Carlos Sainz says he was happy to be within reach of Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc in qualifying in Baku, a venue that he has traditionally struggled to come to terms with.
Sainz took third place some 0.440s shy of Leclerc, who earned his fourth Azerbaijan GP pole.
Although at some venues that would look like a hefty margin Sainz says that he was closer than he had feared.
“I never tend to aim too high in Baku, because I know it’s a track that I normally struggle in the past,” he said.
“So yeah, to be actually lining up P3 is a good position for tomorrow. My race pace yesterday seems strong. And, yeah, we’re in a strong position to fight for better things tomorrow.”
Asked by formu1a.uno if it was encouraging to be close to Baku specialist Leclerc he said: “I was close in Q3 run one, because I found out something with the setup of the car with the front wing and with the toys that we play with normally, and that was encouraging.
“Then my Q3 run two lap was nothing special. I think he did one of his good laps there. But probably in a normal track, I would never be happy to be three or four-tenths off.
“So to be three or four-tenths off in Baku, it’s such a long track where small details count, and I’m never 100% around here. Plus, probably it’s his best track. It’s actually a decent quali for me. And now I need to see what I can do in the race.”
Sainz could not fully explain why he struggles in Baku: “I’ve always been quick in city tracks – Monaco, Singapore, are tracks that I’m always very quick at.
“Maybe there’s something with the low downforce, but then in Monza, I’m very quick and load up in low downforce, I don’t know if it’s the tarmac. It’s a very peaky, very slippery tarmac where the rear is moving around a lot, and that makes Charles maybe a bit more comfortable.
“As I said, I think it’s a combination of me never being quick here, and him being the master of Baku. And then the gap gets a bit big around here, for my liking.
“But at the same time, there’s always tracks in the career of an F1 driver work, you’re stronger than others, that come more natural than others. And unfortunately, this is one of those.”
Sunday’s race is expected to be all about tyre management.
“I think this year we seem to be, if anything, a bit stronger in the race,” said Sainz. “So let’s hope that this is the same case tomorrow, and if not, keep pushing.
“Because, as I said, could only be five degrees track temperature up or down to make Ferrari come alive, or the Red Bull come alive, or the McLaren come alive, or the Mercedes. We’ve seen it in the last five races. Different winners, different cars being the quickest on Sunday.
“So keep our heads cool, even if tomorrow our competition might seem stronger or not, try and get Piastri one way or another. It’s a good opportunity in the constructors’.”
Sainz starts immediately behind Sergio Perez, with whom he has had two impeding incidents this weekend, with each driver earning a warning from the FIA.
“No hard feelings between us,” he said. “Just the only big thing is that we’re so close in terms of race pace that I think tomorrow there’s going to be eight cars in the same race.
“And that’s exciting for F1, exciting for us, but it means we cannot put a foot wrong. And yeah, I think it’s going to be an exciting one.”
