Williams Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz confirmed damage to his FW47 caused his early qualifying exit, resulting in a 19th-place starting position for the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Spanish driver reported via team radio that the car was “undriveable” with issues under braking and lack of load in high-speed corners. Sainz later learned there was damage to the floor of his car, affecting downforce.
Despite teammate Alex Albon making it to Q2, Sainz believed Q2 was possible for him, but Q3 would have been difficult due to soft tire struggles. Sainz expressed frustration over the ongoing challenging races and emphasized the need for the team to work together to improve qualifying performance, especially with soft tires. He hinted at investigating the issues and aiming for better results, stating his confidence in his race pace when conditions are normal.
