SAINZ PRAISES 'STRONG RESULT' IN CANADA AFTER TYRE 'MISTAKE'

Carlos Sainz salvaged a ninth-place finish in Canada, calling it a "strong result" after a crucial early strategy blunder. The Williams driver started P15 and took a gamble on intermediate tires with rain looming. That bet quickly backfired as the track dried, forcing Sainz to pit on Lap 2 and dropping him to the back of the pack. He owned the "mistake," admitting his call for intermediates was wrong given the track evolution.

Despite the setback, Sainz showed impressive pace during his second stint on mediums, reportedly matching the McLarens. This recovery drive marked his third P9 finish in the last four races, a welcome turnaround for Williams after a slow start to the season. His ability to claw back into the points, even after conceding significant track position, speaks to his race craft. Williams will look to translate that raw pace into stronger starting positions to avoid such recovery drives in upcoming rounds.