A frustrating race for Carlos Sainz at the Brazilian Grand Prix! The Williams driver’s hopes were dashed early on, as contact with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari resulted in front-wing damage, leaving him playing catch-up for the remainder of the race at Interlagos.
“I got squeezed by Lewis on the outside, and it cost me dearly,” Sainz explained. “The front-wing damage compromised my race, and I was left playing a game of catch-up.”
Sainz’s damaged car struggled, and a slow pit stop further hindered his progress. He found himself consistently in 11th or 12th place, battling with a compromised vehicle.
“We were always just a few seconds away from the points,” he lamented. “Without the damage and the slow pit stop, we could have been in contention. The car felt much better before the incident.”
The team opted not to replace the front wing, a decision that could have cost them valuable time. Despite this, Sainz felt good on Sunday, having missed Thursday’s media sessions due to illness.
“Today is the first day I felt 100%, and the car responded well too,” he confirmed. With Las Vegas up next, Sainz is optimistic about a track that suits his machinery.
“For us, it’s crucial to address the weaknesses in long, medium, and low-speed corners. Luckily, Vegas is the complete opposite of Interlagos, so we’re hoping for a different outcome there.”
Sainz finished 13th, two places behind his teammate Alex Albon, and Williams failed to score points in Brazil.
As the season’s final trio of races begins in Las Vegas, the team is focused on improving their performance and addressing the issues that compromised their results in Brazil.
What do you think? Could Williams have done more to support Sainz’s race? Share your thoughts in the comments!