P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz’s Williams momentum came to an abrupt halt in Monaco Grand Prix qualifying
Carlos Sainz’s momentum with Williams stopped abruptly in Monaco Grand Prix qualifying, failing to advance past Q2 despite his recent strong performances starting from sixth place. His teammate, Alex Albon, didn’t fare much better by qualifying in 10th place. Sainz admitted to making unnecessary set-up changes due to struggling to adapt to the car’s behavior on the Monaco circuit.
Starting the season in Albon’s shadow, Sainz found the transition to Ferrari more challenging than anticipated. While he showed improvement with an eighth-place grid position in Bahrain, Monaco disrupted his progress, leading to frustration over his lack of comfort with the car throughout the Grand Prix weekend.
The decision to try the medium C5 tire in Q2, before switching back to soft C6s, highlighted Sainz’s unfamiliarity with the car’s characteristics. He acknowledged that sticking with one tire compound might have been more beneficial for his performance, emphasizing the importance of nailing the lap in the crucial Q2 session.
Despite his struggles with set-up changes and tire selections, Sainz believed Williams got lost during qualifying, ultimately affecting their overall performance. He expressed disappointment in his lack of understanding and confidence in the car, emphasizing the need to address these issues before the next street circuit race.
