Carlos Sainz made the leap from Ferrari to Williams hoping to lead a revival, but after a rocky start to the new regulations, he’s now firing a blunt warning: wake up, or risk losing him.
The four-time grand prix winner landed at Williams after Ferrari’s shock announcement that Lewis Hamilton would take his seat in 2025. Sainz ultimately picked the Grove-based team over Sauber and Alpine, convinced by team principal James Vowles that he’d be the man to lead them into a fresh era.
But after ten rounds of the season, it’s clear that dream is slipping away. Following a tough Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Sainz didn’t sugarcoat the reality.
“I find it hard to believe we’ll get out of this situation this year,” he told DAZN, as reported by Soy Motor. “Unfortunately, the car isn’t up to scratch; that’s just how it is – we need to improve it.”
He added a phrase that roughly translates to “we need to wake up,” making it clear Williams has to get their act together fast.
Sainz did manage two podium finishes earlier this season, hinting at what could be possible. But now, he’s dealing with an overweight car that’s falling behind the midfield pack. Vowles himself has admitted the team’s winter preparations for the 2026 rules shift weren’t ideal.
Looking ahead, Sainz painted a grim picture of the immediate future. “Our new chassis isn’t as good as the strides other teams are making,” he said. “I’d like to think we’re designing next year’s car to be much more competitive because we’ve failed with this year’s car.”
With his contract set to expire at the end of 2026, and rumors already linking him to Audi, the pressure is on Williams to prove they can deliver. Will Sainz stay patient, or is he already eyeing the exit door?
