How Carlos Sainz bounced back from the most difficult moment of his F1 career

Carlos Sainz said Baku never feels like a normal stop as he heads into the eve of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. A year earlier, the Spaniard secured his first podium with Williams, a highlight he still ranks among the best moments of his career. In 2026, however, he arrived after a difficult stretch in which the FW48 had not delivered the results he wanted. Despite that, Sainz, at 32, described his driving as strong and feels he is close to the peak of his career. He called the season frustrating and potentially a “lost year” from a results standpoint, while stressing he believes Williams can return to top-team standards with figures including James Vowles and Alex Albon.