In a chaotic qualifying session in Baku, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz managed to take full advantage of the circumstances, securing a surprising front-row start for the Williams team. The streets of Baku suit the characteristics of the FW47 very well, but there was another crucial factor: the use of the C5 tyre. At Monza, this compound had been the cause of Sainz’s Q2 elimination, while in Baku, classified as a medium tyre, it played a key role in helping the car perform.
On a day marked by Max Verstappen claiming pole, Ferrari’s disappointment, and numerous incidents—including the crash that eliminated championship leader Oscar Piastri in Q3—Sainz’s remarkable front-row result almost went unnoticed. An incredible achievement, but one that is not entirely surprising when considering the Spanish driver’s skill and the car’s potential in the right conditions.
In a “mad” qualifying session like Baku, the key was to make the most of every opportunity, setting the best lap at exactly the right moment and under ideal conditions. Additionally, the many “high-profile victims” opened the door for unexpected results, such as Liam Lawson’s third place. It confirmed that, more than raw speed, the ability to seize the moment and compose a near-perfect lap on a challenging track was decisive.
The result also reflects the strengths of the Williams FW47, which performs particularly well on circuits with long straights and multiple restarts—elements that enhance aerodynamic efficiency, as had been partially seen at Monza. However, in Italy, despite showing promise in free practice, both Williams drivers struggled in qualifying because they could not extract the maximum performance from the tyres at the critical moment.
This has been a recurring theme for Williams throughout the season: the FW47 remains quite sensitive on a single lap, with a relatively narrow operating window. In certain conditions, extracting maximum grip from the tyres is extremely challenging. This issue penalized the team at Monza, where qualifying results did not reflect the car’s potential, although Alex Albon later became one of the main protagonists in the race thanks to clearly superior race pace.
At Baku, however, the story was different. The minimal performance gap between the soft C6 and medium C5 tyres worked in Williams’ favor, allowing all teams, including the Grove-based squad, to focus on a more stable, harder compound. Over the course of the season, the FW47 has often been more competitive on harder tyres, while difficulties with the soft tyres have sometimes prevented the car from showing its full potential.
At the Azerbaijan GP, every team used the medium tyre in qualifying, although Verstappen ultimately claimed pole on the soft. This allowed Williams to work with a tyre that offered more stability and a broader operating window, which suits the FW47 and helps it express greater competitiveness over a single lap. Essentially, the C5—the soft tyre at Monza that had struggled in high-speed corners—became a valuable ally in Baku.
Of course, second place exceeded the most optimistic expectations, but it highlights the importance of putting everything together at the right moment, turning potential into reality. This potential had already been glimpsed during practice sessions the previous day, even on the C6 tyre, which the Grove team struggles to get right, as they were waiting to use the medium tyre with which the car is more comfortable.
“This year, in qualifying, I’ve been able to put together solid laps. It has never been a weak point or a problem,” explained Sainz. “Even today, we proved that the speed of this car and this team is there. In qualifying, I am delivering results when it counts, and unfortunately, in terms of races and points, the year hasn’t gone as we would have liked.”
“But as long as the speed is there—and today, once again, we have shown it—the points and strong race results will come, and I’m not worried. It’s just that recently we’ve had a bit of bad luck or too many incidents, and we haven’t been able to collect all the points we deserve as a team.”
After his first attempt, Sainz temporarily found himself in pole position thanks to a lap set on the medium tyres. In the final run, however, he could not improve with the soft tyres. The Spanish driver knew that lap time would not be enough to maintain the lead once everyone returned to the track. However, according to team simulations, a strong second-row finish was still within reach, with Verstappen and Lando Norris representing the only real threats.
When the British McLaren driver failed to produce a competitive lap, the doors opened for Sainz to secure a front-row start that was as unexpected as it was valuable for the remainder of the weekend. “I knew my lap was good, but probably not enough for pole,” Sainz admitted. “I mean, we know that if a McLaren or a Red Bull puts together a lap, they are usually three to five tenths faster. Even if the track conditions had been decent, I knew my lap would not be enough. I think our simulation showed that maybe only Max and Lando could beat us, so I was thinking about third position.”
Throughout the 2025 season, Sainz has been somewhat unlucky: incidents and race events have often put him out of contention or prevented him from fully realizing the car’s potential. On other occasions, he has struggled in qualifying, barely reaching Q3. Here in Baku, he will start from second position—a golden opportunity to collect a strong points haul, particularly as the FW47 should defend well in the race.
Of course, with McLaren pushing from behind, defending the podium won’t be easy, but the most realistic goal remains to finish in the upper points-paying positions, securing valuable constructor championship points. “The plan for the race? Try to get on the podium. I will give everything to deliver the first podium for Williams. If it’s possible, great. If not, we’ll see,” concluded Sainz.
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