Carlos Sainz issues urgent plea to Williams after horror start

Carlos Sainz has stated Williams must “dig deep” to turn around its torrid start to the new F1 season.

The Grove-based team has long signalled the 2026 regulation overhaul as an opportunity to make strides up the F1 pecking order.

However, the team entered a car that is overweight and has significant limitations, which left it as one of the field's slowest teams across the opening two rounds.

Last Sunday at the Chinese Grand Prix, Sainz was the only entry in the race as Alex Albon was forced to retire after a pre-race concern with the car.

Sainz managed to score two points in ninth place to kickstart Williams' championship tally, but insisted the team is far from satisfied with the situation.

“We know we are too slow compared to where we wanted to be, where we expected to be,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365. 

“Part of that is weight that we know we need to get out of the car. But another part, a very big part of it, is downforce that we need to improve. 

“We haven't [had] the most reliable car. Alex not starting the race [in China] and me missing so many free practices and having so many issues. 

“Honestly, we need to level up, because we're having too many issues in too many areas.

“As team, we need to dig deep.”

Sainz is hopeful his drive to the points will act as a point of inspiration for the team as it strugl 

“I hope these two points serve as motivation, as a bit of a bonus, motivation for everyone to go back home and dig deep.

“It's not where we wanted to be and where we said we would be this season.”