Carlos Sainz is targeting a maiden Williams podium in the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after putting his FW47 on the front row of the grid.
It is the first time that the Spaniard has sat at the head of an F1 grid since last year’s Las Vegas GP, amid a difficult debut season with the Grove-based squad.
Currently, he sits 18th in the championship with just 16 points to his name, a far cry from his team-mate Alex Albon, who sits seventh with 70 points.
But Sainz has a real chance to finally see some reward for the hard work he has put in, a chance heightened after benefitting from a topsy-turvy qualifying in Baku.
An early banker lap saw him top Q3 after two red flags, and despite Max Verstappen stealing pole at the end, Sainz was able to hold on to front row slot.
When asked in the post-qualifying parc ferme interview, Sainz, when asked what his plans for the race were, was clear.
“Try to stick it on the podium,” he said. “I think I’m going to give it my best to give Williams a first podium. If it’s possible, great. And if it’s not, we will see.”
“Actually, the transition has been super smooth, and I’m very happy with everything that has been going on behind the scenes with Williams. First of all, the way I adapted to the car and I was quick straight away from the beginning of the year.
“Everything that we’re doing behind the scenes to work on next year’s car, which is our biggest project and our biggest motivation for all as a team.
“Unfortunately, a year has just been one of those years where nothing comes together when it comes to Sundays and results.”
Sainz knew Williams was quick enough for high grid position
For Sainz, a front row start for Baku comes not as a surprise, but rather as proof of the pace knows he has.
“But again, today just proves that my speed is there,” he said. “That whenever I put good laps together and nothing happens to us, I’m quick. I have the speed.
“As long as that is there, I don’t worry because 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 in next year’s car. It doesn’t worry me.”
Sainz was happy with the front row start and said that he would have been happy with third, via data given before Q3.
“I knew my lap was good, but probably not good enough for pole,” he said. “I mean, we know that if a McLaren or a Red Bull puts a lap together, that’s three to five tenths on average.
“So if the track conditions were good enough, which that was the big unknown, I knew my lap was not going to be good enough.
“I think our simulation said at the time, maybe only Max and Lando could beat us. So I was thinking about a P3.
“In the end, it was only Max. It had to be Max! But in general, I thought as soon as I started my lap at the end, I was actually coming very quick.
“I was like three or four tenths up on my lap. And on one way, I was thinking, great, because this might even confirm or achieve pole.
“But then I was thinking, then the leaders are going to be even quicker. And that’s exactly what happened.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen snatches dramatic F1 Azerbaijan GP pole as McLarens crash
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