An unbroadcasted team radio from the Chinese Grand Prix showcases Carlos Sainz reassuring his new team, Williams, of his speed despite a rocky start.
- Carlos Sainz, in his debut season with Williams, finds himself trailing teammate Alex Albon in the early races.
- The Spaniard faced challenges in Australia and China, unable to match Albon’s pace and results.
- Nevertheless, Sainz remained optimistic, stating he needs more time to adjust and improve with Williams.
- His call for extended pre-season testing highlights the struggles experienced due to limited preparation.
Carlos Sainz, despite joining Williams with high expectations, encountered tough times at the season’s start. Transitioning from Ferrari, Sainz found himself lagging behind teammate Alex Albon in the initial races. In Melbourne, Sainz crashed out early in wet conditions while Albon secured fourth place. In Shanghai, Sainz was unable to reach Q3, with his lap time three-tenths slower than Albon, who advanced to Q3 and finished seventh.
The Chinese Grand Prix highlighted the difficulties Sainz faced, with Albon finishing a clear 20 seconds ahead. However, Sainz scored his first point for Williams by finishing 10th after post-race disqualifications. Not deterred, Sainz used the unbroadcasted team radio to assure his team that he is “a lot faster than this,” acknowledging the ongoing need for improvement and adaptation.
Sainz’s words were echoed by his race engineer, who credited learning from the race despite challenges. The engineer was optimistic about the car’s pace, emphasizing that they will continue building on their performance for upcoming races.
The beginning of Sainz’s tenure with Williams also reopened the debate over insufficient pre-season testing. With only four-and-a-half hours to acclimate to the car before going racing, Sainz felt underprepared. He expressed his frustration with the limited testing time, suggesting that extending the test days would benefit drivers and teams, especially newcomers.
Sainz stressed the importance of on-track experience over simulations. He proposed a balanced approach where teams can decide whether to invest in more test days or simulators, advocating for inclusion within budget caps. Sainz suggested that expanding test days to eight or ten could help drivers like him adjust more efficiently to their new teams.
As Carlos Sainz navigates his new journey with Williams, his focus on adaptation and calls for more testing could prove pivotal in enhancing performance.
