Sprint Qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix was partially convincing for Williams, once again placing a car in the top ten after their double success in the season opener in Australia. In Melbourne, Alex Albon had surprised with a sixth-place finish, while Carlos Sainz, making his debut with the British team, finished 10th. However, in Shanghai, the former Ferrari driver failed to reach Q3.
Problems on track
On the Chinese circuit, Carlos Sainz could do no better than the seventh row, setting the 13th fastest time behind an impressive Oliver Bearman and fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who was eliminated in Q2 by his teammate Lance Stroll. “I struggled with the balance all day, and both sessions were quite difficult,” admitted the disappointed #55. “In Sprint Qualifying, we had some issues, including a strange feeling with the seat that we will analyze, but overall, I just don’t feel comfortable with the car yet. I still have a lot to learn and understand, and I know that with more mileage, things will improve. I hope we can put everything together tomorrow and improve on today’s result for Sunday.”
Still work to do
This frustration contrasts with Alex Albon’s feelings, as he secured ninth place on the grid and will aim to fight for points in the Sprint, where only the top eight finishers score. “I’m fairly satisfied, but I think there’s still some work to do with the car. This track doesn’t suit us very well at the moment, so we need to make some adjustments. It’s not easy to understand what to do with the tires—they’re quite sensitive. The long corners, like those in China, tend to put a lot of stress on them. It’s difficult to get them into the right window, and you feel like you have to manage them, sometimes excessively. We’ll do some work overnight and try to come back stronger tomorrow.”
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