Phoenix 24
Baku exposed progress, but Singapore may expose the limits again.
Singapore
Carlos Sainz has delivered a realistic assessment of Williams’ prospects for the final stretch of the 2026 Formula 1 season, warning that Baku may have been the last circuit clearly suited to the FW48 apart from Mexico. The Spanish driver arrives in Singapore after a difficult campaign in which qualifying progress has often been undermined by the car’s broader aerodynamic limitations.
Williams introduced a major upgrade package in Azerbaijan, including weight reduction and aerodynamic revisions. The changes immediately helped Sainz reach Q3 for the first time this season and eventually secure a point despite a grid penalty. The result suggested that the FW48 had improved, but Sainz has made clear that the step forward was highly dependent on circuit characteristics rather than evidence of a complete transformation.
The central weakness remains medium and high-speed cornering. Williams can operate more competitively on tracks dominated by slower sections, where mechanical grip and traction reduce the penalty created by limited aerodynamic load. Once corner speeds increase, however, the car struggles to remain close to the top ten. That distinction explains why Sainz believes Singapore may be more difficult than its street-circuit label initially suggests.
Marina Bay contains numerous slow corners, but its average cornering speed is higher than Baku’s. That difference is enough to expose the FW48 in areas where Sainz says the car remains vulnerable. The comparison illustrates how modern Formula 1 performance can depend on very specific aerodynamic operating windows rather than simple categories such as street circuit or permanent track.
There is also a contrast between Sainz’s qualifying form and Williams’ race performance. The Spaniard has become increasingly confident over a single lap and has regularly extracted more from the car in qualifying. In races, however, he has described feeling limited when competing against cars capable of generating greater downforce, particularly during starts, restarts and sustained battles.
That gap is becoming important as Williams looks beyond 2026. The team’s recent upgrades have reduced some of the FW48’s weaknesses, but they have not eliminated the underlying aerodynamic deficit. The remaining races are therefore becoming both competitive events and diagnostic exercises for the next phase of the project.
Sainz’s message is ultimately pragmatic. Williams has improved, but the calendar will determine how often those improvements can be converted into points. Baku offered one of the clearest opportunities. Singapore may show just how narrow that competitive window still is.
Progress matters, but performance only counts when the circuit allows it.