Surprise in the Williams camp: Carlos Sainz hit with a €20,000 fine… and the reason might just make you smile!
It hasn’t been a smooth start to the season for Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver, who joined Williams with high expectations, is currently struggling with disappointing results and an increasingly one-sided internal battle with Alexander Albon.
After three Grands Prix and one Sprint Race, Sainz has only scored a single point. Meanwhile, his teammate has impressed with consistency and pace, managing to bring the Grove-based team into the points in all of the season’s opening races — a feat not achieved since 2017. It’s a result that highlights Williams’ progress, but also draws attention to Sainz’s early-season struggles.
The Suzuka weekend followed the same trend: Sainz finished outside the points (P14), also paying the price for a three-place grid penalty after impeding Lewis Hamilton during qualifying. A costly error in what was already a difficult race for the Spaniard.
Yes, it’s true: Sainz fined… for going to the bathroom
As if that weren’t enough, Sainz was hit with an additional blow — a €20,000 fine from the FIA for failing to be present on time for the Japanese national anthem ceremony before the race.
According to FIA regulations, the fine could have reached up to €60,000, but the stewards considered a valid mitigating factor: genuine stomach issues that forced Sainz into an emergency bathroom stop moments before lights out.
It’s been a series of unfortunate events, combined with underwhelming performances, that have made this start to the season particularly tough for the Spaniard. The break before Bahrain could be a crucial moment for many — especially for the driver of car #55 — to reset and rebuild confidence and momentum.
Williams has shown promising signs of improvement: now it’s up to Sainz to prove he can be a key part of that journey — always remembering that, in Formula 1, you’re only ever as good as your last race.
Photo: Williams Racing