happen again." Despite the difficulties, Norris asserts his confidence remains intact. "I have full confidence in the team and believe we can have the best car this year," he said. "Our primary goal is to reach the podium, and then to win races again."

      Currently 36 points behind the championship leader George Russell, Norris acknowledges that recovery will take time. "There has been progress, but it requires time," he explained. "We needed time to understand what was happening - now we’re aware of what went wrong, why it happened, and how we can avoid it in the future."