Carlos Sainz suggests radical F1 shakeup separating drivers and teams over course of the season

The Spaniard said he is enjoying one of his "strongest seasons" in terms of the quality of his driving after the Barcelona Grand Prix, despite only scoring six points for his struggling Williams team so far during the 2026 campaign.

Sainz has envisioned a 20-race calendar where no driver stays with a team for more than two races, removing machinery advantages and ensure the title is decided purely on driver performance.

Speaking to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Sainz was questioned about his radical idea which would see drivers race for each team on the grid at some stage during the season.

Sainz also acknowledged that such a radical restructuring of Formula 1 is highly unlikely to ever be implemented, given the sport’s deep-rooted team identities and commercial framework. It would also take some convincing to get the teams driving in the best cars, to race for teams at the back of the field.

His comments come after he previously said that his Ferrari successor Lewis Hamilton, is enjoying a revival in 2026 due to the regulations coming in at a perfect time for the seven-time world champion.

Speaking to Marca after Hamilton's Barcelona GP victory, Sainz said: "You go to a team with a car you don't like and spend three years there without adapting, or without the car adapting to you. You end up looking one-dimensional. Then you go to a team with a car that suits your style and you look like a god. It's a much more complicated sport than people think, and Lewis has credit for turning things around. The change in regulations was his luck. If he was still driving last year's car, we wouldn't be seeing this version of Hamilton."