Sainz: We had better pace than expected, but are still far from rivals

Carlos Sainz was forced to retire from the Austrian Grand Prix, the eighth round of the Formula One season, citing an electrical problem that stopped his Williams car. Despite the disappointing outcome, the Spanish driver acknowledged that the team's pace was better than anticipated during the race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

"We had better pace than expected, better than in practice, but in the end, we are still quite far from our rivals," Sainz stated. The 31-year-old driver, who has four wins and 29 podiums in his Formula One career, felt positive about the car's improved drivability after implementing a couple of changes. He noted that they were competing with cars they hadn't expected to challenge, which was a positive sign.

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We had better pace than expected, better than in practice, but in the end, we are still quite far from our rivals.

However, an electrical issue ultimately ended his race. "Clearly, we are not where we want to be in terms of performance," Sainz admitted. He expressed optimism about the team's prospects, mentioning that a small upgrade is planned for the upcoming race at Silverstone.

Sainz hopes this technical improvement will help Williams achieve a more competitive position. The driver, son of the two-time Spanish rally world champion and four-time Dakar Rally winner of the same name, is in his second season with Williams. He is looking to bounce back and improve the team's standing in the championship.

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Clearly, we are not where we want to be in terms of performance, but we will bring a small evolution in Silverstone that we hope will put us back in a much more competitive position than we are now.