Who had the most restless night last night: Carlos Sainz

It's been nearly a decade since Formula 1 first raced through the streets of Baku in June 2016. Anticipation was high for Azerbaijan's Grand Prix debut, with many forecasting a tumultuous race filled with accidents on the street circuit. Ultimately, the reality was quite different, and the European Grand Prix ended up lulling many Formula 1 enthusiasts to sleep—even in the early afternoon.

I distinctly recall that at the Baku media center—unconventionally situated not in the paddock but in the neighboring Hilton—several of my journalist colleagues weren't even focused on Formula 1. Instead, they were glued to the Le Mans race. In that iconic 24-hour event, the leading Toyota suffered a breakdown in the final moments, gifting an unexpected victory to Porsche. A moment of historic drama.

Many may have forgotten who clinched victory in that inaugural Baku race. It was Nico Rosberg—who would later secure the F1 world championship just months after. During yesterday's English-language Sky broadcast, he remarked: "Carlos Sainz was the ambassador. So we need to criticise Carlos Sainz."

Rosberg's critique targeted the Madring, which hosted a Grand Prix debut on Sunday that was just as uneventful as Baku's. The key distinction was that while F1’s first race in Azerbaijan may not have been particularly thrilling from a sporting standpoint, it at least offered stunning visuals on screen, showcasing the iconic stretch through the old town and the striking city skyline that exudes the aroma of oil and gas wealth.

The broadcast from Madrid occasionally treated viewers to aerial shots from drones or helicopters, revealing one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. However, when the focus shifted to the circuit itself, it lacked allure, resembling what Alexander Wurz described as a "concrete channel" during his commentary for Austrian broadcaster ORF.

The chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association expressed mild criticism of the Madring project, stating: "Am I in Australia now, am I in Valencia, am I here in Madrid, where am I? Or in Jeddah? These street circuits all have a similar look. That means I'm not showcasing my host city in such an impressive way. There's a lot that could be done here."

Carlos Sainz, Williams

The significant difference lies in the fact that while F1 circuits in locations like Baku or Singapore are built in the heart of the city, the Madring is situated on Madrid's exhibition grounds. This is likely due to the complexities and bureaucracies involved in routing a Grand Prix through a historic city center in a European democracy compared to an Asian autocracy.

Compounding the issue is the fact that the race itself failed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The Madring combines the unappealing features of its Valencia predecessor with a layout that makes overtaking nearly impossible. One might dismiss it as "Monaco for the less fortunate."

Incidentally, few had the courage to voice this sentiment openly. It is noteworthy how restrained F1 team principals have become in avoiding negative commentary on a new venue. Before Liberty Media transformed the series into a stock-market venture, the atmosphere might have been quite different.

Nevertheless, attributing all the blame to Sainz, as Rosberg did due to his role as an official ambassador, seems unjust. The circuit design falls under the purview of others. Moreover, Sainz can't change the fact that the exhibition grounds of his home city have, well, the charm of an exhibition center.

What he can be held accountable for, however, is his PlayStation-like maneuver at the start. Sainz had an impressive getaway, overtaking three competitors on the way to Turn 1. Upon arrival, he attempted to pass the next two in true enthusiastic amateur gamer fashion—only to skid into Yuki Tsunoda's VCARB with his front-right locked. For those of us familiar with gaming, that kind of start might have prompted a restart. Tough luck when reality doesn't offer the same reset button.

Sainz later downplayed that aggressive move as a "small contact with Tsunoda that damaged my floor," which would induce a smile from anyone who reviews his onboard footage.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

He eventually received a five-second penalty later in the race, although for a different incident involving fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso. Alonso vented over the radio: "Yeah, he squeezed me into the wall, man. At the start, he crashed into two people. Now he squeezed me against the wall while braking." All Sainz could muster in reply to this borderline incident was: "I think he complained on the radio, so he managed to get me a penalty like always."

In the end, neither Spaniard had a meaningful impact on their home Grand Prix. Sainz ultimately retired, feeling it was futile to continue struggling with minimal downforce. "Hopefully this is the last year here in Madrid that I'm fighting for P16, and from next year onward, I can aim for something more," he expressed.

That optimism may not be widely shared. Sainz has just renewed his contract with Williams, and despite his attempts to frame that decision as a testament to his belief in the project's long-term potential, the reality is this: had an offer come from Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, or Red Bull, he would surely have jumped at it without hesitation.

With a touch of skepticism, Sainz's confidence in Williams largely stems from the lack of better options. It's not the sort of sentiment he could openly include in the Williams press release announcing his contract extension.

At 32, and with stints at Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and most recently Ferrari behind him, the prime years of his Formula 1 career may already be fading into the past. In an era where young talents like Kimi Antonelli are emerging, it's hard to envision a team principal with a competitive car opting to bring Sainz back from obscurity for another shot at the world title.

Stated like that, it sounds brutally harsh. However, it doesn't necessarily imply that the Spaniard's career should be deemed a failure.

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, lifts the trophy in celebration

Sainz has been competing in F1 since 2015, has secured four Grand Prix wins, and earned millions driving for iconic teams like McLaren and Ferrari. In his debut season with Toro Rosso, he matched the performance of a certain Max Verstappen, and over the years, he has cultivated a reputation not only for his speed but also for his strategic intelligence akin to a savvy businessman.

Yet, when it comes to clinching a Formula 1 world championship, the candid truth is that it likely won't happen. Not due to occasional missteps like the one in Madrid yesterday, but because the top teams no longer seek him, and frankly, it’s hard to envision how Williams might evolve into a championship contender in the coming years.

In retrospect, perhaps joining Audi instead of Williams would have been the wiser choice, considering the eagerness of then-Sauber team principal Andreas Seidl to secure him. Though Audi may not be significantly ahead as things stand in 2026, the chances of achieving a breakthrough with a works team are likely slightly better than they are with Williams.

Sainz and his father, having seemingly overlooked Lewis Hamilton in their driver-market strategy, secretly hoped for an opportunity at Red Bull or even Mercedes. However, back then, Toto Wolff opted to take a chance on the relatively unknown Antonelli rather than the seasoned Sainz. And Verstappen ultimately remained exactly where he was.

Ultimately, it wasn’t Audi that he joined, but rather Williams—potentially marking the start of the final chapter of Sainz's F1 career. He may spend a few more years battling in the midfield. It appears increasingly unlikely that anything beyond that lies ahead.

Perhaps he would be better off channeling his talents elsewhere, where they could be showcased more effectively. At a classic endurance race like Le Mans, for instance, or in the challenging "Green Hell" at the Nurburgring. There, in the future, Sainz might even find himself racing against Verstappen and Antonelli again at the very highest level—worthy of a driver of his caliber.