Carlos Sainz urges Williams to double development pace

Carlos Sainz has issued a public challenge to his Williams team to accelerate its development program, as speculation grows that the star driver is questioning his long-term commitment to the squad amid a difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. The call comes after a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, where Williams' performance deficit was laid bare.

Seven rounds into the new regulatory cycle, Williams sits eighth in the constructors' championship with 11 points, its best result an eighth-place finish in Monaco. The team's FW48 car arrived late and overweight, leaving it on the back foot. In Barcelona, a circuit that exposes weaknesses in medium and high-speed corners, Sainz finished 12th and two laps down, while teammate Alex Albon was not classified after a camera housing issue ruined his race.

Speaking after the event, Sainz acknowledged the team's effort but stressed the need for a greater response. He stated that while upcoming upgrades typically work for Williams, he was unsure if they would be sufficient to close the gap to rivals on certain tracks. "We need to do more than what we are doing already," Sainz said. "Every week for the team it's super...