The tyre strategy secret behind Carlos Sainz’s front row with Williams in Baku. Carlos Sainz secured second place in Baku qualifying with Williams thanks to a smart tyre strategy.

F1 | Sainz’s result hides a secret: Williams has understood how to exploit the tyres in Baku

For Williams, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session delivered a result to celebrate, with Carlos Sainz Jr. taking an excellent second place on the grid. Starting from the front row alongside Max Verstappen is a huge opportunity for both the Spanish driver and the Grove-based team in the ongoing battle within the midfield pack. The outcome was not only the product of an unusual session but also of a carefully prepared tyre management approach that made the difference on the streets of Baku.

Williams takes advantage of tyre choices in tricky conditions

Several teams entered qualifying uncertain about which compound would provide the best balance. Both the soft red tyres and the medium yellow tyres offered similar levels of outright speed, but the feeling they gave to drivers varied significantly from one car to another. Track conditions also played a decisive role, while many top teams, including Ferrari and McLaren, encountered unexpected difficulties that limited their potential. Williams, by contrast, managed to extract the maximum from whichever tyre they fitted, giving Carlos Sainz Jr. a decisive advantage.

Vowles reveals the secret behind Williams’ performance

At the end of qualifying, Williams Team Principal James Vowles explained what lay behind Sainz’s outstanding performance. The Spanish driver rediscovered speed that he had rarely shown during the season so far, putting together a lap good enough for the front row. Unfortunately, teammate Alexander Albon’s session ended prematurely when he hit the wall at Turn 1, forcing him out of contention.

“We worked hard and found a way to make the tyres work right from the very first lap. We were competitive both on the soft compound and on the mediums,” revealed James Vowles. “What we have managed to achieve with the tyre compounds should be applicable to other tracks as well.” This discovery may not provide a clear advantage in long runs, but it does help solve one of the car’s biggest weaknesses: performance on a flying lap.

A strong starting position, but race pace remains uncertain

While Williams’ long-run pace is still a question mark heading into Sunday’s race, the starting position offers a major advantage. Vowles acknowledged the challenge ahead but underlined the importance of track position. “Max is quick, the two McLarens will come through the field fast, and Ferrari looked strong already on Friday,” he admitted. “The clear benefit of starting so far up the grid is that we can place our car in clean air and focus on running our own race.”

Whether Williams can hold onto the podium positions in race conditions remains to be seen, but their ability to unlock performance from the tyres in qualifying has given Carlos Sainz Jr. a valuable opportunity in Baku. It also suggests that the team has taken a step forward in addressing one of their key weaknesses, offering encouragement not only for this weekend but for the remainder of the Formula 1 season.