Carlos Sainz topped the timesheets in Bahrain as Williams refined the FW47’s balance, with the Spaniard concluding his winter testing program.v
Carlos Sainz was the sole driver of the FW47 for Williams on Thursday, with the Spaniard setting the fastest time of the day after completing 127 laps—four fewer than the team managed the previous day. This allowed for a better understanding of the car and already highlighted several improvements.
“It was a very long day here in Bahrain, and we covered a lot of laps. A few interruptions due to rain and wind weren’t ideal for getting into a rhythm, but overall, we managed to complete a solid program,” said Sainz.
“Although the timing sheets aren’t entirely representative of pre-season testing, we made progress compared to yesterday, improving the balance and overall feel of the car. However, to be honest, it doesn’t feel like we’ve done enough testing.”
“The next step for me is Australia, and I’d like to have had more time to better understand the car and how it reacts to different setup changes. That said, I feel as ready as possible and can’t wait to go all-in for the first race!”
Williams’ Head of Trackside Engineering, Dave Robson, explained that the rain did not disrupt a program that, for the second consecutive day, was carried out as planned.
“Despite the unusual rain in Bahrain, we were able to complete most of the scheduled program without any issues.”
“The car once again ran reliably, which is a testament to its design and the efforts of everyone involved in its construction, including the mechanics here at the circuit who work through the night to prepare the car and test components.”
“Carlos drove all day today and was able to build on his experience from yesterday to further explore the FW47’s capabilities. Rather than conducting a race simulation, we opted for a higher fuel load to finish the session, allowing us to experiment with setup changes and tire management.”
“The car performed reasonably well today, but we know there will be significant differences between our run plan and that of our competitors. We are fully aware that the final timing sheet is not representative of how qualifying will unfold in Melbourne.”
With Sainz having completed his testing, Alex Albon will take over the FW47 for the final day. Robson explains that the Thai driver will be able to build on all the work done on Thursday.
“Alex will take over tomorrow and will be able to rely on the very solid platform that Carlos and his team have developed today. We expect dry and warmer conditions, but with challenging gusts of wind, which will provide a different set of conditions to test the FW47.”
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Sainz Wraps Up Testing as Williams Sharpens FW47 Performance Sainz Wraps Up Testing as Williams Sharpens FW47 Performance Sainz Wraps Up Testing as Williams Sharpens FW47 Performance
