F1 star absent from Brazilian Grand Prix duties as team release statement

Carlos Sainz was absent from the Brazilian Grand Prix paddock on Thursday after contracting an illness. Williams released a statement confirming that their driver was forced to cancel his mandatory media commitments at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.

"Unfortunately, Carlos is unwell and will not be coming to track today, so all mandatory media slots will be cancelled," the team statement issued to the media explained. No specifics were given relating to the nature of Sainz's illness, and it remains to be seen whether the Spaniard will be fit in time to complete Friday's on-track duties.

Should the four-time Grand Prix winner not be ruled fit to race in Interlagos, team principal James Vowles could turn to Mercedes' third driver, Valtteri Bottas, or Williams development driver Luke Browning, who has already made two FP1 appearances this season.

Williams have a bit of breathing room in the Constructors' Championship standings heading into the final four rounds of the campaign. After Sainz scored a podium in Baku and another top-three finish in the United States Grand Prix sprint race, the Grove-based squad are now 39 points ahead of sixth-placed Racing Bulls in the standings.

Nevertheless, Sainz's illness is an unwanted development for Williams, who have celebrated plenty of exciting news this week. The British constructor will be running a special livery for the Brazilian GP in collaboration with Gulf Oil.

In other news, Williams announced a team name change for the 2026 season and an exciting new logo, which features the 'Forward W' design championed by legendary founder, Sir Frank Williams. Moving forward, the squad will be known as 'Atlassian Williams F1 Team'.

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"I am proud that from next year we will be known as Atlassian Williams F1 Team and carry a logo on our car inspired by our founder Sir Frank Williams and deeply connected with our decades of success," team principal Vowles said on Monday.

"As a team, we are inspired by our past but excited about our future, and committed to writing a new Championship-winning chapter in Williams' history.

"This evolved team identity reflects who we are, where we are going, and reintroduces our title-winning legacy to a growing F1 audience that was not following the sport when we were last dominant."