Carlos Sainz Worried Williams 2026 Upgrades Are Not Working

Carlos Sainz has admitted he is worried by the serious issues he believes Williams must fix after the team again failed to make midfield progress in the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Williams began the campaign with the FW48 initially delivered overweight. The team has since worked through a weight-reduction programme, with a major upgrade package planned for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September.

For the British Grand Prix, Williams introduced a new front wing, but Sainz and Alex Albon were still unable to challenge for points. Sainz received an unusual one-lap penalty from the stewards after a safety car mix-up, while Albon retired from the race.

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The result extended a difficult run for Williams, which has not scored since Sainz finished eighth in Monaco. The team has 11 points for the season, while Audi reduced the gap after Gabriel Bortoleto finished eighth at Silverstone to lift the Ingolstadt outfit to six points.

For Sainz, the concern is not only the British GP result, but the wider pattern emerging across the season. He believes Williams is not finding enough lap time from its upgrades, while the gap to the rear of the midfield continues to grow.

“It is concerning and frustrating because it is starting to be a bad trend this year that we don't really seem to find a lot of lap time when the upgrades are coming,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365.

“We need to have a good sit-down, because we've shed a lot of weight out of the car, and the gap to the rear of the midfield keeps increasing,” he said.

Sainz also questioned why Williams was closer to the front at Suzuka with an overweight car, but around two seconds off at Silverstone with a much better weight. He suggested that something is not translating into the car, either in its understanding of flow dynamics or in how upgrades are becoming on-track performance.

“[Now] I am upset, but worried is maybe the right word,” Sainz said. “Nobody likes to be overtaken, especially after good starts and getting ourselves in the points and then dropping back. It has been a pattern this season.”

Sainz insisted he will return to the Williams factory with positive energy, but said the team must be serious about identifying the issue. With rivals such as Audi beginning to show signs of progress, Williams needs its Azerbaijan package to become a corrective step rather than another update with limited impact.