Sainz acknowledges considering how long to hold out for Williams.

      "I have a somewhat unconventional idea."

      Carlos Sainz acknowledges that he is already contemplating how long he is willing to wait for Williams to become a competitive team again. The Spaniard joined the renowned British team with aspirations of aiding its long-term reconstruction, but Williams has regressed in 2026 after showing promising progress last year. Team principal James Vowles has consistently indicated that 2028 is the target for returning to the front of the grid.

      "I think it’s a plausible goal now," Sainz told El Mundo Deportivo. "However, it is also true that the setback we’ve experienced this year might push that goal back by a few months or even a year. I’m not sure exactly how much it has delayed my timeline."

      The four-time grand prix victor admits he is already reflecting on this internally. "It’s something I’m contemplating, also in my mind, regarding how long I’m willing to wait to win again in Formula 1. I hope that period will be as brief as possible."

      Sainz asserts his commitment to accelerating the process at Williams. "Even though James mentions 2028, I’m determined to urge the team to achieve it sooner."

      In a separate inquiry about his ideal vision for Formula 1, the 31-year-old disclosed a bold concept aimed at diminishing the impact of machinery on the drivers’ championship. "I have a somewhat unconventional idea," Sainz chuckled. "I've always imagined a Formula 1 where the manufacturers and drivers are distinct."

      According to his proposal, drivers would alternate between teams over the course of the season. "I’d get the opportunity to race two times with Williams, two times with Mercedes, and two times with Ferrari. All drivers would have precisely the same opportunity to win the World Championship."

      "This way, you’d entirely separate the manufacturers from the drivers. You’d establish a genuine Drivers’ Championship and a legitimate Constructors’ Championship."