Carlos Sainz claims ‘impressive’ rival can’t show his true pace at Bahrain Grand Prix due to engine deficit

Carlos Sainz enjoyed his best qualifying as a Williams driver at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday. Sainz lines up eighth on the grid in an encouraging step forward.

The Spaniard made Q3 on his Williams debut in Australia but has started the last two races in 15th (albeit because of a three-place grid penalty in Japan). Teammate Alex Albon had maintained a 100% top-10 record, paving the way for points at each weekend.

But Sainz outqualified Albon for the first time here at the fourth attempt. The Thai driver was hard done by because the Nico Hulkenberg lap that dumped him out in Q1 was later invalidated for track limits.

That means Albon should have a chance to compete in Q2. James Vowles will surely be furious, but Sainz did at least ease the pain in the sister car.

To make it even sweeter for the Spaniard, he outpaced Lewis Hamilton – the man who replaced him at Ferrari. Some Red Bull figures wanted to sign Sainz, and they may be wishing as they did as he lapped eight-tenths faster than Yuki Tsunoda in P10.

Carlos Sainz gives kudos to Pierre Gasly for Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying heroics

Even though he beat a Ferrari and a Red Bull, Sainz wasn’t the highest-ranking midfield driver in qualifying. That honour went instead to Pierre Gasly.

Gasly was a sensational fifth for an Alpine team who haven’t scored a point all season. They hadn’t even reached Q3 since the season opener in Bahrain.

But speaking to Sky Sports, Sainz revealed that, according to the GPS data, the Alpine was as good as the pace-setting McLaren through the faster corners.

On that basis, Sainz reckons that Gasly could have joined Piastri on the front row if he too had a Mercedes engine. Alpine’s deficit with their Renault power unit is thought to be around three-tenths, and the gap to the polesitter was 0.375s.

“What is clear for me is that Alpine in the corners is impressive,” he said. “I don’t know if you guys have access to GPS data but they’re managing to go as quick as the McLaren through turn six and 11, so all this medium/high-speed.

“It’s very, very impressive what they’re able to do, this quali lap from Pierre. They complain they have three-tenths of engine [deficit], so if you put them on a Merc engine or a Ferrari engine, you have a car that is on the front row.”

Pierre Gasly’s masterplan may finally be about to pay off

Gasly fought to escape his Red Bull contract in 2022, three years after he was demoted back to the sister team. It was clear that he wasn’t going to get another shot alongside Max Verstappen.

Alpine haven’t necessarily performed like a works team in his first two years. He’s picked up a couple of podiums, but they haven’t been able to consistently compete with the frontrunners.

However, Gasly’s masterplan may finally come to fruition next year. Sainz says he needs a Mercedes engine – and that’s exactly what he’ll get.

Flavio Briatore’s power unit gamble looks smart based on Alpine’s struggles for straight-line speed. If Mercedes can once again master the regulation changes, it could transform Gasly’s career prospects.