Sainz Suffers Qualifying Setback Ahead of Austrian GP
Spielberg, Austria — Carlos Sainz’s qualifying session for the Austrian Grand Prix was marred by mechanical issues, forcing him to start from the 19th position on Sunday. The Williams driver reported early in Q1 that his car was "undriveable," citing significant handling problems linked to damage sustained to the floor of his FW47.
"There’s damage in the car, for sure," Sainz stated over team radio. "It’s pulling under braking, no load in high speed. Undriveable." Team analysis confirmed that Sainz had lost vital downforce, affecting performance throughout the session.
Further elaborating on the situation, Sainz pointed out complications with his brake system, which he noted had been problematic since the start of qualifying. "We changed the brakes from FP3 to qualifying, but something must have not been correct. Every time I hit the brakes, it was pulling massively to one side," he explained.
Sainz’s teammate, Alex Albon, managed to advance to Q2, highlighting the potential pace loss for the Spanish driver. "Given where Alex was, I think Q2 was definitely possible," Sainz acknowledged, underscoring the missed opportunity for progress.
As the team prepares for race day, Sainz expressed determination to uncover the root of the car issues, stating, "I am not here to be P19 for sure. We need to start investigating what’s going on." He remains optimistic about his race pace, acknowledging that he is competitive under normal conditions.
The team now faces a critical analysis of their setup as they look to overcome these challenges in the race ahead.
