Saturday on the Baku Metropolis Circuit noticed a brand new Components 1 document, as six purple flags flew through the qualifying hour in a frenetic session. When the mud settled, a stunning trio completed up entrance, as Max Verstappen took pole place forward of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Liam Lawson.
That efficiency has Sainz in placing distance of his first podium along with his new workforce, Williams.
After the qualifying hour, Sainz outlined how Williams “nailed” the session.
“Actually, we nailed the qualifying right now,” stated Sainz trackside to Jamie Chadwick. “Each time being on the best tyre on the proper time and placing collectively some very sturdy laps. Clearly, the second {that a} prime automobile was going to place that lap collectively, we had been at all times going to be these 4 or 5 tenths behind like we at all times are, but it surely was solely considered one of them, which was Max — not shocked. And for the remaining, we managed to beat them. And, yeah, we had been in P2, which is nice information.”
For a second, Sainz and Williams had been dreaming of pole place, because the Spanish driver was on provisional pole after early runs in Q3. With below 4 minutes left within the closing section of qualifying — and a few rain within the air — there was a second the place it regarded like Sainz would possibly truly put his FW47 into P1.
Finally, he needed to accept a front-row begin alongside Verstappen.
“I imply, we all know that if a McLaren or a Purple Bull places a lap collectively, that’s three to 5 tenths on common. And likewise if the observe circumstances had been ok — which was the massive unknown — I knew my lap was not going to be ok,” famous Sainz. “I believe our simulation stated on the time perhaps solely Max and Lando might beat us. So I used to be occupied with a P3. In the long run, it was solely Max… It needed to be Max! However, typically, I believed as quickly as I began my lap on the finish, I used to be truly coming very fast. I used to be like three or 4 tenths up on my lap. And in a method, I used to be pondering, nice, as a result of this would possibly even verify or obtain pole, however then I used to be pondering the leaders are going to be even faster, no? And that’s precisely what occurred.”
As for what to anticipate tomorrow, Sainz believes his first podium might be on provide within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
”It hasn’t been the smoothest weekend for me. I’ve been combating the sensation on the brakes. With this automobile, we’re having some brake points in some demanding tracks like Canada and right here. However right now in quali, I felt good. And most significantly, we stored the automobile constant via the weekend, and I believe that allowed me to… Every time there was an opportunity to place a lap collectively — which there weren’t many, I believe I did in whole three or 4 laps right now in quali given the purple flags — the lap was good.
“So, tomorrow from P2, we’ll attempt to preserve it constant, see the tempo of the automobile versus each one of many leaders that can attempt to come via,” added Sainz. “However for those who have a look at our lengthy runs yesterday, we had been truly fairly fast. So I’m hopeful that we are able to go for it tomorrow.”
