Carlos Sainz is already looking ahead to the significant regulatory changes that Formula 1 will face in 2026. The Spaniard warns of a completely different driving experience: faster acceleration, but with significant limitations on top speed due to the new energy balance between the combustion engine and battery.
“Cars will accelerate much faster from 0 to 300 km/h,” Sainz said in a conversation with Spain’s Partidazo de COPE. “We will reach 300 kilometers per hour much sooner than now, but then it quickly ends. We easily hit 320 km/h, but then we have to drive for a long time without a battery.” According to the Spaniard, about fifty percent of the available power disappears halfway down the straight in 2026. The cause lies in the new engine rules, where the electric power is significantly increased, while the combustion engine delivers less power.
Confidence in the Williams Project
Despite these technical concerns, Sainz is looking forward to next season with Williams with confidence. The team is making a clear advance this year, from ninth to fifth place among the constructors. “That’s a huge step,” says Sainz. “In Formula 1, moving up four places in one season means you’re doing the right things. Winning races right away next year will be difficult, but I think we can get involved in the fight with Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull. That’s what motivates me – being part of the rebuilding of Williams.”
A decisive factor in his choice for the team from Grove was confidence in the engine supplier. “I have a lot of confidence in the Mercedes engine. That’s one of the main reasons why I signed for Williams. Everything I hear about that engine is positive – and that will remain the case for the time being.”
