Sainz: Williams makes major mid-season changes to prepare for 2027
Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-23GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration
Carlos Sainz says Williams is making major changes during the 2026 season to start 2027 strongly. He says the team is not normally in a position to score points.
Williams is making major changes during the 2026 season rather than waiting for the break, Carlos Sainz says, with the aim of giving the team a strong start to 2027.
At the FIA's Thursday press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Sainz said Williams' senior management had set a clear direction for the changes. The work can feel uncomfortable even during a race weekend, he said, when it seems the team is leaving lap time on the table or trying to change too much at once.
Sainz said the updated FW48 was good enough to reach Q2 with a very good Q1 lap, but that Williams was not normally in a position to score points. A point like the one it scored in Baku might require mistakes from rivals; he also said a top-14 finish was difficult once the field settled into its pace. The lightweight chassis has helped the team reach Q2 in three consecutive events since Baku, he added.
Sources 01
- PRIMARY SOURCEF1 - 2026 United States Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference TranscriptFIA news and transcripts
This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.
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