Main Story: Carlos Sainz says Williams’ lack of pace has left little to fight for this season, and he wouldn’t mind if the campaign ended in Las Vegas. Team principal James Vowles says the team intentionally redirected development and spending toward its 2027 car, even shelving upgrades for the current one.

Yes, But

Williams’ short-term struggles are severe, but Vowles argues that continuing to invest in a car with slim points prospects would come at the expense of its future effort.

State of Play
  • Sainz says the car is slow in dry, wet and mixed conditions, making race management difficult.
  • Vowles says Williams needs luck to score points with its current car.
  • The team has prioritized 2027 development and chose not to race some wind-tunnel upgrades.
Bottom Line

Williams has accepted near-term pain in hopes of improving its future prospects—but for Sainz, the current car has made the remaining races hard to endure.