The Williams driver joins Verstappen and Norris in demanding deeper regulatory overhauls, warning that recent FIA adjustments fail to address critical qualifying issues ahead of the 2026 season.
Carlos Sainz has added his voice to the growing chorus of Formula 1 drivers expressing frustration with the 2026 technical regulations, offering a frank and pointed assessment after the Miami Grand Prix that underlines the scale of the challenge still facing the sport's governing bodies.
The Spanish Williams Racing driver has been one of the more measured critics of the new rules, but his comments made clear that patience — at least with the qualifying format under the current regulations — is wearing thin.
The criticism is not new. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have both been vocal and at times pointed in their disapproval, and the public nature of those complaints has amplified the sense that the 2026 regulatory overhaul has created as many problems as it has solved. The FIA has acknowledged the pressure, implementing a series of adjustments even within the first few races of the season, including changes to the power units announced ahead of Miami — though the effects have yet to be clearly visible on the timing sheets.
Not everyone within the paddock shares that critical stance: George Russell and Mercedes have been more supportive of the current regulations, a position that has invited some scepticism from rivals who point out that any softening of the rules risks narrowing the Silver Arrows' advantage in both championships.
What Did Carlos Sainz Say About the 2026 Rules?
It was in that environment that Sainz spoke to Motorsport following the Miami race, and he did not shy away from delivering a direct verdict: "The changes have not been enough for qualifying. I think there is still a long way to go for qualifying."
He was careful, however, to frame his criticism constructively. "As I said, I am not going to criticise further. I am simply trying to be productive and to emphasize that this is not yet good enough for Formula 1. But it seems that at least the race was a little better. I am happy with the measures taken to bring the race forward," a reference to the decision to advance the start time by three hours due to the threat of electrical storms.
Sainz also made a point of crediting the FIA for its responsiveness on other fronts: "I believe the FIA this weekend also listened to concerns about the wet conditions with regard to the intermediate tyres. You cannot criticise them for that. I think they did a brilliant job."
His concluding message was aimed directly at the power unit manufacturers: "Now everyone seems to be working in the same direction. I think we just need to convince some manufacturers that this is not yet the standard that everyone should have in qualifying — and that we need to keep improving."
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