Carlos Sainz believes he can convert his shock front-row start into what would be his first podium result for Williams after making the most of a chaotic qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Sainz will line up second alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen after acing his first flying lap of Q3 before red flags for crashes for Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri interrupted the session.
By the time Q3 resumed, conditions had cooled and light rain was sprinkling the circuit. Only Verstappen was able to get within 0.1s of the Spaniard’s banker lap, securing Sainz a spot on the front row.
It’s Williams’s first front-row start since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which George Russell turned into a second-place finish, albeit without any racing laps being completed.
That result remains Williams’s most recent podium. Before that, the team’s previous such trophy was claimed by Lance Stroll at the 2017 Azerbaijan GP.
Asked what his aim for the race would be, Sainz responded: “Try to stick it on the podium. I’m going to give it my best to give Williams a first podium.”
Later he added: “We’ll try and keep it consistent, see the pace of the car versus every one of the leaders that will try and come through. If you look at our long runs yesterday, we were actually pretty quick, so I’m hopeful that we can go for it tomorrow.”
A podium-size haul of points would go some way towards shrinking the gap between him and teammate Alex Albon, who has led Williams for most of the season. The Thai driver, who crashed out of Q1 in Baku and will start 19th, is seventh on the title table with 70 points, 11 places and 54 points ahead of Sainz.
While less has separated the teammates in qualifying, this is comfortably Sainz’s best Saturday result for Williams, his previous high-water mark having been a trio of sixths between Jeddah and Imola. The Spaniard’s last front-row start was for Ferrari at last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“Unfortunately, this year has just been one of those years where nothing comes together when it comes to Sundays and results,” he said, defending his results. “But today just proves that my speed is there – that whenever I put good laps together and nothing happens to us, I’m quick.
“Today in quali I felt good, and most importantly, we kept the car consistent through the weekend. Whenever there was a chance to put a lap together – which there were not many; I think I did in total three or four laps today in quali given the red flags – the lap was good.
“I have the speed, and as long as that is there, I don’t worry. Just having a bit of bad luck or too many racing incidents recently and not being able to get all the points that we deserve as a team is tough. But if the speed is there and we’re working well on next year’s car, it doesn’t worry me.”
