TECH WEEKLY: Why a key Ferrari trait is holding Sainz back at Williams – and the ‘muscle memory’ he’s now having to work to undo


Five races in, Williams currently hold the ‘best of the rest’ tag, lying fifth in the Teams’ standings behind the big four teams: McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.
It represents a very significant improvement on last year as Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz have taken a solid 25 points between them. But in trying to close the performance gap to the big teams, there are clear limitations to their car in its current guise, something which the arrival of Sainz from Ferrari has helped define.
“One of the things Carlos finds very different to the Ferrari is that they could carry a lot more ‘combined’ into certain corners,” explained Williams Team Principal James Vowles in Japan, “and that’s not an area we have worked on over the years.”

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.
Membership gets you closer with:
Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers
Next Up
Related Articles
How to stream the 2025 United States Grand Prix on F1 TV
Driver marketWho's in the frame for the second Alpine seat for 2026?
The ultimate fan guide to the US Grand Prix in Austin
New ‘F1 Grid Gigs’ pre-race opening show to make Austin debut
What is the weather forecast for the United States Grand Prix?
Russell and Antonelli confirmed as 2026 Mercedes line-up