James Vowles hints Williams have finally discovered how to unlock Carlos Sainz after Baku heroics

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Carlos Sainz will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix alongside Max Verstappen on the front row of the grid after setting an early lap in Q3 and avoiding the chaos that ensued.

Verstappen broke the hearts of Williams fans around the world as he crossed the start/finish line to snatch pole position away from Sainz on his final lap of a dramatic qualifying session in Baku.

It is the Spaniard’s best grid slot at the Grove-based racing outfit since joining the team from Ferrari before the start of the current campaign.

Sainz has struggled to adapt to Williams machinery up until now, with team principal James Vowles believing that engineers at the British constructor have solved one of the main issues that have been hampering them all season.

READ MORE: Alex Albon sends immediate message to Carlos Sainz with Williams on front row at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

James Vowles believes Williams have solved their tyre temperature issues at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Vowles has previously told Sainz to drive around some of the issues that they have been facing, but it looks like they have managed to sort out a fix to one of them with the Spaniard’s latest result in qualifying.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after his team’s best qualifying result since George Russell’s P2 at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Vowles told the presenters, “What I’m happy about is the team has done brilliant work over the last 10 days.

“We have not been good in qualifying, getting the tyres ready and working, and this weekend, the standout for me is that every time we’ve gone out, from FP1 to qualifying.

“First lap, we can get that tyre working. So, quick car, and good result, and well done to Carlos. You saw out there how tricky it is. Brilliant, brilliant drive.”

Since his arrival at Grove, Sainz has been helping Vowles to assemble a ‘dream team’ within the British constructor. The Spaniard has leaned into his experience at the four teams he has raced for previously to help build an advantage at his current one.

The extra intel is sure to have played a part in the growth that the team have enjoyed in 2025, amid their best season since the 2016 Formula 1 campaign.

READ MORE: Alex Albon heard something at Williams that is ‘never a good sign’ that is now gone

Carlos Sainz was ‘not surprised’ about being beaten to pole position by Max Verstappen

Despite holding the top spot of the timing sheets for the entirety of the session before Verstappen made his mark on the circuit, Sainz was not surprised by his former Toro Rosso teammate leapfrogging him in the pecking order.

“Very happy. Honestly, we have nailed the qualifying today. Every time being on the right tyre on the right time and putting together some very strong laps,” he told journalists, via Sky Sports F1, after the qualifying session.

“Obviously, the moment a top car was going to put a lap together, we were always going to be those four-five tenths behind like we are always, but it was only one of them – Max; I’m not surprised.”

The feat marked Verstappen’s second consecutive pole position after surprising the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Italian Grand Prix a fortnight ago.

The Dutchman went on to win the race by nearly 20 seconds, something both McLaren drivers will be aware of preventing on Sunday.