Williams boss James Vowles has revealed that Carlos Sainz extended an offer of assistance to the team amid its Formula 1 pre-season test delay woes.
The Grove-based squad was forced to opt out of the behind-closed-doors test in Barcelona this week after discovering weight anomalies with the FW48.
Speculation suggested that the car was around 20 to 30 kilograms too heavy, a huge issue that would disregard the competitive features of any car.
Coupled with an earlier, but latterly rectified, failure to pass a mandatory crash test, the optimistic chatter about its 2026 chances came to an abrupt halt.
News of the setback would have come as a huge blow for both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, who were able to maximise the FW47’s potential last year, helping the team finish fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Sainz, who is looking to rejuvenate his career after being axed by Ferrari, is keen to help Williams oversee a long-term plan of taking it back to the top again.
And the Spaniard was quick to offer his aid to Vowles and the whole team, when the pair spoke as the situation became apparent.
“Carlos, from the second I’ve called him, his first question is, ‘What can I do to help? I’m here with you and supportive,’” he revealed.
“He’s frustrated as I’m frustrated. We’re here to go racing or go testing at this point in time, or going shakedown, as it is. But we’re not.”
Vowles was able to issue a defiant redress of the issue, and confirmed that, after its own private shakedown session at Silverstone, the team will arrive in Bahrain for the two planned and official pre-season test schedules that commence in just over a week.
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