Carlos Sainz’s promising run at the Bahrain Grand Prix came to a disheartening end following a collision with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, forcing the Williams driver to retire from the race. The incident, which occurred past the halfway mark of the event, left Sainz visibly frustrated as he recounted the chaotic moment that derailed his weekend.
Starting from an impressive P8 on the grid, Sainz showcased strong pace early on, engaging in intense battles with top drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. However, as the race progressed, the Spaniard struggled to maintain position against faster cars, leading to increased tire degradation. By Lap 31, Sainz found himself locked in a heated duel with Tsunoda for sixth place. During a bold move at Turn 1, Tsunoda lost control of his Red Bull, sliding and making contact with Sainz’s Williams FW47. The collision caused significant damage, including a gaping hole in the sidepod, scattering debris across the track and prompting a Safety Car.
“It got a bit hectic at one point with Yuki,” Sainz explained post-race. “He sent a big one down the inside, and exiting Turn 1, I think he lost the rear and touched me. The damage was probably a second or a second and a half per lap, and from there, it was impossible to continue.” Despite initially attempting to nurse the wounded car, Sainz was forced to retire on Lap 47, marking a bitter end to what had been a competitive outing.
Adding to his woes, Sainz had earlier received a 10-second penalty for forcing Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli off the track during a Safety Car restart. Reflecting on the incident, Sainz attributed it to the heat of the moment, noting, “It was just fighting for positions with cold hard tires and no downforce. I locked up, went a bit wide, and got the penalty, but I knew I was retiring anyway.”
While the stewards reviewed the clash with Tsunoda, no further action was taken, a decision that left Sainz disappointed but pragmatic. “He did lose the car fighting with me, and that cost me the race,” Sainz said, acknowledging it as a racing incident. “If I were Yuki, I’d understand why you wouldn’t want a penalty in that situation, but it’s tough when it ends your day.”
Despite the setback, Sainz remained optimistic about his adaptation to the Williams team, highlighting positives from the weekend. “Good quali, good start, decent pace—we’re on the right trajectory,” he noted. “In the midfield, you need everything to be perfect to score points, and we’re getting closer.” Sainz also pointed out the superior pace of Alpine, which dominated the midfield battle, leaving Williams fighting for scraps.
The Bahrain Grand Prix, won convincingly by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, underscored the tight competition in the 2025 season’s midfield. For Sainz, the focus now shifts to the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he aims to capitalize on his strong qualifying form and avoid the misfortune that marred his Bahrain campaign.
“We’ll regroup and come back fighting in Jeddah,” Sainz vowed, determined to turn the page on a frustrating chapter in Sakhir.