Carlos Sainz has delivered a candid assessment of Williams' current Formula 1 struggles, admitting the team faces a bigger challenge than many expected after a difficult start to the new regulations era. On 21 Jun, Sainz finished 12th at the Spanish Grand Prix, two laps behind race winner Lewis Hamilton.

What happened?

The comments come after another difficult weekend for the Grove-based outfit, where Sainz's result highlighted the scale of the task facing Williams.

The team began the season with an overweight FW48 and a development programme already playing catch-up.

Why it matters for Carlos Sainz

Sainz's contract with Williams ends this year, and paddock rumours suggest that despite his public endorsement to the Williams project, the driver's management is already making enquiries with other teams.

Sainz chose to join Williams following his departure from Ferrari, understanding the project would require patience.

What comes next?

Williams is preparing an update package aimed at improving the FW48's competitiveness, but Sainz remains cautious about what it can realistically achieve.

"I know an update is in the works, and these usually work well for this team," Sainz explained.

However, he added a warning that underlined the scale of the challenge facing Williams.

"I'm not sure it will be enough to make up the deficit we have on this type of track. We need to work even harder than we already are," Sainz said.

The Circuit de Barcelona–Catalunya has long been viewed as one of Formula 1's most revealing venues when it comes to evaluating overall car performance.

Williams admit the data gathered there was sobering: "We mustn't forget that Barcelona is a very good racetrack for measuring a car's performance," Sainz said.

"We were between 1.6 and 1.9 seconds behind the leaders, and almost six or seven tenths behind the first cars from the midfield," he added.

Those numbers reinforced concerns that Williams is currently operating in a category below its immediate rivals, on tracks dominated by medium and high-speed corners.

The gap to the midfield is pretty much as expected, with Sainz struggling with the medium-speed and high-speed corners, as was already evident in Suzuka, where they were really far behind the midfield, half a lap down.

The upcoming Austrian Grand Prix may offer some hope for Williams, but Sainz remains cautious about the team's chances.

And with the season already underway, Sainz and Williams will be looking to make significant improvements to close the gap to their rivals.

But for now, the focus is on the next race, and Sainz will be looking to get the best possible result for his team.

So the question on everyone's mind is: can Williams turn their season around, and what does the future hold for Carlos Sainz?

On 21 Jun, the answer to that question was still unclear, but one thing is certain: Sainz and Williams will be working hard to improve their performance.

The team's struggles are a testament to the challenges of competing in Formula 1, and Sainz's commitment to the long-term project will be tested in the coming weeks and months.

But with his experience and skill, Sainz is well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead, and his fans will be eagerly awaiting his next move.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Sainz and Williams, waiting to see if they can turn their fortunes around and make a push for the top