Both Williams in top 10 after qualifying
It seems that for Williams, anything can happen now. After more than successful testing and qualifying that saw the 2 drivers in Q3. Carlos and Alex are savouring this joy and are confident for the future.
Carlos arrived all smiles in front of the journalists’ microphones; the Spaniard finished 10th in this qualifying session.
« Yes, I am very happy and proud of the whole team, of how we have progressed over the winter, and especially to have a car that allows us to be in Q3 for the first time in years. I think it’s great and it can only get better, because I have so much more potential to unlock once I understand better how to extract time in Q3. But I was quite strong throughout the weekend.
But it’s clear that for Q3, I made some mistakes, I lost time. Now, I have to work on that.
Carlos once again expressed his satisfaction at being part of this team, highlighting its immense potential which now needs to be tapped by everyone.
In any case, in the Williams garage, it was a celebration when the 2 drivers arrived.
Alex Albon, visibly emotional and smiling, struggled to find the words upon his arrival for the interview. It’s understandable, given the long journey he has taken and Williams’ years of wandering.
« It feels like we are, you know, this special atmosphere in the team is so different, no matter the car’s performance, we really feel like we’ve arrived in force. You remember that at the same time last year, there was only one car qualified and it was a very delicate situation for me and the team. But it’s just great, Q3, the car… It was so much fun to drive, I really enjoyed every lap. I’m just very happy. »
The Thai driver really appreciates the car this year and shares his impressions and the notable differences with last year’s.
In terms of handling, the car is much more predictable, particularly at the rear of the car. It’s no secret that we’ve had several accidents, […] But there’s also a feeling that we’ve succeeded: we have an updated and appropriate program. We’re already focused on next year. I’ve seen the dynamics build up since 2022, when I joined the team, and seeing how things are going now, I feel like you know a lot more about a team like Red Bull, where I was before. This year, it feels like we can score points at every race. […] It will now be a fight with the midfield. […] Carlos is really pushing me. And it’s very interesting to hear his feedback; he often talks about what he learned with Ferrari. And of course, he’s learning from me too, we learn from each other. It’s really interesting. He’s quite a technical person.
The difficult phase for the English team seems to be definitely behind them. But Sainz and Albon are more than motivated, and they intend to turn every little detail into an advantage.
