Carlos Sainz believes that he can convert his shock from the first row into what his first stage result for Williams would be after the maximum of a chaotic qualification session in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Sainz is in second place next to Pole-Sitter Max Verstappen after collecting his first flying round of Q3 before red flags for Crashes for Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri interrupted the session.
By the time the Q3 was resumed, the circumstances had cooled and light rain had sprinkled the circuit. Only Verstappen was able to get from the Banker round of the Spaniard within 0.1s, so that Sainz secured a place on the front row.
It is the first start of Williams since the Belgian Grand Prix from 2021, which changed George Russell in second place, albeit without racing rounds being completed.
That result remains the most recent stage from Williams. Before that, the earlier such trophy of the team was claimed by Lance Stroll during the Azerbaijan GP 2017.
Asked what his goal would be for the race, Sainz replied: “Try to keep it on stage. I’m going to give it my best to give Williams a first stage.”
Later he added: “We will try to keep it consistent, see the pace of the car versus all the leaders who will try to get through. If you look at our long runs yesterday, we were actually pretty fast, so I hope we can go for it tomorrow.”
A Podium-Point-Points would be aware of somewhat to reduce the gap between him and teammate Alex Albon, who led Williams for most of the season. The Thai driver, who started from Q1 in Baku and starts in 19th place, is seventh on the title table with 70 points, 11 places and 54 points for Sainz.
Although fewer the teammates have separated in qualifying, this is comfortable Sainz’s best Saturday result for Williams, his previous flood marking has been a sixth trio between Jeddah and Imola. The last start of the Spaniard was for Ferrari for Las Vegas Grand Prix from Las Vegas.
“Unfortunately this year has just been one of those years in which nothing comes together when it comes to Sunday and results,” he said, he defended his results. “But today just proves that my speed is there – that when I put together good rounds and nothing happens to us, I am fast.
“Today in Quali I felt good, and above all, we kept the car consistent during the weekend. When there was a chance to put together a round – what was not many; I think I did a total of three or four laps in Quali today, given the red flags – the round was good.
“I have the speed, and as long as there is, I am not worried. I recently have a bit of bad luck or too many racing incidents and are unable to get all the points that we earn as a team is difficult. But if the speed is there and we work well on the car of the following year, it doesn’t worry me.”
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