DRIVERS 1 – George RUSSELL (Mercedes) 2 – Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren)
3 – Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari) TRACK INTERVIEWS(Carried out by David Coulthard) Q: Carlos Sainz, welcome. One other podium in your profession and what was a reasonably quiet weekend when it comes to total efficiency nevertheless it all got here alive on the finish there. Did you see the motion forward or had been you simply very a lot targeted 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 might need a little bit of a bonus on race tempo however we tried every thing to maintain up with him and Oscar, on the finish, was coming actually, actually fast and ultimately P3 which is I feel a very good outcome. I feel we will be fairly joyful fairly happy with that as a result of this weekend hasn’t been straightforward for us and to return away with 15 factors and a P3 is an effective outcome. Q: We’re in the course of this triple header. We have come off the again of your property Grand Prix. Now we have Silverstone in every week’s time. Can we count on 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 troublesome couple of races the place we’re not fairly there to combat for the win but, however we’re making an attempt to do every thing we are able to as a group to be again on type 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’ll hold pushing flat out to remain within the combat. Q: Okay, properly, we look ahead to seeing that huge push. Properly accomplished on the rostrum.CS: Thanks. Q: As we transfer on to our second place finisher, who should be considering, what may have been? All of it grew to become undone even earlier than you began the race with that qualifying penalty for monitor limits? Oscar PIASTRI: Yeah, there’s numerous 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 a little bit bit, however actually good factors, clearly. I feel 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 harm a little bit bit. Q: Properly, you’ll be able to carry that momentum, hopefully, onto your [McLaren’s] house Grand Prix in every 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 will 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 feel we’re properly and actually within the combine. Silverstone’s a monitor I all the time take pleasure in. Crew’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, unimaginable. It was a troublesome combat on the market at the start of the race, simply to carry on to that P3, and I noticed on the TV that Max and Lando had been going fairly onerous. I knew Lando would need to attempt to get that race win, however, you understand, the group have accomplished a tremendous job to get us on this combat. 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 really occurred.GR: Yeah, they had been going for it. And I could not consider really how shut we had been to Lando and Max. I feel 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 group have labored so onerous. We have made so many strides for the reason that begin of the season. So, yeah, the final three races have been unimaginable, so extra to return. Q: Now, look, you have accomplished every thing to be sure you had been in that place. The opposite two appeared like that they had 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 it’s a must to then capitalise. So that you should be actually proud with this, your second Grand Prix victory.GR: Yeah, completely. I feel it is no secret Purple Bull with Max and McLaren with Lando are nonetheless a little bit 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 understand, simply actually happy with all people. And, you understand, what an thrilling time for us. Q: And, George, we’re one week away from the British Grand Prix. That might be good to hold this momentum in direction of one other podium there.GR: Yeah, completely. I feel we’re driving a little bit of a wave in the mean time. These final three races have been unimaginable. I feel realistically we in all probability may have gained the race in Canada, so this in all probability makes up for one too many errors on my facet there, and simply actually proud to be again on the highest step. PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: George, very properly accomplished 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 trustworthy. These final three races as a group, 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. In the present day 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 group for all of the onerous work they’ve accomplished. Such large progress for the reason that begin of the yr. Q: That is additionally a racetrack that brings out the very 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 monitor I take pleasure in. The final couple of years have been very troublesome for us as a group. 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 combating for the rostrum. I feel realistically, we nonetheless in all probability have the third quickest automotive behind Purple Bull and McLaren. However the final three races, Lewis and I’ve been in that P3 spot. So, you understand, we’re actually getting probably the most out of it. And typically, racing, it goes your method. 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 issues over the radio. How was the automotive, to start with?GR: It was very windy on the market, and I feel the automotive was feeling a little bit bit unusual. On my laps to grid, we checked every thing, and every thing was advantageous. 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 niche to Carlos. I knew Oscar was going to be fast, and he type of got here a little bit bit out of nowhere in direction of the top of the race on these Exhausting tyres. For me it was fairly troublesome. After which instantly I had Toto screaming in my ear, ‘you’ll be able to win this’. And I nearly crashed when he screamed into my ears. It was that loud. However I feel it simply goes to point out the fervour that all of us share. And it is clearly been a troublesome 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 course of the race. How a lot did that assist you to within the closing battle with Oscar to be on the onerous tyre?GR: I do not assume it helped in any respect, to be trustworthy. I feel it is troublesome. I feel we cut up the methods with Lewis simply to strive one thing. You by no means know the way the race goes to pan out. And VSC, Security Vehicles have an enormous issue. That VSC on the finish was fairly helpful for me. It allowed me to chill my tyres down after which my tempo in opposition to Oscar. The final 5 laps was the identical when he had the medium. So, you understand, the automotive’s been feeling actually good. We all know we have got a little bit bit of labor nonetheless to do if we need to persistently be in that combat for the rostrum. However wanting on the steps we have made versus Ferrari, versus Aston Martin, it has been fairly large since Bahrain. Q: And when it comes to execution, was this the very best weekend that you just and the group have had up to now this yr?GR: Yeah, no doubt. I feel we actually executed every thing very well. I feel each session we maximised, certified as excessive as we expect was actually attainable. Race begins have been good. P4 within the race yesterday was the utmost. P3 realistically was the utmost and the deserving outcome as we speak. You realize, the group did an ideal job. So it is good whenever you get a reward for all that arduous work. Q: And what a outcome to take into your property 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 feel Purple Bull had been actually fast this weekend within the high-speed corners. So they are going to look fairly robust subsequent week in Silverstone. However we have got a number of days between from time to time. I will be on the simulator on Tuesday again on the manufacturing facility. So I am actually excited for that one. Q: Alright, George, very properly accomplished to you. Thanks very a lot. Oscar, let’s come to you now. P7 to P2 is an amazing outcome for you. How happy are you with the drive you place in as we speak?OP: Yeah, I feel principally joyful. I feel the primary stint did not make fairly as a lot progress as I’d have appreciated. Clearly had a little bit of an incident in Flip 1. After which, yeah, simply overheated the tyres a little bit bit. And with the soiled air, it was so onerous 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 would have liked some extra laps in direction of the top, sadly. However no, after beginning seventh, clearly a very good turnaround. Yeah, fairly joyful. Q: A bit of little bit of frustration in regards to the monitor limits yesterday in qualifying?GR: Yeah, undoubtedly, I imply, I used to be fairly upset yesterday that, you understand, there are such a lot of corners, we have made modifications on the monitor right here to do away with the monitor limits challenge. However this one nook, for some cause, we moved the white line, however not sufficient. However on the finish of the day, I went barely exterior 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 fireplace in me going into the race. So I feel a few of my overtakes in all probability got here from a bit additional again than perhaps they’d have in any other case. Q: Properly, Oscar, a few moments to speak to you about. Initially, you talked about that contact with Charles Leclerc at Flip 1 simply after the beginning. Speak us by that incident and was there any injury to your automotive consequently?OP: Yeah, I did not get the very 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 assume 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 feel there was a little bit bit of injury, however I do not assume 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 in regards to the battle with Carlos within the closing laps? Good transfer across the exterior from you.OP: Yeah, Flip 6 was a cheerful searching floor this weekend. I feel I did three strikes there across the exterior. Yeah, very, very shut on the best way into Flip 4. After which, yeah, simply had a bit extra grip across the exterior of 6 and managed to get it accomplished. 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 group’s house race?OP: I feel clearly final yr was an unimaginable weekend for us as a group, sort of the beginning of our resurgence. Like George mentioned, Max was fairly spectacular within the high-speed corners yesterday. So, you understand, clearly bodes properly for them at Silverstone. However I feel we have got a powerful automotive and I feel 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 feel we will be fairly assured we’ll be within the combat. Q: Alright. Good luck with that. Properly accomplished as we speak. Carlos, coming to you now. Very properly accomplished to you as properly. You’ve got 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 feel so. I feel there was not rather more in it this weekend. I feel we did a very good 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 that they had 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 believed that was a battle for a podium, which he was going to win. And ultimately, it grew to become a battle for a win ultimately. Yeah, we tried every thing we may, however we all know we have been struggling the previous couple of races. And yeah, in the mean time, Mercedes are a little bit bit faster than us. Q: As you say, you have been struggling for the previous couple of races. Is that this weekend proof that Ferrari are actually again on an excellent keel with this automotive, that you know the way to maximise it?CS: I feel, if something, it simply proves that the final two weekends have not been straightforward. We have been all the time the primary Ferrari ending behind the primary Mercedes. Even when you rely Canada, you would argue these three weekends in a row. So I feel Purple 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 scenario at the start of the yr. So it reveals that we have to work onerous. 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: Speak to us a little bit 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 facility pushing flat out, you understand, 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 permits 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 there, however not solely Max, additionally Mercedes and McLaren had been a transparent step forward of us in these sort of corners. And we all know Silverstone is the king of the excessive velocity, so we have to do a step. Clearly, we need to be aggressive there. And we’re going to combat every thing we are able to and attempt to discover every thing 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 difficulty within the race? And in that case, do you assume 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, you probably have it in quali, it’s a must to arrange the automotive in another way for qualifying after which in all probability you pay the value within the race. So yeah, it is not a really perfect scenario. It would not make you good in quali and it would not make you good within the race. Now we have been speaking loads about bouncing the final couple of weekends, which reveals that it has been a little bit of a difficulty, 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 Purple Bull. Q: (Marco Canseco – Marca) Query for Carlos. You’re solely factors 15 behind Charles with a race much less. Is one among your most important targets to beat him alongside the season?CS: Yeah, I really feel such as you guys look loads at this, clearly, the championship. Clearly, since I missed the race in Jeddah, I’m making an attempt to not give attention to the championship standings as a result of I am principally competing with these guys, having accomplished 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, moderately than on the championship as a result of it is not straightforward to compete in opposition to the very best guys on the earth, going up in opposition to them with one race much less within the season. However yeah, up to now, I feel I’ve accomplished 5 podiums out of ten races, one race win. It is an excellent statistic. I feel I am driving properly this yr. And yeah, I am specializing in having fun with the alternatives that I’ve this yr to combat for podiums that I may not have them subsequent yr. So I’ll give every thing and luxuriate 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 a little bit bit between Max and Lando, which labored out alright. What was your speedy response whenever 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 to visit?GR: I used to be simply making an attempt to give attention to simply maximizing my driving, to be trustworthy. Marcus, my engineer, mentioned three laps earlier than, they’re combating actually onerous and we are able to win this. And I mentioned, look, we have to type 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 an odd one to win a race like this, for certain. However as I mentioned, it is racing. Typically it goes in opposition to you and I really feel like we have in all probability missed out on one or two potentialities of victories. Montreal was gained, arguably Singapore, issues may have gone very barely in another way 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 intend 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 mates there too. So I am flying again with Fernando. Hopefully, he isn’t 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 need to have a good time it as a result of you’ll be able to’t take these moments with no consideration. I really feel that I’ve received loads left in me and much more victories to return sooner or later however in an period of whole dominance by one group and driver, any victory by another driver, that you must take pleasure in it. However it will not be as onerous as Lando’s celebration. If it is 50% as onerous as Lando’s celebration, it will likely be a fairly large night time. Q: (Mark Ivanov – Avto+Šport) Query for all of you, for all of three. How onerous was it in the previous couple of laps when all of you noticed that you would be able to end on the rostrum and the way onerous was the main focus for all of you?GR: I feel the problem was we had been approaching numerous again markers and we had been interacting loads with them. And when you 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 would perhaps lose six tenths. So you would 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 probably 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 believed he was going to catch me, to be trustworthy, however I feel 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 type of mentioned to myself, do what you do greatest, no heroics, and you may win this race. Q: Oscar?OP: Yeah, I imply, I used to be kind of making an attempt to do an analogous factor, I assume, making an attempt to get again to the rostrum. You realize, I felt like that might have been a very good outcome from the place we began. After which, yeah, clearly whenever you’re in rivalry for a win, yeah, issues change a little bit bit. When it comes to what that you must do on monitor it is precisely the identical. You attempt to give attention to what’s forward and also you’re simply making an attempt to drive as quick as attainable particularly with solely 5 – 6 laps to go. So I attempted my greatest. I feel I went off a few occasions making an attempt to catch George however I am unable to say I did not strive. Q: Carlos? CS: I feel I used to be just about P2 on the time when every thing, or sorry, I used to be P4 on the time, which was just about P2. So I did not really feel prefer it was loads occurring. After which instantly they instructed me on the radio in regards to 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 a little bit bit, however I used to be simply not fairly fast sufficient to… I had two little laps left to go for it. And then again, 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 danger that you would be able to take, particularly as a result of Oscar was simply fairly an enormous step faster than us this weekend. And yeah, it was nearly unimaginable to maintain him behind. Yeah, I needed to sort of accept the P2, P3 and reside with it. Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A query for Carlos, please. Apologies for asking this, nevertheless it’s about your future. Clearly, you have received a number of choices on the desk for subsequent season. It does seem that a few the groups are getting a little bit 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 take pleasure in. As I mentioned earlier than, I feel it is typically, like George was saying, we take it with no consideration once we’re on one among these podiums, celebrating, carrying a Ferrari go well with, and I used to be considering, attempt to take pleasure in this second as a result of who is aware of when it is going to be the following time sooner or later. In order a lot as perhaps there are some groups which can be nervous or pressuring me, it is time for me additionally to take pleasure in this second of being on a podium. And I’ll be trustworthy and simple with the groups, nevertheless it’s such an necessary resolution for me additionally that I’ll take on a regular basis that I must take it. And if there’s groups that can’t wait or are a bit impatient, I can’t do something about it. It’ll be my future, my resolution, and I’ll attempt to be as trustworthy as attainable with everybody and provides myself the time that I want. ENDS
