Williams driver Carlos Sainz will miss Thursday\u2019s media day activities at the Brazilian Grand Prix through illness, the team has confirmed.<\/p>\n
Sainz has made an impressive impact in his first season with Williams in F1 2025 with the team currently on course for its highest finish in the constructors\u2019 championship since 2017.<\/p>\n
Williams driver Carlos Sainz to miss Brazilian GP media day through illness<\/p>\n
Williams holds fifth place in the teams\u2019 standings ahead of the final four races with a 39-point lead over sixth-placed Racing Bulls.<\/p>\n
Sainz collected the Grove-based outfit\u2019s first podium since 2021 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September, where he finished third.<\/p>\n
The former Ferrari driver equalled the result weeks later in the sprint race at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n
In a short statement issued to PlanetF1.com, Williams confirmed that Sainz will miss Thursday\u2019s media day at Interlagos through illness.<\/p>\n
The team said: \u201cUnfortunately Carlos is unwell and will not be coming to track today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlos Sainz vs Alex Albon: Williams head-to-head scores for F1 2025<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head race statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n Sainz holds 11th place in the drivers\u2019 standings entering the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, trailing teammate Alex Albon by three places and 35 points.<\/p>\n As reported by PlanetF1.com on Wednesday<\/a>, Williams will race with a special Gulf Oil livery in Sao Paulo this weekend, with the colour scheme partly influenced by fans.<\/p>\n Followers of Williams were asked to submit words that best capture the spirit of the team as well as Gulf Oil with terms such as \u2018legacy\u2019, \u2018passion\u2019 and \u2018teamwork\u2019 among the most popular.<\/p>\n These words are emblazoned on Williams\u2019 one-off livery for Brazil, which carries the signature blue-and-orange colours of Gulf.<\/p>\n Williams previously ran a special Gulf livery at a select number of races \u2013 Singapore, Japan and Qatar \u2013 in 2023, the first season of the partnership between the two brands.<\/p>\n More on Carlos Sainz and Williams from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Carlos Sainz news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Williams news<\/a><\/p>\n The team\u2019s special colour scheme for the Brazilian Grand Prix was launched after Williams announced that it will undergo a rebrand<\/a> ahead of the F1 2026 season to mark its 50th anniversary.<\/p>\n The team will alter its official name to \u2018Atlassian Williams F1 Team\u2019 for next season, having competed under the banner of \u2018Atlassian Williams Racing\u2019 in 2025.<\/p>\n Williams will also reintroduce its original \u2018Forward W\u2019 logo, used up until the team entered a technical partnership with BMW at the turn of the century for F1 2026.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n