Carlos Sainz arrived in Baku with a faint smile. Before him lay the Azerbaijan street circuit, stirring memories from 12 months ago when he scored his first podium with Williams. But behind that sweet memory, the Spanish driver is enduring a challenging 2026 season.
“Baku is always a special place for me,” Sainz told Motorsport.com at the start of the race weekend. “It’s one of the best moments of my career, my first podium with Williams. So Baku is now an important place.”
This season, Williams has yet to provide a competitive package. The FW48 often struggles to fight at the front, leaving Sainz frustrated. “I feel my performance this year is quite good. I’m 32 and at the peak of my career. But the results don’t reflect that. The car has many problems, and we’re not hitting our targets,” he lamented.
Nevertheless, Sainz remains optimistic. He believes his experience and speed can help Williams rise again. “I bring experience from Ferrari, and I know what the team needs to become top. We have James Vowles from Mercedes, and Alex Albon who has experienced the Red Bull environment. We’re trying to bring Williams back to the top,” he added.
The contrast between self-belief and actual results makes this season tough. Sainz calls it a “lost year” if no significant improvement comes. “I hope it’s just a strange year, and next season we can be in a better position,” he hopes.
In Baku, Sainz is determined to repeat last year’s magic. Though the odds are slim, he won’t give up. “I’ll give everything for this team. Baku is a place where anything can happen,” he concluded.
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