P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz highlights Williams ‘realisation’ after early F1 2026 setback
Carlos Sainz emphasized that Williams’ slow start to the current F1 season is a clear indication of the team’s systems not being up to par. Williams decided to forgo the Barcelona shakedown event due to issues leading up to the campaign. Despite missing the initial track time, Williams made its debut in Bahrain last week by completing 414 laps, the most of any team. However, Sainz believes that Williams still has a long way to go to be competitive at the front of the field. Team boss James Vowles acknowledges that Williams’ journey back to the top will be a gradual process. Sainz understands the need for improvement in multiple areas and is committed to contributing to the team’s progress. He is set to continue testing in Bahrain this week ahead of the upcoming season opener in Australia.
