Carlos Sainz has said he will “back” Williams’ decision to forego further development of its 2025 Formula 1 car, despite strong early-season showings.
The Grove-based squad has enjoyed a promising start to the campaign, sitting in fifth place in the Constructors’ championship with 37 points, more than triple its final 2024 tally.
The FW47 has been the team’s strongest package in years, and at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, the car showed even further pace, being just three tenths off the pole position time.
The Spaniard lined up sixth, one place ahead of Alex Albon, who finished fifth. Sainz eventually finished ninth, after a miscommunication with a team order left him beaten by Albon, saying after the race he was made to “look completely stupid”.
Sainz’s experience as a proven race-winner with Ferrari has left him feeling like the FW47 could be improved further with the right development and nurturing.
However, Williams boss James Vowles has opted to place the team’s faith and resources into the FW48 for next year, when the new regulations come into effect.
Its stellar qualifying performance drew some questions to Sainz about the scope the current car could have when it comes to competing with the front four teams, he conveyed some possible frustration at Vowles’ choice.
“When I see those three tenths to the top, my will to develop this car is there, because I perfectly know where this car [can be improved],” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“The moment you put it in the windtunnel and try to target the two or three areas that I’ve been telling the team where there’s clearly a lot more potential, and if the team manages to give me that, I think we could do a very big step quality-wise.
“But the plan is the plan. We’re not going to do that. We’re going to focus on next year and put all the eggs in that basket.
“Obviously that potential that I see, especially only in my sixth race, to be three tenths off pole is encouraging. But we will need to keep it calm.”
Sainz places faith in Vowles
Williams is currently winning the battle of the midfield, one of its core targets before the season properly started.
For Sainz, the fact that the car has got closer to the front of the pack was an encouraging sign, but he is willing to stick to the plan set out by Vowles.
“I’ve told him, I said: ‘How much can we do? How much CFD? How much windtunnel?’
“But I like JV because he’s a man with a very clear plan and he will commit 100% to it. He trusts his feeling, his plan, his project and I back him.
“That’s why I committed to James as an individual but also as a team to Williams, because I see a project and a very clear ambition, very clear targets and we need to commit to them and stick to them.
“He also promised me this year’s car would be an improvement to last year and so far he’s been a man of his word.
“I’m glad that’s going in the right direction.”
READ MORE – Williams denies Alex Albon ignored team order in F1 Miami GP
