Lance Stroll expressed optimism as he backed up his encouraging practice pace with his best qualifying result of his nascent F1 career at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Stroll made it through to Q3 for the second time this season and set the eighth quickest time, 0.045s faster than team-mate Felipe Massa.
It marks the first time that Stroll has beaten the experienced Brazilian across one-lap in 2017, and comes two weeks after he scored his maiden F1 points in Canada.
“It was a good day, and it has been a good weekend,” said Stroll.
“I am comfortable and confident in the car. I like the circuit and today everything fell into place.
“I missed a bit in Q3, and I think there was some more that was possible there, as we were four tenths off compared to my lap in Q2.
“In Q3, because the track temperatures had dropped, it was hard to get the tyres ready in one lap and also because of the red flag, we only had time to do one push lap.
“Sometimes round here it is better when you do one push lap, then another prep lap and then another push lap.”
Massa admitted he had difficulties getting the Supersoft tyres into the right operating window, and will line up from ninth place on the grid.
“We struggled to make the tyres work,” said Massa, who suffered several moments during the three-part qualifying session.
“I just kept locking the front tyres and struggled to get into the corners.
“The car was better for me on used tyres than it was with a new set.”
