Williams left Miami with a points finish that looked better than the scoreboard alone, and that’s exactly how we read this kind of weekend. According to Jogo Hoje’s full F1 coverage, the bigger story is how the FW48 is clawing its way back into the pelotão intermediário, even if the ceiling is still beyond reach. Sainz finished 9th, and crucially both cars landed in the points zone.
Williams closes Miami with both cars in the points
Sainz’s read was clear: Miami wasn’t fireworks, it was traction. He praised the progress in the FW48’s overall performance and treated the result as proof that the team’s package is no longer stuck in neutral. In a season where small margins decide everything, getting two cars into the zona de pontos is the kind of weekend that builds momentum inside the midfield battle.
And yes, there’s a tactical layer here. When a team can consistently convert pace into finishing positions, it usually means the car is behaving on both ends of the run: you can defend early and still have enough race pace later to avoid a late slide.
The launch that flipped Sainz’s race
Let’s talk about the largada, because Miami’s first lap did most of the heavy lifting. Sainz said he finally nailed one of the starts he’s been craving, and that matters under the regulamento atual. He described the first lap as chaotic, with cars seemingly intent on turning the opening sequence into a survival test. Williams did survive, and more importantly, Sainz gained positions alongside Williams’s second driver, Alexander Albon.
There’s a reason we keep coming back to launches in this era. A strong start isn’t just about raw traction; it’s how you manage the opening seconds to set the car up for the next phase. In this framework, the engine mapping and the way you transition from launch to first stint become part of the race plan. Sainz basically confirmed that the start was a key weapon with this regulation’s characteristics.
What Sainz means by “still far off”
Here’s the part we shouldn’t soften. Sainz celebrated the points, but the message under the celebration was blunt: the car still isn’t where it should be. He reminded everyone that this is the machine they should have had at the first race, but delays pushed its debut to Miami.
So when he says the positions they want are “still very far,” it reads like a reality check, not a motivational quote. The team can be trending in the right direction while still missing the benchmark. In midfield terms, “far off” means not just a couple of tenths in clean air, but the gap that shows up in three places: grid execution, race pace, and the ability to stay efficient under pressure with the current regulations.
And if we’re being honest, that’s the difference between “scoring when it goes right” and “scoring because we’re simply better.” Miami looks like the first step toward the second.
Comparing the midfield: Alpine, Racing Bulls and Audi
To understand why the warning matters, compare the shape of the midfield. Sainz pointed to how, versus earlier rounds, the competitive map is shifting. Teams like Racing Bulls and Audi showed stronger relative performances at some points earlier in the year, suggesting the balance inside the midfield isn’t static.
Still, he also acknowledged Alpine is holding a slight advantage on pace. That “few tenths” gap is usually the difference between defending for position and actually dictating strategy. When Alpine stays ahead consistently, it means their race pace and their ability to manage the middle of the stint are extracting more from the same rulebook.
That’s why Sainz’s caution is tactical: Williams can be improving without yet being the team that wins the midfield arguments every weekend. And in F1 2026, those arguments are won by who converts performance into points most reliably.
What the progress signals for the Canadian GP
The next stop is the GP of Canada, scheduled between 22 and 24 May. Canada tends to punish poor starting rhythm and rewards teams that can keep the car stable while managing tire and energy demands through longer runs.
If Williams can carry the momentum from Miami, the expectation isn’t “suddenly we’re front-running.” The expectation is more grounded: better conversion of qualifying and start conditions into points. In practical terms, we’ll watch whether the FW48 can repeat its Miami strengths in launch consistency, then maintain a smoother race pace across stints.
Sainz also linked his optimism to the regulation conversation. He said overtaking happens, but under this framework it’s also about what you do with the mapa de motor. That means Williams will likely keep pushing its control strategy, not just chasing hardware gains. If the team can refine how the car uses power delivery while staying efficient, Canada could be a strong test of whether this is a one-off swing or a trend.
O Veredito Jogo Hoje
Miami was a win for Williams’ process, not a free pass for their ambition. Sainz’s 9th place and the double points are solid evidence that the FW48 is moving in the right direction, especially on largada execution and the way the team is getting value from the current regulations. But his “still far off” is the honest verdict: we’re not seeing a midfield team that’s fully in control yet, only one that’s finally putting pieces together. That’s promising, yes. But in this pelotão intermediário, hope is cheap—conversion is everything, and Canada will tell us whether Williams has started to earn points for real.
Perguntas Frequentes
What did Sainz think of Williams’ performance in Miami?
He was pleased with the result because it matched the team’s progress: 9th place for Sainz and both cars in the zona de pontos, with a standout emphasis on the largada and the ability to survive an intense first lap.
Why did Sainz say the team is still far from the ideal?
Because the car they needed for the season debut arrived late, meaning Williams is still catching up on the full development cycle. He also sees a gap to the performance level they want, with Alpine still showing a slight edge in the midfield.
Did Williams really improve compared to earlier rounds?
Yes. Sainz highlighted clearer gains in the FW48’s performance and praised how the team’s strategy, start execution, and the way the engine mapping is used are translating into results—Miami being the clearest proof with a double points finish.
