Carlos Sainz has picked out his favourite part of the 2026 F1 regulations, even though he admits it’s something he “shouldn’t enjoy” as a pure fan of the sport.
As one of the directors of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), Sainz has often served as a link between drivers and F1 leadership, sharing concerns about changes to the sport.
Before this season got underway, he called for patience, saying drivers should give the new rules some time before judging them. He also mentioned he’d be willing to join Max Verstappen in speaking directly to F1’s leaders if things didn’t improve.
With a few races now behind us, and another coming up soon, Sainz has spoken positively about how things have played out. He’s even gone so far as to say that one particular change stands out as his favourite across all the cars he’s driven.
Carlos Sainz praises part of 2026 F1 rules despite ongoing criticism
Speaking to the media ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Sainz praised the FIA’s approach to the 2026 chassis design.
When asked if there was anything he liked about the new rules, the Williams driver told SoyMotor: “It’s a good chassis; aerodynamically, it’s one of my favourites in Formula 1, and I’ve driven quite a few over the last ten years.”
“Switching back to softer suspension makes a huge difference to driver comfort and visibility, especially without that bouncing.”
Sainz also made it clear he enjoys driving the current cars, even though many others around him remain critical.
He went on: “On a personal level, it’s something I enjoy. Perhaps I shouldn’t enjoy it because it’s not very purist, but the fact is, you have to think a lot whilst driving.
“You have to monitor your load, think differently about how to tackle that qualifying lap or race lap to overtake, and I like having that time to think. But the reality is that Formula 1 should be flat-out, so I have mixed feelings.”
Carlos Sainz says Williams will make ‘big improvements’ later in the 2026 F1 season
Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Sainz also said that Williams have some ‘big improvements’ lined up for their FW48 after a tough start to F1’s new era.
He began by pointing out the new upgrades that the Grove-based F1 outfit had brought to the Miami paddock, saying, “We’ve brought a few upgrades for the car, which is going to look a bit different, but it’s not about the look, it’s about how many tenths they give us.
However, he noted that most teams are introducing upgrades at this stage of the season and played down expectations of any immediate leap up the order.
Sainz recognises that other teams are also bringing changes to Miami but suggested that Williams could take bigger steps as the year goes on.
“I feel that although it will be a good step for the team if others bring improvements too we won’t be able to move up much,” Sainz added. “Let’s hope it’s a good first step and we’ll have to wait until later in the season to bring those big improvements.”
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