Winter test leader Carlos Sainz is 'looking forward to getting back behind the wheel in Bahrain'

A real surprise in Sakhir, Williams established itself as the team with the best times over the three days of preseason from February 26th to 28th. Of course, some much more anticipated teams, like McLaren, current leader of the constructors' world championship, did not seem to be determined to show their full potential, but the fact is that Carlos Sainz, newly arrived at the Grove stable, had climbed to the top of the time table ahead of the two Ferrari de Lewis Hamilton et Charles Leclerc.

Since then, the lines have evolved. Alexander albon, 6^e winter tests, shines with his consistency. Three times in the points in three Grands Prix, the Thai driver notably hit hard from the first chaotic round in Melbourne, finishing 5^e of the race, and asserting his status as a strong man behind the top teams. On the eve of his return to Bahrain, the man in question, 7^e of the general, is delighted with this promising start to the season.

“It’s been a really good start to the year, with a Q3 finish and points scored in every race so far. We hope to continue this momentum in Bahrain, the second race of the triple header, with conditions completely different to any other race this year. The team has been working hard and we hope to be just as strong in the fourth race. We’ve improved a lot and it’s great to see us leading the battle for the midfield! The first night race of the season always brings a unique atmosphere, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve under the floodlights.”

Carlos Sainz clings to hope of a performance resurgence

For the Spanish driver, the start of the season has not been as idyllic as the first laps aboard the Williams suggested. After retiring from the first Grand Prix in Melbourne following contact with the wall, the former teammate of Charles Leclerc only climbed to 10th^e and 14^e places in Shanghai and then in Suzuka. In China, he had also mentioned "one of the strangest performance drops of (his) career." Nevertheless, optimistic, Carlos Sainz is above all enthusiastic.

“After Japan, it’s great to see that we’re progressing well as a team and that the car was performing at a very good level on a demanding circuit like Suzuka. For my part, despite the final result, there are a lot of positives to take away from last week and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel here in Bahrain. Returning to the same circuit as the one used for pre-season testing will be very interesting, even if the conditions will be significantly different, as it will be much warmer. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and having a solid weekend.”

Indeed, despite a time of 1'29''348 achieved at the end of last February, the degradation of the tires and the management of long stints in the race will constitute the crucial parameters of a hypothetical second entry into the points for Carlos Sainz.

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