Carlos Sainz Says He’d Rather Las Vegas Be Williams’ Last Race of the Year

Carlos Sainz would prefer the 2026 Formula One season conclude in Las Vegas rather than in Qatar or Abu Dhabi. The Williams car is so far behind the competition that any performance in those races would essentially be testing rather than racing, according to Sainz. Speaking to the media after F1 confirmed the November 22 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Sainz expressed optimism about the opportunity to perform better in Las Vegas, but also acknowledged the team's current struggles.

Williams started the 2026 season on the back foot after missing the shakedown, and despite shedding some weight, the aerodynamics remain poor, preventing them from making significant progress in the midfield. With only 12 points in the constructors' standings, trailing only Aston Martin and Cadillac, the team is hoping the Brazilian Grand Prix, held last weekend, will provide valuable data for the upcoming 2027 season.

Both Carlos Sainz and his teammate Alexander Albon experimented with different setups during the race, but found themselves struggling against more competitive cars in certain corners. While the team continues to work on improvements, Sainz believes the Las Vegas race presents the best chance for the Williams team to showcase their potential before the year's end.