Franco Colapinto says that reaching the third phase of the qualifying session in his second Grand Prix in Formula 1 was “a dream come true” and believes he could be involved in the fight for points in the race.
The Argentine driver shone by securing ninth place on the starting grid for Sunday’s race in Baku.
Colapinto expressed satisfaction at having achieved a good result after a less positive start to the weekend.
“It was a good turnaround after my little mistake in the first free practice,” said Colapinto.
“The mechanics didn’t even have lunch to get my car ready for the second free practice. And after they did that, they gave me a great boost of confidence and a lot of energy to try to get a good result for them, for the effort they’ve put in this year.”
“Today was good to give them back a little of what they gave me. So, I’m very satisfied. Of course, there is still a long way to go, but it’s always an important moment for us to be in Q3. I even did some very good laps.”
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s a short straight to the first corner, but I’m very excited. It’s a fantastic moment, my first Q3, and I’m very happy about it, to be honest. It’s the moment every driver dreams of.”
“It’s a very important moment for Williams, and for me, it’s a dream come true. After yesterday, it was going to be difficult, but we made a good recovery, so we are satisfied.”
“I achieved it in my second weekend in Formula 1, so I couldn’t be happier. It was a very good session. Whenever I had to go out, we did a good job as a team.”
“I feel better and more comfortable with the car, more comfortable with the team. So, I think we’re on a good path and doing well, taking the necessary steps, and I think there’s potential to score points tomorrow.”