Carlos Sainz produced another excellent qualifying showing at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday. The Williams driver qualified sixth for the third race in succession.
Sainz remarkably set the pace in Q2 in a memorable moment for a high-flying Williams team. He was just over two-tenths slower in Q3, but it only cost him one place behind compatriot Fernando Alonso.
Williams were already a surprise package in Miami last time out. Alex Albon was fifth in Miami, ahead of the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and the two Ferrari cars.
Sainz also put pressure on the two Ferraris in Florida, and he comfortably outpaced them on their home turf. It was a disastrous day for Fred Vasseur’s team as they suffered a double Q2 exit.
The Scuderia let Sainz go when the opportunity to sign Lewis Hamilton arose. The Spaniard hasn’t shown any sign of bitterness, but may feel privately satisfied.
Natalie Pinkham thought Carlos Sainz was smiling after Ferrari’s double Q2 exit at Imola
Sainz spoke to Sky Sports after Imola qualifying and was asked about his old team at the end of the interview. Natalie Pinkham thought she saw him smiling when she brought up the topic.
The 30-year-old insists his only focus is Williams, who are trying to maximise the early period of the season. James Vowles has already suspended 2025 development to focus on the upcoming regulation changes.
Still, Sainz did admit that the relative form of the two teams had taken him totally by surprise. He says it reflects brilliantly on a Williams team that finished second from bottom in the constructors’ last year.
“Are you surprised that your old team weren’t more competitive?” Pinkham asked. “Try not to smile too much!”
Sainz replied: “No, no. Honestly, I try not to look too much at what’s going on at the other teams. We try and focus on ourselves.
“At the same time, if you would have told me a year ago that in Imola, my sixth race, I would be P1 in Q2 and Ferrari would about in Q2, I wouldn’t have believed it.
“It must mean that we’re doing things right as a team, that we’re doing really good evolution and we’re doing everything really well, step-by-step.”
Carlos Sainz has told Williams to make Ferrari-inspired changes, and it’s paying off
After qualifying in Miami, Sainz was told that he’d made an ‘upgrade’ over the winter. That was only semi-serious at the time, but Williams look legitimately quicker than Ferrari at the moment.
It’s unlikely to last, but their success so far this year will generate huge long-term excitement. Sainz’s goal is to end Williams’ victory drought, which stretches back to 2012.
Just as Vowles hoped, Sainz has brought his Ferrari wisdom to Williams. After driving three race-winning cars, he’s identified where the FW47 is lacking.
His feedback is already energising the team, and Albon is raising his game too. The Thai driver initially had the edge, but now Sainz is fighting back.
