Carlos Sainz engineered a crucial victory for Williams at the Chinese Grand Prix, securing ninth place and the team's first points of the 2026 season. Facing a heavier car than rivals, Sainz exploited a loophole in the new Overtake mode system to defend against Franco Colapinto's Alpine. With just laps remaining, Sainz used the mode defensively, lifting off the throttle on the exit of Turn 14 to trigger the system and gain an energy advantage.

This allowed him to fend off Colapinto despite the Williams car's significant weight disadvantage, a key factor in the team's struggles all season. The result provides vital momentum, though Sainz acknowledges the car remains uncompetitive against the midfield. 'It’s still a P9; it’s not what I want,' Sainz stated, emphasizing the result's importance for team morale.