Carlos Sainz Thrilled with Second Place in Azerbaijan GP Qualifying

Carlos Sainz couldn't hide his excitement after securing a stunning second-place grid start for Williams in Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session. The Spanish driver watched as his provisional pole position was snatched away by Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the final moments of a dramatic qualifying battle.

"I'm absolutely over the moon with today's performance," Sainz told reporters, his face breaking into a wide grin. "To be fighting at the front with Williams shows how much progress we've made as a team. The car felt incredible out there, especially through Baku's tricky street circuit sections."

The qualifying session delivered edge-of-the-seat drama as drivers navigated the challenging 6.003km Baku City Circuit, known for its narrow straights and castle section. Sainz's performance marks a significant achievement for the Williams team, which has been working tirelessly to close the gap to front-running competitors.

Team Principal James Vowles praised Sainz's effort, noting: "Carlos has been building toward this all season. His ability to extract maximum performance from the car when it matters most is exactly what we need."

With Sunday's race promising strategic complexity and potential safety car interventions on the street circuit, Sainz remains optimistic about converting his front-row start into a podium finish. "We'll give it everything tomorrow," he said. "The aim is to stick it on the podium and bring home a great result for the team."

Fans can catch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, where Sainz will look to capitalize on his strong qualifying position and challenge the established front-runners.