Sainz and his message to Vowles: “I am here with you and I support you”

No Williams in Barcelona The 2026 season started in the worst way for Williams, which due to delays in the FW48 project did not show up in Barcelona for the shakedown. A real misstep for the Grove team, which after the encouraging fifth place in the Constructors’ standings last year went from one of the most anticipated teams at the beginning of the year to the biggest disappointment. Everything postponed to Sakhir The hope for the British team is to be able to resolve all the problems within the official tests scheduled in Sakhir, Bahrain, from 11 February, mainly linked to the failed crash tests and the possible overweight of the single-seater. However, Williams’ absence in Spain remains very bad news for the upcoming championship, starting with Team Principal James Vowles. Sainz’s message The British engineer was the first to admit his disappointment, but also expressed his gratitude for Carlos Sainz’s reaction. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Vowles highlighted not only the desire not to give up, but also the spirit of his driver, who proved to be very close to the team: “From the moment I called Carlos, his first question was: ‘What can I do to help you? I’m here with you and I support you’. He’s as frustrated as me. At this point we’re here to race or do some testing, or to do a preliminary test, given the current situation.”