Sainz remains committed but labels the Williams concept as 'deficient.'

Sainz remains committed but labels the Williams concept as 'deficient.'

      Carlos Sainz emphasizes that loyalty is the primary reason for his commitment to Williams beyond 2026, even though he describes this year's car as fundamentally flawed. The Spaniard has been one of Williams' most outspoken critics this season, yet he believes that leaving after the first major setback would contradict the message he wishes to convey to the team.

      "My main priority was always to remain," he said to Spanish journalists at Zandvoort. "It’s not in my nature to state that I’ll be here for many years and then leave at the first sign of trouble."

      Sainz explained to Marca that his decision was also aimed at bolstering confidence within the factory as work intensifies on the 2027 car. "There’s a leadership aspect to the project, and it’s crucial for everyone designing the 2027 car because the driver must have confidence in them," he noted. "I didn’t focus on other teams. My main goal was to find a way to stay here."

      However, he made it clear that his confidence in Williams does not extend to the current vehicle. "We've developed a concept that cannot be further refined because it’s ultimately flawed," Sainz stated. "It’s not competitive from the outset, and we lack the capacity to develop it at the same pace as the leading teams. They're three seconds ahead, and it’s evident that something isn’t functioning properly."

      Sainz believes that Williams has made a fundamental mistake with the 2026 concept. "Next year presents the only chance to turn things around and start anew," he remarked. He also lowered expectations for the team's forthcoming upgrade in Baku.

      "I believe the Baku upgrade, if successful, could bring us a bit closer to the top 10. However, we are significantly behind even Red Bull, being a second and a half off in Budapest." He added, "Unless you introduce a completely new car like Aston Martin has, an upgrade won’t provide a second and a half."

      Sainz clarified that the contract extension should not be interpreted as unwavering faith. "This doesn’t imply that if things remain disastrous, we shouldn’t reassess the situation. But it’s not in my character."

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Sainz remains committed but labels the Williams concept as 'deficient.'

Formula 1 | Carlos Sainz emphasizes that loyalty was the primary factor in his decision to stay with Williams beyond 2026, despite continuing to characterize this year's car as (…)