In a stunning turnaround that showcases the power of preparation and teamwork, Carlos Sainz delivered a masterclass in performance at the F1 Qatar GP, claiming his second podium of the season in third place, for Williams Racing. What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is not merely the result itself, but the journey that led him there and the profound sense of pride that accompanies it.
Defying expectations
Sainz had warned ahead, that the F1 Qatar GP would likely prove to be one of the most difficult outings of his season. Yet, he defied those predictions with a powerful display, and when asked how he managed the turnaround, he pointed to the team’s preparation and hard work.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I think it’s obviously partly due to—or mainly due to—the hard work I think everyone’s done trying to prepare this race after the very difficult weekend we had in Budapest, which is kind of, sort of, this long, medium-speed combined corners that we always seem to be very, very weak.
“We put together a plan with the team to try some different things in the simulator and in the factory to try and switch on the car for these kinds of track. And to be honest, right from the get-go in practice, the car was a lot better than expected, a lot more competitive.”
The transformation was immediate. From the opening practice session, Sainz found himself competitive at the front of the grid, a stark contrast to the concerns that had preceded the weekend.
Building momentum
As the F1 Qatar GP weekend progressed, Sainz and his team continued to refine their approach. The improvements that had begun in the simulator translated perfectly onto track, setting the stage for a strong performance when the race began. When asked about how Qatar felt compared to Hungary, he said, “Very different. Very, very different.
“I had a few ideas for the team to try and simulate, or the team came up with some other ideas and together we put together, I think, a car that honestly since the first lap was a lot better than what we thought. Already in the simulator it felt OK, but you never really trust the simulator fully.
“You say, no, it cannot be this good. And suddenly from the first lap of FP1, I think I was trading P1s, P2s, and P3s with these guys, and I was like, yeah, this might be working. And then we did some good progress through the weekend.
“Then we executed a really good race, with a good start from P7 to P5, great pit stops, great strategy, great management of the gaps, and the tyre management that we have to do with cars that are a bit quicker than us around us, you know, they’re forcing us to push on that front left tyre, which here is never easy. We managed that really well, and that brought us the P3.”
The value of patience and process
One might wonder why such significant setup changes had not been implemented earlier in the season. Sainz’s response revealed the reality of working at a new team, and the time required to unlock a car’s true potential.
“But it’s not possible because in order to make them, you need to know the car, and you need to try multiple things—trial and error. You need to get it wrong many weekends to know that this doesn’t work, to then try the other direction that might work. And the other direction sometimes doesn’t work either. And you need to try a completely different thing and you make another mistake.
“So, I always say the same thing: it takes time. When you switch teams, it really, really takes time – and races. There is no testing. So, you need to try things on a race weekend and you need your first 10-15 races to understand these kinds of things—your simulator sessions to try things. And you need the team to be brave.
“You need also people to be bold and come up with ideas. And in the end, it always pays off. There are no secrets in this sport. I think hard work and good understanding, good conclusions always pay off. And to be honest, the second half of the year, we are performing at a very high level.”
Pride over happiness
When asked whether the F1 Qatar GP felt sweeter than his maiden Williams podium at Baku, Sainz made a careful distinction between the two achievements.
“It feels different. Baku was a bit of a relief because I’d had such a difficult 10 races. I was very quick in the first few races, but always things happening to me. No results coming my way. One of those seasons. I think in the career of an F1 driver, you always have years where, for some reason, things don’t come your way.
“Doesn’t matter if it’s luck, racing incidents, whatever. It just never comes together. But Baku was a relief—as soon as I got a chance to fight for a podium, I took it, and I gave the team the podium that I felt we needed and we deserved. And here, it’s more a combination of hard work and understanding.
“I’m extremely proud of the team because we’ve also struggled a bit at the beginning of the year with race execution, team calls, quali execution. And this weekend, everyone’s done a perfect job. Also, the pit stops were perfect. Everyone was perfect, and it’s exactly what we all needed.”
Proudest day at Williams
When asked directly whether the F1 Qatar GP Race represented his proudest day at Williams or if Baku remained the happier occasion, Sainz was emphatic. “I think it’s my proudest day in Williams,” he admitted. “Happiest? Maybe Baku because I was just so happy to get my first podium for the team.
“And together with that relief that I was talking about before. This is just… I think I feel really proud of everyone. Just very proud of myself, but mainly the whole team for the weekend that we’ve executed. And, yeah, more proud than happy. And obviously, also happy.”
