Carlos Sainz casts 'not enough' verdict over key issue heading into new F1 era

Carlos Sainz does not believe the short winter between the 2025 and 2026 F1 seasons is sufficient "for what the body and mind need" after a long campaign.

Due to the comprehensive overhaul of F1's chassis and power unit regulations, all 11 teams are heading out to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in late January to conduct a private test ahead of the official pre-season beginning in mid-February.

This, coupled with F1 campaigns running deeper and deeper into December, has meant that teams and drivers have very little rest and recuperation time this offseason.

After the season concluded with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the drivers had a Pirelli tyre test. As an opportunity to become better acquainted with the 2026 compounds, very few of the full-time drivers sat it out.

Speaking after the season finale but before the test, Sainz underlined the rigours of the current offseason — and why it is a problem.

"We have a test on Tuesday, which I always consider important, because there's no testing nowadays, so it'll be an important test to assess 2026's final tyres," the Williams driver explained to media, including RacingNews365.

"And then three more days in the simulator, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday — and that's my season there.

"I'll go back home, recover, and come back at almost the beginning of January, because by the end [of the month], we're already testing the new car."

Other drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and Liam Lawson, have also shared the reality of what preparing for a new set of regulations means.

After the final round at Yas Marina, the former revealed he would likely be back in training before Christmas, and the latter spoke of hitting the ground running in early January, like Sainz.

To the Spaniard, the amount of time off afforded this winter is inadequate for what needs to be achieved over that period of time.

"I think we are gonna get a couple of weeks off," the four-time grand prix winner added. "It's not enough, probably, for what the body and the mind need.

"But I think it's the same for everyone, and I'm gonna maximise it, to try and come back stronger..."