Carlos Sainz, a notable figure in the world of Formula One, has recently found himself baffled by a significant shift in his performance. This dramatic change has occurred since he first joined the Williams team up until the Chinese Grand Prix. This unexpected shift is one of the most significant in his career, leaving him searching for answers.
The Williams team has had a strong kickoff in 2025, with Alex Albon, Sainz’s teammate, demonstrating impressive results in the initial two rounds. Albon secured a fifth and seventh position, aiding the team in matching their total points from 2024. However, Sainz found himself trailing behind Albon in Shanghai. Despite ending up in the 10th position due to post-race disqualifications, he is at a loss about his performance drop, considering his comfort level during the pre-season.
Sainz stated, “We got the strategy right, yet the car’s pace was just not there.” He expressed his struggle with the front tires and the requirement for extensive fuel saving during the race, which further hampered the front tires’ performance. This situation led to the car lacking pace. Sainz is left puzzled and discontented with this sudden performance drop, especially after showing impressive speed during the testing phase. He is now looking forward to a ten-day break to analyze the situation and devise a comeback strategy for the upcoming race in Japan.
Since joining Williams, Sainz had the impression that he could keep pace with Albon and tap into the car’s potential. However, after an early crash in the opening race, his performance has been on a downward trajectory. He describes it as one of the most unusual performance swings in his career, noting a significant drop from his initial speed in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, and even Australia.
To address this issue, he has made several setup changes, mirroring those made by Albon. However, while these changes seemed to positively impact Albon, they did little to help Sainz, who continued to struggle with graining.
Contrary to Spanish media reports suggesting that Sainz was using an older chassis specification than Albon, it is understood that both drivers are equipped with the latest monocoque from Williams. The team has also modified last year’s design for the current season. This modification means that unlike the previous season, Williams now has a spare chassis. If desired, Sainz has the option to switch to a different chassis for the upcoming race in Suzuka.
In summary, Sainz is currently facing one of the most challenging periods in his career. His performance has declined significantly since joining Williams, and he is now searching for answers and ways to improve. The upcoming race in Suzuka will be a decisive moment for him as he seeks to regain his lost momentum.