The Masterclass in Wet Conditions

Carlos Sainz delivered a stunning third-place qualifying performance in Friday’s treacherous Las Vegas conditions, showcasing exceptional wet-weather prowess that briefly saw him hold provisional pole position. But the Williams driver has made emphatically clear he won’t be jeopardizing his race in Saturday’s battle against championship protagonists Lando Norris and Max Verstappen—preferring instead to focus squarely on maximizing the team’s result.

The Spanish driver dominated the timesheets throughout Q1 and Q2 before being edged out by just three-tenths of a second in the final Q3 moments. When he crossed the line first in Q3, Sainz thought he had secured pole. The reality proved bittersweet—P3, but an impressive achievement nonetheless.

« It was a very good lap. I thought it was a pole-worthy lap. When I closed the lap, I saw myself in P1, and then I realized I was the first car across the flag. Maybe that wasn’t going to last very long with these two guys coming behind, but it felt like a really good quali. » — Carlos Sainz

Williams’ Remarkable Resurgence

Sainz’s third-place qualifying result marks Williams’ best starting position in Las Vegas since the team locked out the front row at Caesars Palace in 1981—a remarkable achievement for a squad that struggled for competitiveness through much of the 2025 season. It represents the team’s best modern-era performance at any street circuit.

Sainz’s exceptional showing on extreme wet tyres proved decisive throughout the early knockout stages. From the opening lap of Q1, he consistently topped the timesheets, building genuine confidence in the machinery.

« From the first lap of Q1, every time I was finishing the lap, I was P1, P1, P1. On the extreme wet, I was really, really quick. On inters, I knew the others maybe would catch up a bit. But yeah, happy with P3. » — Carlos Sainz

The transformation from FP3 to qualifying proved dramatic. After struggling in damp free practice conditions, Williams implemented crucial setup adjustments that fundamentally altered the car’s behavior in wet conditions.

« In FP3, we didn’t look very promising, but we did a few changes to the car that I think helped in the wet. That allowed me to—from the first lap of Q1—every time I was finishing the lap, I was P1. » — Carlos Sainz

Brutal Honesty About Race Pace

While celebrating his qualifying achievement, Sainz maintained refreshing realism about what Saturday’s race might deliver. He frankly acknowledged that Williams’ wet-weather advantage is unlikely to translate to similar competitiveness if the forecast dry conditions materialize.

« In the dry, I don’t think we would have been more than P6, P5, P7, P8 in that range. The wet allowed us today to shine a bit more. I don’t think in the dry that would have been possible, and I don’t expect if the race is dry tomorrow to be able to hold on to P3. » — Carlos Sainz

This transparent assessment reflects Sainz’s maturity and experience. Rather than attempting to overstate his prospects, he’s acknowledged the competitive reality while expressing hope that continued wet conditions might preserve the advantage.

The Measured Approach: No Unnecessary Risks

When asked about his race strategy against championship contenders, Sainz delivered an unambiguous message: he intends to fight hard, but won’t take reckless risks to become entangled in someone else’s title battle.

« It will be more down to pace rather than the risk. I’m also starting up front and it’s a pretty good result if we can bring it home. It’s more for me about trying to hold on to P3 if I can, given that there will be very fast cars coming behind. » — Carlos Sainz

His philosophy reflects the wisdom of a driver who understands his position in the championship standings and his team’s priorities. All competitors face similar strategic pressures, but Sainz’s focus remains singular: maximize Williams’ points return.

« As Wide As Possible »: The Defensive Masterclass

Sainz referenced his successful Baku podium defense earlier this season as a template for his Las Vegas approach. In Azerbaijan, he secured Williams’ first podium finish since 2021 by defending brilliantly against faster machinery.

« I’m gonna give it my best shot. You saw me in Baku and Austin—when I’m up there fighting for the podium, I try not to make mistakes and see if I can make myself as wide as possible. I’ll be pushing to make it happen. » — Carlos Sainz

This « as wide as possible » philosophy encapsulates his defensive racecraft: maximize track position, eliminate errors, and force faster rivals to work extraordinarily hard for overtakes. It demands precision, racecraft, and nerves of steel—all qualities the 31-year-old possesses in abundance.

Championship Chaos: A Double-Edged Opportunity

Sainz’s P3 starting position places him in a fascinating tactical situation. Directly ahead sit Norris (pole) and Verstappen (second)—two drivers locked in an intense championship battle with just three races remaining. With only 58 points available after Las Vegas, every point carries championship significance.

Threats Behind: Russell and Piastri

Sainz faces significant pressure from George Russell’s Mercedes directly behind on the grid. The Silver Arrows demonstrated strong pace throughout practice and qualifying, with Russell topping both Q1 and Q2 before a power steering issue compromised his final Q3 lap.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested his cars possess genuine race-winning speed if they execute cleanly. This places enormous pressure on Sainz to execute a perfect start and strong first-lap defense to maintain position into Turn 1.

Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in fifth represents another significant threat. The Australian suffered a yellow flag that destroyed his final Q3 lap and likely cost him a podium position. McLaren’s underlying pace suggests aggressive first-lap pressure from Piastri.

« It’s difficult to know exactly where anyone sits because of the lack of proper race running this weekend, but I think the car’s been pretty quick in all conditions. We were quick in the rain, then it’s quick in the dry. I think we’ve got good pace and hopefully we can use that to go forwards tomorrow. » — Carlos Sainz

Strategic Flexibility Ahead

Pirelli’s tyre allocation and Las Vegas’ unique circuit characteristics will heavily influence race strategy. The track features long straights that facilitate overtaking, meaning grid position—while valuable—proves less determinative than at many venues.

The forecast for dry conditions suggests most teams will pursue a one-stop strategy. Sainz’s P3 starting position grants strategic flexibility: he can cover moves from behind or shadow strategies from ahead, depending on how the race develops.

The Williams Moment

Beyond race-specific considerations, Sainz’s qualifying performance continues Williams’ remarkable resurgence in the second half of 2025. After a difficult start to his tenure with the Grove-based team, the Spaniard has found increasing confidence with the FW47, delivering consistently strong performances.

His third-place qualifying result validates the team’s development direction and Sainz’s ability to extract maximum performance from machinery that may not possess the outright pace of grid-leading competitors.

Conclusion: Experience Meets Opportunity

Carlos Sainz’s stunning third-place qualifying performance has positioned him perfectly for what promises to be a fascinating race. His measured approach—fighting hard while avoiding unnecessary risks—reflects the wisdom of a driver who understands his team’s priorities and his competitive position.

While he starts ahead of two title contenders engaged in a fierce championship battle, Sainz has made clear his focus remains on maximizing Williams’ result rather than becoming collateral damage in someone else’s title fight. His proven ability to defend against faster machinery, combined with his strategic intelligence, suggests he could indeed « make himself as wide as possible » and secure another impressive result for his team.