After the unexpected success of Leclerc and Ferrari last season, the Brianza racetrack could easily be renamed the "temple of miracles". This year's surprise – albeit less dramatic – could be Williams, which had a very convincing Friday, both in terms of lap times and race pace.
Carlos Sainz proved to be particularly comfortable, finishing third in qualifying simulation just 96 thousandths of a second behind the fastest driver of the day, Lando Norris, with a time of 1:19.974. The performance of Alexander Albon, seventh just over two tenths behind his teammate, also confirmed the strength of the Grove car on high-speed circuits.
If two clues make a proof...
Williams arrived in Monza with an intermediate level of downforce, not as extreme as Ferrari and McLaren but more similar to Red Bull's approach. This still allows the British car to show off its potential since, analysing the telemetry, it is clear that Sainz is able to exploit its aerodynamic efficiency, so much so that he arrives at the Parabolica with a tenth of a second advantage over the MCL39.
Not just time attack, the idea that James Vowles' team could challenge the frontrunners in the race is not as utopian as one might automatically think. The data from Sainz's 10 laps stint on C4 tyres was quite promising, with an average of 23 high (the Spaniard crossed the finish line several times matching Oscar Piastri's chronos).
However, it should not be overlooked that on Fridays, the British team usually runs with a more powerful engine configuration than its competitors, a factor that could prevent the Grove-based team from making a step forward on a par with the competition. Despite having less room for improvement than the others, Sainz and Williams are still contenders for an excellent performance over the Italian weekend.
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