Williams Racing announced a technical upgrade aimed at improving the performance of both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. This update arrives as the Grove-based team struggles with a dip in form after a promising start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. The team’s efforts to counteract recent gains by rivals highlight the critical timing of this development.
James Vowles, Williams’ Team Principal, addressed the team‘s progress and expectations regarding the upgrade in an internal team communication. He acknowledged a strong start but stressed that competitors have since enhanced their cars, making it essential for Williams to fully leverage their current vehicle’s capabilities.
“We’re now about midway and obviously a very strong start and then fallen away a little bit, as others have added performance to their car. Now, we have a small update coming to Spa. What we really have to do though is just make sure we capitalize on the car performance that we have available to us.” —James Vowles, Team Principal
Currently fifth in the Constructors’ Championship with 59 points, Williams shows an uneven distribution of success between their drivers. Alex Albon accounts for 46 points, while Carlos Sainz has faced considerable challenges, securing only 13 points throughout the season and just one point over the last four races.
Carlos Sainz Reflects on a Difficult Start to the Season
During the recent British Grand Prix weekend, Carlos Sainz openly discussed the trials he has faced so far this year, highlighting issues related to reliability and weekend execution. His assessment paints a picture of ongoing struggles that have hindered his ability to score consistently for the team.
“Definitely we’re going through a tough period with reliability issues, with weekend execution problems as you could see and the last few weekends I think have been extremely difficult for us as a team.” —Carlos Sainz, Driver
Vowles also reflected on Sainz’s underwhelming season in the detailed team debrief, noting a mixture of errors and misfortune on both sides — driver and team. He cited a combination of driving mistakes, team errors, and collisions that have compounded Sainz’s difficulties this year.
“With Carlos, I think we haven’t delivered everything we can with him this year. It’s been a mixture all across the board. There’s been errors that he’s made on track. There’s absolutely been errors that we’ve made on track. There’s been accidents, just accumulation of aspects.” —James Vowles, Team Principal
Williams made changes to the floor fence during the Silverstone round, aiming to optimize airflow and car performance downstream. The Spa upgrade is expected to build on that work by fine-tuning the FW47’s balance for one of the season’s longest and most complex circuits.
Setbacks at Silverstone Add Pressure for Sainz
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone, marked by wet conditions and unpredictable moments, ended with mixed fortunes for Williams. Alex Albon managed to earn four points by overtaking Fernando Alonso on the final lap to finish eighth. Conversely, Carlos Sainz’s race was marred by an incident that heavily damaged his car.
While running close behind Charles Leclerc near the points, Sainz was caught in a collision when Leclerc abruptly cut through Stowe corner, striking Sainz’s car. This contact severely damaged the front wing and floor, resulting in an estimated time loss of half a second per lap, eventually causing Sainz to drop to twelfth place.
“Unfortunately for Carlos when he was running in a strong position, he was hit by Charles… the damage was extensive. It was front wing and floor and the losses probably around about half a second a lap,” —James Vowles, Team Principal
This incident added to a series of recent misfortunes, including Sainz’s failure to start the Austrian Grand Prix due to a brake fire before the race. Despite these setbacks, the four-time Grand Prix winner remains determined to overcome adversity and regain momentum.
“I think everything that could go wrong this year so far has gone wrong for me… The one thing that keeps me smiling is the speed that I’ve in the car and with the team… We just don’t seem to get a break in terms of luck, execution of the weekend, reliability… But at some point, it’s going to end and as soon as I get a bit of momentum going, I know what we’re capable of doing,” —Carlos Sainz, Driver
Looking Ahead to Spa: Opportunities for Williams and Carlos Sainz
The upcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps presents a critical opportunity for Williams and especially Carlos Sainz. Known for its challenging elevation changes and fast corners such as Eau Rouge and Blanchimont, the circuit demands a well-balanced car and precision driving.
With the new upgrade package intended to fine-tune the FW47’s performance on this demanding track, Williams hopes to halt their mid-season decline and convert potential into tangible results. For Sainz, an improved showing in Belgium could serve as the crucial turning point his season urgently needs.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is the net worth of the Williams star Carlos Sainz? According to the popular media outlet Celebrity Net Worth, Carlos Sainz’s net worth lies around $50 million in 2025.
A. Is Carlos Sainz wealthy?
Q. Is Carlos Sainz intelligent?
A. The Spanish driver is smart and relies on instincts, figuring out how to navigate a race and earn points effectively.
Q. Is Carlos Sainz smart?
A. It’s clear why people call Sainz “Chilli.” The Spanish driver is not only sharp and quick to react, but he also uses strategy to score points in races.