Carlos Sainz: The speed meets expectations

      Carlos Sainz completed both practice sessions in Barcelona as part of Williams. Alex Albon missed the first practice session, as Luke Browning was supposed to take the wheel instead, but due to electrical issues with the car, the British driver did not complete a single lap.

      Carlos Sainz (14th): "Friday was very challenging. We knew that this track would highlight the weaknesses of our car, so the speed on the fast lap was roughly in line with our expectations.

      In long runs with a lot of fuel, we are noticeably slower than our competitors. All teams faced issues due to high tire degradation, exacerbated by the abrasive track surface and high temperatures. However, it seems that we are struggling more than the others, so working with the tires is becoming a serious challenge.

      Tonight, we need to carefully analyze a lot of collected data to better prepare for qualifying. Our task is to make the most efficient use of the car's potential in these conditions."

      Sven Smits, sporting director: "The day was very chaotic. It's unfortunate that Luke missed the first practice due to electrical issues. We were looking forward to seeing him on track in Barcelona, but the most disappointing thing is that we couldn't gather any useful information. The good thing is that he will have another chance to drive in Austria, so we won't have to wait long for the next opportunity.

      In the second practice, we fully completed the planned program with both drivers, but there is still a lot of work to do, especially regarding long runs and tire degradation.

      In the evening, the team has a lot of work ahead, but we understand well which direction we need to move in and what we should focus on Saturday."