Report: Carlos takes P9 in Canada

Another points finish for Atlassian Williams Formula 1 Team in a day of split fortunes

Published

24 MAY 2026

Est. reading time

3 min

Carlos Sainz took a third P9 finish in four races to continue picking up points for Atlassian Williams Formula 1 Team in the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix.

For Alex Albon, however, his low-mileage weekend ended early after being crashed into early in the race, resulting in heavy damage to his FW48.

It wasn’t to be a wet race, as the weather forecast suggested, with the rain instead falling ahead of lights out.

Cool temperatures, however, did affect the grip of the track, with tyre temperatures being of primary concern.

Carlos was among seven drivers opting to begin the race on Pirelli’s intermediate tyre, while Alex began on the red-ringed Soft.

A starting issue for Arvid Lindblad gifted a position to both our drivers, but the slow recovery of the Racing Bulls car resulted in a delayed start after two extra formation laps.

Although the inters provided grip in the early metres, the slicks proved the right call once they picked up some heat, and Carlos was soon into the pit lane to switch for used Mediums.

The opening laps saw both cars fall back a little, but a pass on Valtteri Bottas for Alex and the pit stops shuffled the order plenty by the time the tyre changes were complete.

Alex had jumped up to P13 from his P18 start, and that soon morphed to P12 after passing Esteban Ocon into the final chicane.

Fernando Alonso was the next to fall to Alex’s speed, although the position didn’t change for Albono as a recovering Lando Norris got by after the reigning champion made an early stop.

That, however, would be as high as Alex would reach. The second McLaren, also carving through the field after starting on the intermediate tyres, couldn’t stop at the hairpin.

Heavy damage to Alex’s car had him out of the race and left Carlos as the sole remaining Williams.

Carlos had made moves since stopping, overtaking Lance Stroll and getting by Nico Hulkenberg, who ran deep at the hairpin.

Back-and-forth racing with Fernando Alonso ended up in Carlos’ favour, and more positions came as Alex retired and both McLarens took another pit stop.

Now sitting in P11, Carlos had Ollie Bearman as the car ahead, with the Haas driver having similar pace to our Spaniard.

A retirement for George Russell triggered the first of three VSC periods, and the team used the slowdown to bring in Carlos for a second set of Mediums.

That proved the right call, and Carlos emerged in P10 on pit exit, having passed a slow-stopping Bearman in the pit lane, but falling behind Norris, who stayed out.

The final half of the race was a much simpler affair, with Carlos maintaining the gap to Bearman behind.

Norris’ retirement with a mechanical issue allowed Carlos to advance to P9, and, although he had a wide moment on the penultimate lap, our No. 55 collected two more points for his 2026 tally.

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