Sainz Blames Williams Car DNA for Early Struggles

Carlos Sainz reveals his struggles at Williams stem from deep-rooted car traits that limit performance, especially in slower corners.

Carlos Sainz has opened up about the challenges he’s facing in adapting to the Williams FW47, suggesting that the root of the problem lies in the very way the car is built.

Without diving too deep into technical specifics, the Spanish driver explained that certain traits of the car—especially how it behaves in medium- and low-speed corners—are making his transition trickier than expected.

“I’m not sure how much I can share about the car’s balance and technical issues, but it’s something that shows up consistently in lower-speed corners. It’s just part of how this car is fundamentally built,” Sainz said.

He’s actively working on adjusting his driving style, fine-tuning the setup, and improving communication with the engineers. Still, he believes these challenges might reflect deeper limitations that have held Williams back for years.

“We need to understand this if we want to make progress and apply the lessons to future regulations. The car is definitely stronger than last year’s and more competitive, but some traits feel like they’re part of the Williams DNA.”

Whether those traits can be fixed easily remains uncertain, but Sainz remains optimistic and motivated.

“From experience, these kinds of changes take years—trial and error, development, learning. But honestly, that excites me. If I can help the team figure this out through data, wind tunnel work, and feedback, then each step forward becomes really meaningful.”

He’s not alone in this feeling either. His teammate, Alex Albon, shares a similar experience—though Albon admits he’s more used to the car’s quirks after several seasons with the team.

“Alex feels it too—it’s just that he’s learned to live with it. For me, it’s all new, so maybe I’m noticing it more. But now that it’s clearer, we need to work on it.”

Albon: Sainz Needs to Adapt, but It’s Not His Fault

Albon came to Sainz’s defense, emphasizing that the Spaniard’s issues aren’t due to bad habits from his Ferrari days.

“The techniques Carlos uses aren’t wrong—they just don’t always work with how our car handles. It’s about seeing which of those habits we can actually adapt to make our car better.”

According to Albon, the FW47 struggles in certain corners, and Sainz might need to adjust his approach for now—but that doesn’t mean his input isn’t valuable.

“There are some corners we just can’t attack the way Carlos wants to. But in the long run, the things he’s bringing to the table will make the car quicker. It might be tough to fix this season, but we already know what to focus on for next year.”

Albon also pointed out that the car’s behavior varies significantly depending on the track and corner types.

“In low-speed corners, like some we had in China, we were one of the fastest teams. So the issue depends on the type of turn and even the wind. But overall, the car has improved—we’re not having to compromise as much in other areas just to get performance in slower corners.”

“Carlos has a clear driving style he’s trying to implement—and I get it, because I’ve felt the same things. His arrival is helping us look at things from a new angle.”

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Sainz Blames Williams Car DNA for Early Struggles Sainz Blames Williams Car DNA for Early Struggles