Carlos Sainz Reveals Conversation with Alonso

Carlos Sainz Jr. has revealed details of a candid conversation with fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, admitting neither is entirely at ease with their teams’ situations ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The championship enters a new era this year following one of the biggest technical rule resets in its history, with all new chassis and power units introduced across the grid.

At Aston Martin, change has been sweeping. Design legend Adrian Newey has stepped into a leadership role for the first time in his career, while the team has partnered with Honda as a full works engine supplier. Honda, which officially withdrew from F1 at the end of 2021 before continuing in a support capacity with Red Bull Powertrains, has now returned as a manufacturer in its own right.

Pre season testing, however, has not gone smoothly for the Silverstone squad. The AMR26 suffered reliability setbacks, including battery and parts shortages that limited running in Bahrain, while earlier delays in Barcelona cost the team valuable track time.

Sainz’s team, Williams, also experienced disruptions, missing its Barcelona shakedown due to delays with the FW48 programme. Although Williams completed substantial mileage in Bahrain, team principal James Vowles admitted he would have preferred to have been on track earlier rather than compensating with factory based testing.

With both Spanish drivers facing less than ideal preparations for the season opener in Melbourne, Sainz shared insight into a recent paddock discussion with Alonso.

“I ran into Fernando one day and we spoke for about 20 minutes,” Sainz told Mundo Deportivo. “He’s in a situation a bit similar to mine, not ideal and quite complicated. But he’s also eager to see what his team can bring and how they react.

“In the end, we both depend on how our teams respond to these difficult situations. I wish him all the best and hope Aston Martin and Honda improve on what they showed in Bahrain.”

Despite the setbacks, Alonso remains confident solutions will be found.

“Difficult start, no doubt,” Alonso said in Bahrain. “There are lots of things to fix, but I think everything can be solved in the short and medium term. I don’t see anything impossible to fix.

“We will try to resolve as much as we can before Australia and then continue improving in the first races. I’m optimistic. I believe there is a solution in place.”

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