Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Report: Sainz Secures Front Row for Williams
In a dramatic qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz achieved a surprising second-place start, marking Williams’ first front-row appearance since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. Sainz’s performance positioned him alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen after a chaotic Q3 was disrupted by red flags due to crashes involving Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
Sainz set a competitive lap early in Q3, and despite light rain and dropping temperatures during the final runs, only Verstappen managed to come within 0.1 seconds of his best time. This performance not only underscores Sainz’s speed but also represents a critical moment for Williams, as their last podium came from George Russell in a non-racing scenario in Belgium 2021.
Reflecting on his goals for the race, Sainz stated, “Try to stick it on the podium. I’m going to give it my best to give Williams a first podium.” He noted the potential for a strong race pace, based on the performance of the car during practice sessions, declaring, “I’m hopeful that we can go for it tomorrow.”
Sainz’s success contrasts with his teammate Alex Albon, who, after crashing out in Q1, will start from 19th position. Albon currently sits seventh in the championship with 70 points, significantly ahead of Sainz, who is 11 places and 54 points behind.
This Saturday’s result is the best for Sainz in the current season, exceeding his previous high of three sixth-place finishes. The Spanish driver emphasized his confidence, stating, “Whenever I put good laps together… I’m quick. Today in quali I felt good, and we kept the car consistent through the weekend.”
Sainz’s determination juxtaposes the struggles of the current season, where luck and incidents have hindered their results. He remained optimistic about future performance, particularly regarding next year’s car, asserting, “If the speed is there… it doesn’t worry me.”
As the race approaches, all eyes will be on Sainz as he seeks to clinch a vital podium finish for Williams, a team eager to return to competitive form.
