Carlos Sainz expressed confidence in Williams’ pace after a solid showing during Friday practice for the 2025 F1 Canadian GP. The Spaniard, who joined the team earlier this season, ended Free Practice 1 (FP1) in third position and followed that up with seventh in FP2, reinforcing the team’s upward trajectory after recent difficulties.
Williams appeared to run a slightly more aggressive programme during the opening session, which elevated both Sainz and team-mate Alex Albon to the top of the timesheets. However, the team’s performance remained competitive even in the more representative conditions of FP2.
“[I feel] very good. This morning, we were simply just running a bit lighter or a bit more engine mode than the others, that’s why our competitiveness seemed higher than expected.”
“On FP2 we were still in the mix, but a good step behind [George] Russell who seems very quick and some others. But [we are] more or less where we expected, three or four tenths off the fastest cars which is a good place to be going into tomorrow.”
Building Confidence in the FW47
Sainz noted that while the long-run performance is still not at the level of the front-runners, Williams have comfortably moved out of the midfield pack and are now battling consistently near the top ten. He emphasised that the car is providing the kind of feedback and responsiveness that builds driver confidence — a critical factor at a circuit like Montreal where precision is vital.
“It was okay, still not at the level of the leading cars but out of the midfield and out of the back end of the top of the field, we seem to be in the mix again this weekend. So, [I’m] happy, the car gives me confidence.”
Strategic tyre choices key for Qualifying
As several teams continue to evaluate their approach to the Pirelli C5 and C6 compounds, Sainz highlighted that tyre selection for Saturday’s 2025 F1 Canadian GP Qualifying could prove decisive. With little time difference between the two compounds, the challenge lies in maximising performance during the short Q3 runs.
“There is probably going to be a bit of a balance again with the tyres, whether to run C6 or C5 in Quali because they seem again extremely close. But apart from that, honestly just focusing on making sure we nail the tyre strategy for tomorrow.”
Hopes for a competitive Saturday
Looking ahead, Sainz recognised that beating the top teams such as Mercedes and Ferrari in a head-to-head battle may be out of reach, but remains optimistic about Williams’ ability to stay close.
“I think when they all turn it up, we will struggle to out-qualify them or get in the mix with them, but we are not too far, which again like in Miami and Imola is a good place to be.”
With an encouraging Friday behind them and a clearer direction for Saturday, Sainz and the Williams team are poised to push for another strong result. If they can fine-tune the setup and capitalise on tyre strategy, the 2025 F1 Canadian GP could offer a valuable opportunity to add more points to their season tally.
