Carlos Sainz labels 2026 F1 rule change a ‘shame’
Carlos Sainz bemoans about the inevitable 2026 regulations reset despite the racing action getting closer last season.
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Carlos Sainz, image via IMAGO
The racing spectacle improved significantly during the 2024 campaign and fans anticipate a similar trend to follow through into the upcoming seasons. However, with the imminent 2026 regulations hanging around the corner, a team could emerge dominating the field again. This led Carlos Sainz to assert that the 2026 regulations change is a shame.
The last drastic rule change in F1 took place in 2022. It lead to the resurrection of the ground-effect era of cars and witnessed a dominant spell by Red Bull in the first two years. Ferrari often snubbed a few wins away but the 2024 season portrayed a major revamp in which seven drivers won multiple races.
However, just as the racing pack is at its closest, rules are bound to get changed after the 2025 season. Red Bull supremo Christian Horner earlier slammed FIA for this and Carlos Sainz followed suit.
And it’s a shame in a way that this is resetting in ‘26 because I feel like Formula 1 is for once in a very, very long time achieving a level playing field among all teams and all drivers to show who is the best team but who is also the best driver. And yeah, I think that it’s a bit of a pity.
Carlos Sainz said (via Motorsport Week)
On the other hand, a long year lines up ahead for Sainz. The Spaniard completed his most successful season in F1, but would get behind the wheel of a back marker Williams. Thus, he would remain towards the rear-end of the field for a while till the English team resurges to their previous form.
When can Carlos Sainz get a race-winning car at Williams?
Williams was a household name in F1 during the manufacturer’s peak. The English giant was battling the likes of Ferrari and McLaren every weekend. With the team now eyeing to make it out of the backmarker club, signing Sainz was one of the big steps in reaching its previous level.
The 30-year-old has asserted his faith in team principal James Vowles and wants to head the project. Subsequently, Vowles shared a timeline of when Sainz could expect to get a car that is worthy of fighting for wins or championships.
I think if you ask me to commit to a date, I would have said more ’28, but I think the point is we should be on the right journey to get towards there as well. There’s quite a bit of investment, senior management and other elements, that are kicking in for ’26 and ’27. It takes time in F1… [So], ’28 I’d be a lot more confident about looking you in the eyes and saying, ‘Yes’.
James Vowles said (via Motorsport Week)
The Briton reckons 26′ and 27′ to be stepping stones in reaching their ultimate goal. So, he reckons 2028 to be the year when Williams could be back at the forefront of F1.
However, Sainz would be 34 by then. This might result into him being out of his prime and leaving a well-established team for another youngster to benefit from. Making the Williams move a big gamble that the Spaniard needs to pay off with hefty compensation.
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Geetansh Pasricha
(772 Articles Published)