Carlos Sainz reveals of operational mistakes in F1 Miami GP, as he notes that he is not frustrated after what transpired with Alexander Albon.
Despite using the used tyres, Williams’ Sainz managed to clear teammate Alexander Albon at the start of F1 Miami GP. The Spaniard didn’t have a new set after an operational mistake which left him in a spot of bother in the opening stint against the Thai and Charles Leclerc.
But Sainz couldn’t keep Albon behind for long. A supposed damage to his floor due to contact with teammate cost him time and the Thai managed to re-pass. Williams wanted to hold position but the message didn’t pass on to Albon on time, which allowed him to overtake.
He didn’t have pace eventually after Albon managed to end up fifth. Sainz was left to fend off both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who passed him after VSC re-start. The Spaniard tried to come back on Hamilton on the final lap, but didn’t make it stick despite a hit.
“First of all, due to some operational mistakes during the weekend, we were forced to start on a used tire from qualifying while everyone around me was on a new, so I knew it was already going to put us in the back foot, losing a couple of tenths per lap in the first [stint] in new versus used,” said Sainz to media. “And from there, obviously, I tried everything to hold on the first stint.
“I picked up damage at the start with Alex. Then he made a mistake. I managed to pass him, then they told us that we were going freeze positions. Then, I don’t know if he got the message or not, but, basically, he overtook me back. From there onwards, on that first stint, I just tried to do everything to stay in contact with that group, holding on Charles behind with a used tire and damaged car.
“I think I was the first one of that pitted, the VSC came out, so it was a free stop for all of them, or kind of a short stop for all of them, versus me, which meant obviously I got pressure from them after the VSC. Had a few nice battles with the Ferraris. But with damage in the car I couldn’t stay close to Sector 1 with all the downforce and I couldn’t get the better of them in the battles.
“But on the hard, the pace was decent, given the damage and how early I pitted. But just too many things going on. Last lap, I obviously went for it as I saw a gap and went for it. I think he reacted a bit to my move, it caught him a bit by surprise and he started moving to the left during braking, which if you apply the rulebook to the letter you cannot do that because that’s moving under braking.
“But last lap, last corner, obviously everyone’s going to be a bit on the limit,” summed up Sainz, who noted that he wasn’t frustrated after Albon’s move. It felt bad certainly. After the race, the Spaniard radioed about feeling undone as a team player, where James Vowles chipped in to state about discussions in debrief on the topic.
In the media pen, Sainz felt little better after understanding what transpired. “No [frustration], for me, it’s only obviously, if I’m told in the radio that I’m not going to be attacked and we’re going to push together, to be overtaken, always, as a driver, you feel stupid, because you feel powerless because you’re playing the good guym,” he said.
“Same way that I played the good guy in Jeddah and you get overtaken and you look completely stupid, but it’s the way it goes. We’ll talk about it. I’m sure we’ll come out of it better as a team, and we will move on,” summed up Sainz, who helped Williams to score good points in Miami.
Here’s Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz making moves: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2025-miami-grand-prix-albon-and-sainz-both-complete-overtaking-moves-on-the-same-lap.1831228547334607671
Here’s Ferrari against Carlos Sainz: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2025-miami-grand-prix-leclerc-overtakes-sainz-as-hamilton-slips-past-too-in-double-ferrari-move.1831229041866080409
Here’s Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2025-miami-grand-prix-hamilton-and-sainz-bang-wheels-in-last-lap-attack-from-the-spaniard-on-the-ferrari.1831231925806633786
Here’s Alexander Albon on Williams’ pace, team orders
Here’s Ferrari on Carlos Sainz
