Carlos Sainz salvages points in Canada after strategy gamble

It was a wild gamble that very nearly ruined the day. Starting from P15, Carlos Sainz opted for intermediate tyres for the Canadian Grand Prix, a decision that proved to be a mistake when the rain failed to materialise. By the end of Lap 2, the Williams driver was forced into an early pit stop, sending him tumbling toward the back of the field.

Yet, the recovery was beautiful. Sainz managed to turn that disaster around, pushing hard to climb back to P9 by the end of the 68-lap race. It is a testament to the pace he found on the medium compound, where he says he was at times as quick as the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

"I think to come back from the back of the field to P9, I think is a very strong result for us," Sainz said. While he took full responsibility for the call, this result marks his third P9 finish in four Grands Prix, proving that even with a difficult start, this machine has genuine speed to offer.