Carlos Sainz Sets Stage for Australia GP with Impressive Qualifying Performance
With the Australian Grand Prix approaching, Carlos Sainz marked his debut Qualifying with Williams by securing tenth place on the starting grid, highlighting the team's significant progress.
On Saturday, March 15, 2025, during Free Practice 3, Sainz achieved sixth place with a time of 1:16.252 after completing 23 laps. This performance set the tone for the day's main event, the Qualifying session, where he aimed to make his mark as part of his new team.
During the Qualifying, Sainz demonstrated his potential by reaching Q3 for the first time as a Williams driver. It was noteworthy, as this represented the first occasion in ten years for Williams to see both of its cars qualifying for the final round of the Melbourne session.
Reflecting on his progress, Sainz stated, "First of all, I’m very happy for the entire team, for Alex and for myself. It’s my first Qualifying with Williams and we have achieved our main objective of getting to Q3 with both cars. The hard work everyone has done during the winter has paid off with a great step forward, and I’m proud of the team."
Sainz's timeline through the session was strategic; he recorded the thirteenth fastest time of Q1 at 1:16.360 and showed improvement by hitting seventh place with 1:15.931 during Q2. Despite this upward trend, his Q3 time of 1:16.062 did not improve upon his Q2 performance, indicating there might be more speed to tap, especially with the Soft tyre, which he felt he had not fully utilized.
Addressing his experience in the Qualifying, he remarked, "On my side, I had a bit of a scrappy Qualifying, to be honest. I’m not concerned, though. There are many things I still need to understand from this car, and I’m sure I’ll have faster laps soon!" This insight sheds light on the learning curve he faces as he adapts to the Williams setup.
Looking to the next day’s race, which is set for Sunday, March 16, 2025, starting at 15:00 local time (05:00 CET), Sainz expressed excitement but acknowledged the challenges posed by potential rain. "Tomorrow, under the rain, I will also have to adapt quickly, but I’m excited about the race. We will try to maximize every opportunity. This is only the beginning!"
The Australian Grand Prix promises to be thrilling as Sainz and his team equipped with renewed optimism, navigate the twists and turns of Albert Park, riding on the momentum built from their Qualifying success.