Sainz: “Let’s see now if we Spaniards have more luck and if our teams get it right”

“Yes, it’s clear that Williams and I love each other,” said Carlos Sainz when addressing the Spanish press in the Netherlands GP to explain the reasons that have led him to renew with Williams despite the complicated year that the team is experiencing in this 2026.

The man from Madrid stressed that abandoning ship at the first opportunity after these problems was not the message he wanted to send and that, by staying, he gives extra motivation to a factory in which he trusts. Sainz gives another chance to Williams and he is sure that the project will go forward from 2027.

“After the difficult year we are having, I also show the team my commitment to the team after such a difficult time we are going through shows that I trust the projectthat we trust each other and that we are going to give this another chance, knowing that we are going through a hard time that no one expected and was not in our plans,” he expressed.

And he continued: “Yes, I expected potholes of all kinds, but never a pothole as big as the one we have encountered and now it is time to calm the waters, to teach the entire factory that if I trust, they should also trust that we can get out of this moment and all together push so that this never happens again. “There are things obviously happening behind the scenes in the factory that are changing important things that are fundamental for me to have decided to stay.”

What is happening behind that we don’t see?

First of all, dissect what has happened, understand all the parts in which we have failed and be super self-critical with how we have done things for everything that has happened to us this year. And then, not only that, they are basic principles of the car, of not being late, doing it in weight (at the minimum weight) and having a decent aerodynamic base, which we don’t have this year. And to ensure that it does not happen again and, above all, medium and long-term projects that I believe are what can help this team to be a leading team in the years to come. All teams have gone through bad times. You will remember McLaren in 2022, when they were presented in Bahrain without front brakes. They were last and a year later they were back at the top. So I want to think that we are capable, maybe not as fast as McLaren because we are even further behind, but that we are capable of turning it around.”

Think now in 2027

“I think that the evolution of Baku, if it allows us, is something to be able to get a little closer to the Top-10, but we are even so far from RB, a second and a half in Budapest. I think you already know that unless you bring a new car like Aston has brought, an upgrade does not give you a second and a half. So you have to bring a new car and bringing a new car this year there is no longer time.

The problems when evolving this 2026 car

“Let’s see, my theory or what we believe is happening to us is that we have created a concept that cannot be developed much because it is a failed car concept in the end. It is not fast from the beginning and we do not have the capacity to evolve it at the rate that the best are evolving it. They are 3 seconds ahead and it is clear that there is something that does not work. Last year we did evolve the car because we had the regulations and we had a car concept that was the same or very similar to that of the others, and we were capable of evolving it and in fact “We were the team that made the biggest leap in performance. So it is clear that this year when a blank slate was given and we had to start from scratch, we did not get the concept right and we failed and that does not allow us to evolve. I think next year is the only opportunity to turn it around and start from scratch.”

His priority was to stay at Williams

“My priority has always been to stay for several reasons. One, I think that those of you who know me would not be much part of my character. In the first slump that the team encounters in which I have said that I am going to try to spend a long time trying to win a world championship here, trying to bring this team back up, it is not part of me to leave at the first opportunity that this goes wrong. It is not a message that I want to send or carry. That does not mean that, obviously, if this continues to be a disaster, that we have to think again. But no It is part of my character. And then there is another fundamental thing: that I believe that in the end a driver is a very important part of the leadership of the project and I think it sends an important message to all the workers who are currently designing the 2027 car that if the driver trusts and decides to stay, then in the end it gives a boost of motivation to everyone so that next year’s car will be better.”

Did you have teams interested in him?

“I’ve tried not to give it too much importance, because I knew that in my head my priority would be to see what way I can find to stay here and make the situation improve.”

In the absence of Alonso’s decision, his renewal ensures that there will be a Spanish driver in 2027

“Multi-annual… (in reference to the team’s announcement, which does not specify the years of its renewal). What does it mean? Nobody knows (laughs). Yes, it is not the best moment for Spain in Formula 1. It has coincided that we are both in a project that has failed in this year’s car. But I think that if you ask around, many people value the two Spanish drivers very very highly and I think that at least as Spaniards, if we can be proud of that, then we will be… I think that obviously no one questions Fernando and well with me, that a team like Williams also trusts me in this way and I return the trust in this way I think it is still good news for Spanish sport and now let’s see if we Spaniards have more luck and that our teams get it right and we can show off a little more.”