DRIVERS
1 – George RUSSELL (Mercedes)
2 – Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren)
3 – Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Performed by David Coulthard)
Q: Carlos Sainz, welcome. One other podium in your profession and what was a reasonably quiet weekend when it comes to general efficiency however it all got here alive on the finish there. Did you see the motion forward or had been you simply very a lot centered on bringing your automotive house?
Carlos SAINZ: Yeah, fairly an eventful race up entrance. For us it was all about making an attempt to maintain up with George. we knew the Mercedes as we speak may need a little bit of a bonus on race tempo however we tried all the things to maintain up with him and Oscar, on the finish, was coming actually, actually fast and ultimately P3 which is I believe a great consequence. I believe we may be fairly joyful fairly happy with that as a result of this weekend hasn’t been simple for us and to return away with 15 factors and a P3 is an effective consequence.
Q: We’re in the midst of this triple header. We have come off the again of your own home Grand Prix. Now we have Silverstone in per week’s time. Can we anticipate a step ahead in efficiency there? As a result of it did not actually look that with out the incident between Lando and Max that you’d have been right here on the rostrum as we speak.
CS: Yeah, joyful days for Formulation 1 that there is a little bit of motion up entrance and we’re attending to see some good battles. Sadly for us, we’re nonetheless coming off the again of a tricky couple of races the place we’re not fairly there to battle for the win but, however we’re making an attempt to do all the things we are able to as a staff to be again on kind in Silverstone and within the upcoming races, to verify subsequent time we’re up there to capitalise. And if not, podiums like these are all the time excellent news, and we are going to preserve pushing flat out to remain within the battle.
Q: Okay, properly, we stay up for seeing that huge push. Properly completed on the rostrum.
CS: Thanks.
Q: As we transfer on to our second place finisher, who should be pondering, what may have been? All of it turned undone even earlier than you began the race with that qualifying penalty for observe limits?
Oscar PIASTRI: Yeah, there’s a number of what-ifs and maybes. Yeah, clearly ranging from yesterday, however yeah. I do know it’s solely my fourth podium in F1, however, yeah, so near a win, it hurts somewhat bit, however actually good factors, clearly. I believe the second half of the race we had been approaching fairly robust, and proud of one other podium. Simply when it is that shut, you’ll be able to’t assist however damage somewhat bit.
Q: Properly, you’ll be able to carry that momentum, hopefully, onto your [McLaren’s] house Grand Prix in per week’s time at Silverstone.
OP: Yeah, not my house Grand Prix, however McLaren’s house Grand Prix. Yeah, clearly it was a spot of fine reminiscences from final yr, and hopefully we may be up the entrance once more. Clearly, I have never seen what occurred with Lando and Max, however clearly it was fairly even up the entrance, and yeah, I believe we’re properly and really within the combine. Silverstone’s a observe I all the time get pleasure from. Staff’s house race, so excited for what’s to return.
Q: Okay, properly, good factors as we speak. Congratulations.
OP: Thanks very a lot.
Q: And girls and gents, our Grand Prix winner, celebrating his second Grand Prix win, George Russell.
George RUSSELL: Yeah, unbelievable. It was a tricky battle on the market in the beginning of the race, simply to carry on to that P3, and I noticed on the TV that Max and Lando had been going fairly arduous. I knew Lando would wish to attempt to get that race win, however, you recognize, the staff have completed a tremendous job to get us on this battle. You have to be there on the finish to select up the items, and that is the place we had been.
Q: Superb. So that you had been watching the massive screens, minding your individual enterprise and your individual Grand Prix, whereas watching that battle out entrance, prepared to occur what truly occurred.
GR: Yeah, they had been going for it. And I could not consider truly how shut we had been to Lando and Max. I believe we had been solely about 12, 13 seconds behind. I knew it was a chance. You are all the time dreaming, however as I mentioned, simply so proud to be again on the highest step. The staff have labored so arduous. We have made so many strides because the begin of the season. So, yeah, the final three races have been unbelievable, so extra to return.
Q: Now, look, you’ve got completed all the things to ensure you had been in that place. The opposite two appeared like they’d the general tempo as we speak had they not had the contact. However all you are able to do is drive your automotive and put your self within the place that you need to then capitalise. So that you should be actually proud with this, your second Grand Prix victory.
GR: Yeah, completely. I believe it is no secret Pink Bull with Max and McLaren with Lando are nonetheless somewhat bit out in entrance, however we’re all the time placing ourselves in that third place place the final couple of races. And clearly, if something occurs up entrance, we’re there to select it up. However, you recognize, simply actually happy with all people. And, you recognize, what an thrilling time for us.
Q: And, George, we’re one week away from the British Grand Prix. That may be good to hold this momentum in direction of one other podium there.
GR: Yeah, completely. I believe we’re driving a little bit of a wave in the meanwhile. These final three races have been unbelievable. I believe realistically we in all probability may have received the race in Canada, so this in all probability makes up for one too many errors on my aspect there, and simply actually proud to be again on the highest step.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: George, very properly completed to you. What a second. It was maybe sudden, however what does this win imply to you?
GR: Yeah, it feels actually nice to be sincere. These final three races as a staff, we have actually turned it up. I really feel that Montreal was in all probability a victory that we missed out on and we ended up ending P3. As we speak was a deserving P3 and we received the victory. So it is humorous how this sport turns round and simply credit score to all of the staff for all of the arduous work they’ve completed. Such enormous progress because the begin of the yr.
Q: That is additionally a racetrack that brings out one of the best in you. You are the primary driver to win right here in GP3, Formulation 2 and now Formulation 1.
GR: Yeah, there we go. Yeah, it is a observe I get pleasure from. The final couple of years have been very troublesome for us as a staff. And we did not have excessive expectations going into this weekend. However we ended up qualifying P3 yesterday. And we have been in that blend. And as I mentioned, we had been preventing for the rostrum. I believe realistically, we nonetheless in all probability have the third quickest automotive behind Pink Bull and McLaren. However the final three races, Lewis and I’ve been in that P3 spot. So, you recognize, we’re actually getting essentially the most out of it. And typically, racing, it goes your approach.
Q: Properly, can we delve into the race now and maybe begin earlier than the lights had even gone out? Going to the grid, you had been expressing some considerations over the radio. How was the automotive, to start with?
GR: It was very windy on the market, and I believe the automotive was feeling somewhat bit unusual. On my laps to grid, we checked all the things, and all the things was high quality. However the tempo felt robust. I had Lewis assault me early within the race, however then as soon as I received again previous him, I received a little bit of a spot to Carlos. I knew Oscar was going to be fast, and he form of got here somewhat bit out of nowhere in direction of the top of the race on these Laborious tyres. For me it was fairly troublesome. After which all of the sudden I had Toto screaming in my ear, ‘you’ll be able to win this’. And I virtually crashed when he screamed into my ears. It was that loud. However I believe it simply goes to indicate the fervour that all of us share. And it is clearly been a tricky couple of years for us. It feels nice to be again on the highest step.
Q: You had been barely offset strategically. You ran the medium tyre in the midst of the race. How a lot did that assist you to within the closing battle with Oscar to be on the arduous tyre?
GR: I do not suppose it helped in any respect, to be sincere. I believe it is troublesome. I believe we break up the methods with Lewis simply to strive one thing. You by no means understand how the race goes to pan out. And VSC, Security Automobiles have an enormous issue. That VSC on the finish was fairly useful for me. It allowed me to chill my tyres down after which my tempo towards Oscar. The final 5 laps was the identical when he had the medium. So, you recognize, the automotive’s been feeling actually good. We all know we have somewhat bit of labor nonetheless to do if we wish to constantly be in that battle for the rostrum. However trying on the steps we have made versus Ferrari, versus Aston Martin, it has been fairly enormous since Bahrain.
Q: And when it comes to execution, was this one of the best weekend that you just and the staff have had to date this yr?
GR: Yeah, doubtless. I believe we actually executed all the things very well. I believe each session we maximised, certified as excessive as we expect was really doable. Race begins have been good. P4 within the race yesterday was the utmost. P3 realistically was the utmost and the deserving consequence as we speak. You realize, the staff did a terrific job. So it is good once you get a reward for all that arduous work.
Q: And what a consequence to take into your own home race at Silverstone subsequent weekend. Do you dare to dream a couple of repeat on house soil?
GR: You all the time dare to dream for certain. Something can occur. I believe Pink Bull had been actually fast this weekend within the high-speed corners. So they will look fairly robust subsequent week in Silverstone. However we have a number of days between every now and then. I will be on the simulator on Tuesday again on the manufacturing unit. So I am actually excited for that one.
Q: Alright, George, very properly completed to you. Thanks very a lot. Oscar, let’s come to you now. P7 to P2 is an amazing consequence for you. How happy are you with the drive you place in as we speak?
OP: Yeah, I believe principally joyful. I believe the primary stint did not make fairly as a lot progress as I’d have favored. Clearly had a little bit of an incident in Flip 1. After which, yeah, simply overheated the tyres somewhat bit. And with the soiled air, it was so arduous to get inside a second. So, yeah, did not make a lot progress there. However then the following two stints, it actually began to return alive. Went a bit longer on each the pit stops and turns. Yeah, simply sort of felt like we wanted some extra laps in direction of the top, sadly. However no, after beginning seventh, clearly a great turnaround. Yeah, fairly joyful.
Q: Just a little little bit of frustration concerning the observe limits yesterday in qualifying?
GR: Yeah, positively, I imply, I used to be fairly upset yesterday that, you recognize, there are such a lot of corners, we have made adjustments on the observe right here to do away with the observe limits challenge. However this one nook, for some purpose, we moved the white line, however not sufficient. However on the finish of the day, I went barely outdoors and that is the error on me, or that is what it was. However after seeing the proof on what I received my lap deleted for coming from a chopper cam that was solely on me, in fairly questionable decision, that stung quite a bit. So I had a bit of fireside in me going into the race. So I believe a few of my overtakes in all probability got here from a bit additional again than perhaps they might have in any other case.
Q: Properly, Oscar, a few moments to speak to you about. To start with, you talked about that contact with Charles Leclerc at Flip 1 simply after the beginning. Discuss us by way of that incident and was there any harm to your automotive in consequence?
OP: Yeah, I did not get one of the best of begins, however noticed a little bit of a gap on the surface after which, yeah, went good and late on the brakes. I could not actually see the place Checo went on the within, however I did not suppose he was actually that far up alongside Charles, however clearly all three of us sort of met on the apex. So, yeah, fairly lucky for myself. I believe there was somewhat bit of injury, however I do not suppose something main. Had a bit extra contact with Checo once more a bit later within the lap. So, yeah, it was an eventful race.
Q: And what concerning the battle with Carlos within the closing laps? Good transfer across the outdoors from you.
OP: Yeah, Flip 6 was a contented searching floor this weekend. I believe I did three strikes there across the outdoors. Yeah, very, very shut on the way in which into Flip 4. After which, yeah, simply had a bit extra grip across the outdoors of 6 and managed to get it completed. So, yeah, fairly proud of that.
Q: And, Oscar, what about Silverstone developing subsequent weekend? How do you see the lay of the land going into the staff’s house race?
OP: I believe clearly final yr was an unbelievable weekend for us as a staff, sort of the beginning of our resurgence. Like George mentioned, Max was fairly spectacular within the high-speed corners yesterday. So, you recognize, clearly bodes properly for them at Silverstone. However I believe we have a robust automotive and I believe we have had a very constant automotive wherever we have gone. You realize, we perhaps had some small query marks about whether or not we’d be as aggressive once we went again to, say, a extra conventional circuit like Barcelona or right here, the place there’s some extra high-speed corners in comparison with Canada and Monaco. However we have had a very constant automotive wherever we have gone. So I believe we may be fairly assured we’ll be within the battle.
Q: Alright. Good luck with that. Properly completed as we speak. Carlos, coming to you now. Very properly completed to you as properly. You have had a really constructive weekend right here in Austria. Do you’re feeling that you just and Ferrari have maximised the package deal this weekend?
CS: Yeah, I believe so. I believe there was not way more in it this weekend. I believe we did a great job yesterday in qualifying and within the dash. And as we speak, we set our targets in making an attempt to beat the Mercedes. We managed to beat one, even when one among them received forward. After which I used to be behind the 2 of them, handed Lewis, after which it was all about making an attempt to maintain up with George. However like we noticed yesterday within the dash, it simply appeared like they’d this half a tenth to a tenth of tempo benefit. That it is these three, 4, 5 seconds that he was in entrance the entire race. And yeah, I assumed that was a battle for a podium, which he was going to win. And ultimately, it turned a battle for a win ultimately. Yeah, we tried all the things we may, however we all know we have been struggling the previous couple of races. And yeah, in the meanwhile, Mercedes are somewhat bit faster than us.
Q: As you say, you’ve got been struggling for the previous couple of races. Is that this weekend proof that Ferrari at the moment are again on a fair keel with this automotive, that you know the way to maximise it?
CS: I believe, if something, it simply proves that the final two weekends have not been simple. We have been all the time the primary Ferrari ending behind the primary Mercedes. Even for those who rely Canada, you can argue these three weekends in a row. So I believe Pink Bull and McLaren had been in a league of their very own this weekend. Then there was a step. There was George and me battling for that P3, P4. And yeah, that was not the state of affairs in the beginning of the yr. So it reveals that we have to work arduous. We have to perceive what’s occurred the final couple of races. And as soon as we perceive it, hopefully already for Silverstone, we are able to deliver a step and enhance our efficiency.
Q: Discuss to us somewhat bit extra about Silverstone. You say you hope you can also make a step there. What does that imply? if you are able to do that?
CS: Properly, I see the manufacturing unit pushing flat out, you recognize, to know the troubles that we have hit within the final couple of weekends and making an attempt to deliver already for Silverstone a package deal that enables us to carry out a bit higher within the high-speed corners as a result of it is clearly been our weak spot. Yesterday, Max was a lot faster by way of there, however not solely Max, additionally Mercedes and McLaren had been a transparent step forward of us in these kind of corners. And we all know Silverstone is the king of the excessive velocity, so we have to do a step. Clearly, we wish to be aggressive there. And we’re going to battle all the things we are able to and attempt to discover all the things we are able to, sorry, to make ourselves extra aggressive there.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Diletta Colombo – Automoto.it) A query for Carlos. Was bouncing within the high-speed corners a problem within the race? And if that’s the case, do you suppose it is improve associated?
CS: Within the race, it is much less of an issue since you carry much less velocity into these high-speed corners. The automotive rolls much less and you’ve got much less bouncing as a consequence. However yeah, clearly, when you’ve got it in quali, you need to arrange the automotive otherwise for qualifying after which in all probability you pay the worth within the race. So yeah, it is not a perfect state of affairs. It would not make you good in quali and it would not make you good within the race. Now we have been speaking lots about bouncing the final couple of weekends, which reveals that it has been a little bit of a problem, however I consider there’s additionally different issues that we have to enhance so as to at the least beat Mercedes in Silverstone and attempt to get again nearer to McLaren and Pink Bull.
Q: (Marco Canseco – Marca) Query for Carlos. You’re solely factors 15 behind Charles with a race much less. Is one among your predominant targets to beat him alongside the season?
CS: Yeah, I really feel such as you guys look lots at this, clearly, the championship. Clearly, since I missed the race in Jeddah, I’m making an attempt to not deal with the championship standings as a result of I am principally competing with these guys, having completed a race much less. So I am focusing extra on making an attempt to get the podiums, making an attempt to get the wins, making an attempt to get the highlights, somewhat than on the championship as a result of it is not simple to compete towards one of the best guys on this planet, going up towards them with one race much less within the season. However yeah, to date, I believe I’ve completed 5 podiums out of ten races, one race win. It is an excellent statistic. I believe I am driving properly this yr. And yeah, I am specializing in having fun with the alternatives that I’ve this yr to battle for podiums that I may not have them subsequent yr. So I’ll give all the things and revel in these alternatives and these moments like as we speak within the podium.
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A query for George, please. George, yesterday you mentioned that you just’d let it play out somewhat bit between Max and Lando, which labored out alright. What was your quick response once you noticed these two coming into view forward of you? What had been the engineers saying to you on the radio earlier than Toto came visiting?
GR: I used to be simply making an attempt to deal with simply maximizing my driving, to be sincere. Marcus, my engineer, mentioned three laps earlier than, they’re preventing actually arduous and we are able to win this. And I mentioned, look, we have to form of safe P3 first, let me drive. And I knew Oscar was quick behind. After which after I received into the lead, I knew it was going to be a difficult final six laps. My tyres had been troublesome. That VSC helped marginally as a result of my tyres had been overheating. And that simply allowed me to chill them down. Yeah, it is a bit of a wierd one to win a race like this, for certain. However as I mentioned, it is racing. Generally it goes towards you and I really feel like we have in all probability missed out on one or two potentialities of victories. Montreal was received, arguably Singapore, issues may have gone very barely otherwise final yr, and as we speak it went for us. So it is how the cookie crumbles.
Q: (Isabelle Barker – The Solar) George, how do you propose on celebrating? I assume no two-day benders since you’re again into work on Tuesday.
GR: Yeah, I am again house tonight. I’ve received my girlfriend ready for me again house and one among my good buddies there too. So I am flying again with Fernando. Hopefully, he is not left me right here already as a result of I have been fairly busy with media this night. However, for certain, I imply, my first victory, I used to be proper onto a flight for 15 hours from Sao Paulo to Dubai. Hoping to be again this night earlier than 10 o’clock perhaps. And, yeah, I wish to have fun it as a result of you’ll be able to’t take these moments as a right. I really feel that I’ve received lots left in me and much more victories to return sooner or later however in an period of whole dominance by one staff and driver, any victory by some other driver, it’s good to get pleasure from it. However it will not be as arduous as Lando’s celebration. If it is 50% as arduous as Lando’s celebration, it will likely be a fairly huge night time.
Q: (Mark Ivanov – Avto+Šport) Query for all of you, for all of three. How arduous was it in the previous couple of laps when all of you noticed you could end on the rostrum and the way arduous was the main focus for all of you?
GR: I believe the problem was we had been approaching a number of again markers and we had been interacting lots with them. And for those who get lucky with the place, you get the DRS into Flip 1 after which into Flip 3 and into Flip 4 and you may achieve six tenths. Should you’re unlucky, you can perhaps lose six tenths. So you can have a 1.2 second distinction simply on the place you catch the again markers and when there was solely two seconds between Oscar and I, that was in all probability essentially the most nerve wracking. However yeah, nothing extra actually to say than that.
Q: George, how involved had been you about Oscar in these closing laps?
GR: I assumed he was going to catch me, to be sincere, however I believe catching is one factor, overtaking is one other. So I had Carlos behind me for 10 laps yesterday in my DRS, and I used to be additionally behind Carlos for about eight laps in his DRS, and overtaking wasn’t simple. So I knew, I simply form of mentioned to myself, do what you do finest, no heroics, and you may win this race.
Q: Oscar?
OP: Yeah, I imply, I used to be roughly making an attempt to do the same factor, I assume, making an attempt to get again to the rostrum. You realize, I felt like that might have been a great consequence from the place we began. After which, yeah, clearly once you’re in competition for a win, yeah, issues change somewhat bit. When it comes to what it’s good to do on observe it is precisely the identical. You attempt to deal with what’s forward and also you’re simply making an attempt to drive as quick as doable particularly with solely 5 or 6 laps to go. So I attempted my finest. I believe I went off a few instances making an attempt to catch George however I am unable to say I did not strive.
Q: Carlos?
CS: I believe I used to be just about P2 on the time when all the things, or sorry, I used to be P4 on the time, which was just about P2. So I did not really feel prefer it was lots occurring. After which all of the sudden they advised me on the radio concerning the incident with Max and Lando, that made me really feel like I used to be clearly P2. On the time, I felt like I used to be catching George somewhat bit, however I used to be simply not fairly fast sufficient to… I had two little laps left to go for it. And however, I had a really quick Oscar coming behind. So yeah, as soon as I knew it was a podium, it was clearly very troublesome to guage the extent of threat you could take, particularly as a result of Oscar was simply fairly an enormous step faster than us this weekend. And yeah, it was virtually unattainable to maintain him behind. Yeah, I needed to sort of accept the P2, P3 and stay with it.
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A query for Carlos, please. Apologies for asking this, however it’s about your future. Clearly, you’ve got received a number of choices on the desk for subsequent season. It does seem that a few the groups are getting somewhat bit impatient, for example. Does that put any strain on you to sort of decide imminently? Or do you’re feeling such as you’ve received time to do it? Thanks.
CS: As I mentioned earlier than, for certain that strain, I am not going to obtain it on a Sunday afternoon after a podium we’re eager to get pleasure from. As I mentioned earlier than, I believe it is typically, like George was saying, we take it as a right once we’re on one among these podiums, celebrating, sporting a Ferrari swimsuit, and I used to be pondering, attempt to get pleasure from this second as a result of who is aware of when it will be the following time sooner or later. In order a lot as perhaps there are some groups which are nervous or pressuring me, it is time for me additionally to get pleasure from this second of being on a podium. And I’ll be sincere and simple with the groups, however it’s such an essential choice for me additionally that I’ll take on a regular basis that I have to take it. And if there’s groups that can’t wait or are a bit impatient, I can not do something about it. It will be my future, my choice, and I’ll attempt to be as sincere as doable with everybody and provides myself the time that I would like.
ENDS