Carlos Sainz impressed under the lights in Jeddah, securing sixth as Williams continues its sharp climb in the 2025 F1 midfield battle.
Carlos Sainz delivered one of the standout performances in qualifying at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, securing a strong P6 for Williams F1. The Spanish driver finds himself in the mix with the front-runners and is eyeing a solid points finish in Jeddah—though he remains cautious about how aggressively to push.
“I’m happy with the progress we’re making,” said Sainz. “We really got everything out of the car today. Considering this is only my fifth race with the team, we’re improving each weekend. I’m adapting, finding the rhythm, and today we were ahead of a Ferrari and a Red Bull—that says a lot.”
Sainz admits strategy will be crucial, especially given the tire degradation on this high-speed street circuit.
“Last time in Bahrain, it was tough to overtake, and that cost us. Tomorrow I’ll have to decide—do we go all out and fight everyone, or do we play it smart and take the points? Right now, it’s 50/50. I want to put on a show, but we also need to be realistic and see what the race pace tells us.”
On the other side of the Williams garage, Alex Albon just missed out on Q3 by seven hundredths of a second—frustrated, but convinced the car had more to give.
“Yeah, we definitely had the pace,” said Albon. “We went out at the wrong time—no traffic, but also no tow. Everyone else timed it better and we paid the price.”
Looking ahead to the race, Albon sees opportunities, even if tire wear remains a concern.
“It’s a track where you can overtake, and that means tire management will be a big factor. Friday didn’t look great for us in that area, but let’s see what happens.”
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Sainz Stuns with P6 in Jeddah as Williams Gains Ground Sainz Stuns with P6 in Jeddah as Williams Gains Ground