Carlos Sainz says third place on the Qatar Grand Prix was his proudest day for Williams, marking his second podium in his debut season with the group.
Sainz’s end within the penultimate rounds cemented Williams fifth place within the constructors’ championship because the Spaniard continued his late comeback. The Spaniard has scored 48 of the 64 factors within the final seven races, beginning with a podium in Azerbaijan and likewise ending on the rostrum in Qatar.
“Baku was a little bit of a aid as a result of we have had 10 very troublesome races,” Sainz stated. “I used to be very quick within the first few races, however one thing at all times occurs to me and the outcomes do not observe. It is a type of seasons.
“I believe there are at all times years in a System 1 driver’s profession the place issues do not go proper for no matter motive. It does not matter if it is luck or one thing that occurs at a race or no matter, it simply by no means goes proper.
“However I used to be relieved for Baku. As quickly as I had the possibility to struggle for a podium, I took it and gave the group the rostrum that I felt it wanted and deserved. Right here it is a mixture of laborious work and understanding.”
“I am very happy with the group, as a result of we too have been struggling slightly bit earlier within the yr with race execution, group calls, qualifying execution. Everybody did an ideal job this weekend. Additionally, the pit stops have been good. Everybody was good and it was precisely what all of us wanted.”
“I believe it is my proudest day at Williams. Happiest? Perhaps Baku, as a result of I used to be actually pleased to get our first podium with the group. With a way of aid…this…I believe I am actually happy with everybody. I am simply very happy with myself, however primarily happy with the entire group for getting by this weekend. I am extra proud than pleased, and clearly pleased too.”
Sainz stated his delight stemmed from how uncompetitive he anticipated Williams to be and the way the group turned issues round at related circuits.
“I am very pleased. The entire group is happy with what we did right this moment, as a result of we went into this weekend considering it was going to be essentially the most troublesome weekend of the yr and unexpectedly we have been on the rostrum,” he stated.
“We obtained the race tempo very well. I used to be very quick, quite a bit quicker than I anticipated. We executed the technique effectively. We did the tire administration effectively, we obtained the beginning effectively, we defended and managed all the pieces effectively and it gave us an surprising podium. I could not be extra proud.”
“That is why all the pieces went effectively right this moment. We had a troublesome interval within the first half of the season when issues did not go our approach, however we have improved in so many areas over the previous yr. We had some possibilities right this moment, however we grabbed all of them by working an ideal race. To be trustworthy, we weren’t anticipating this podium in any respect so I am overjoyed.”
