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DRIVERS – Fernando ALONSO
(McLaren), Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes), Romain GROSJEAN (Lotus), Daniil KVYAT
(Red Bull Racing), Roberto MERHI (Manor), Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN (Ferrari)
PRESS CONFERENCE
First of all then, a question to you all: how would you sum up your year and
what was your favourite moment? Romain, why don’t you get us started.
Romain GROSJEAN: Well, I think the favourite moment is pretty easy – Spa
Francorchamps, the podium. To summarise the year: it was a pretty good year
I think in terms of driving. We had a good baseline to start the year with
the car. We couldn’t really update it as much as we wanted but still
fighting for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, so pretty pleased with
that and yeah, last year with Lotus.
And Daniil?
Daniil KVYAT: Well, a very eventful year I would say, it went by very
quickly. I think the start was quite painful but then I think I’m proud of
how we managed to climb our way up through all the issues that we had to
start with and then I think we kind of stabilised there. Some strong races
and some good points, but obviously we are always looking for more in the
future. The highlight I think was the podium, even though I wouldn’t say it
was the best race. We had a couple of really strong races, I would say even
the last couple of races I was quite pleased about them. Hoping to finish on
high here, yeah.
Kimi?
Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN: Pretty average, I must say. Better than last year but still
far away from what it should be. But there’s life and next year we’ll try
again.
Roberto?
Roberto MERHI: Yeah for sure we started in a very difficult way, with no
testing and to be honest I never drove this car before. But I think through
the year the thing improved quite a lot – I mean the team and also the car
and also me, driving the car. I think the last races were quite good. And
obviously the best moment of the year I would say were the last laps in
Silverstone with the wet or maybe the qualifying in Spielberg was quite
good.
And Fernando, how would you sum up your year and can you pick out a
favourite moment?
Fernando ALONSO: Well, tough year, obviously difficult and struggling with
the pace all year and the reliability, so definitely a difficult season for
us. But personally I think it was necessary. It was a step forward in my
career after the two championships, after five fantastic seasons fighting
for the world championship but arriving second, so I needed some new
motivation, some new project that I could trust and I could believe is the
only way to become champion again. After one difficult season, as I said, I
learn so much. I enjoy working with McLaren, with Honda, with all the
Japanese discipline and Japanese culture into the team. I still remain very
positive. I’m very, very happy and looking forward to next year being a
little bit easier than this one that, as I said, has been difficult in terms
of results.
And finally, Lewis, how would you sum up your year. So many favourite
moments I’m sure, difficult to pick one?
Lewis HAMILTON: Yeah, what can I say? Obviously all different experiences
but it has been the best year of my career and I’m in a very fortunate
position, a lot of great work done by my team. Probably one of the best
races for me was Austin obviously, the pinnacle of the year for me. Yeah,
and excited to be here in Abu Dhabi, with the 44th UAE national day and I’m
here to try to win that 44th race, which I still haven’t done, so it’s cool
how it all kind of ties in.
Did you see all the 44s around here did you think that was for you, rather
for the day?
LH: Well it is my number, it’s associated with me, so….
Fernando, you mentioned there it has been a tough season and it’s coming to
an end here. Your 252nd grand prix start, it puts you fifth on the all-time
most experienced drivers list. You talked a bit there about motivation and I
just wondered what is your main motivation and goal for 2016.
FA: At the moment there’s a question mark, I guess, where McLaren-Honda can
be next year. There are a lot of expectations in the team. I think we worked
really all season, being united in some difficult moments and always moving
forward, so I think for 2016 the main goal for the team is to come back to
where we belong, we think, and being competitive, fighting for the top
positions. I don’t know if that means fighting for the championship, I don’t
know if that means fighting for victories of just being on the podium
sometimes, that’s always difficult to know in a very complex sport like
Formula One. There are definitely some big challenges ahead in this winter
and I see all the things that the team has done in the last couple of months
and these seem very logical, very positive and I’m confident that it’s going
to be a completely different season next year and I’m happy with the
progress.
Thank you. Lewis, coming back to you, I know you are very aware of fans on
social media and the discussions that take place. There’s been a lot of
discussion for this final round about whether you and your team-mate Nico
Rosberg should be allowed to go for it with whatever strategy you want to
use on Sunday in a sort-of end-of-season free-for-all. What are your
thoughts on that?
LH: I don’t really have any thoughts on it, to be honest. It doesn’t really
make any difference what my thoughts are. We’re going to be racing… the
strategists will give us the best… whoever’s up ahead will have the best
strategy and the guy behind will have the second best strategy, so I don’t
really have any thoughts on that.
OK. Romain, coming back to you, your 83rd and final grand prix for the
Enstone-based team, currently Lotus. You’ve scored 10 podiums for the team,
so in what mood do you say goodbye this weekend?
RG: yeah, it’s the first time of my career that I have had to change teams
in Formula One, so it’s something new. The first time I went to Enstone was
September 2005, as one of the driver development and I learned everything
from there. So yeah it’s going to be… switching off the car on Sunday,
jumping out of the E23 and thinking that was the last race with the team is
certainly going to be quite hard. On the other hand I really want to push
hard all weekend long to score good points, do a good result, thank the guys
for all the support, through tough times, better times as well and I think
we did both learn from those years, so it was a nice experience. Very much
looking forward to the next one as well, it’s going to be very exciting with
Haas. It’ll be good to have a good weekend and say goodbye in a proper way.
Thank you. Daniil, a season of two parts personally for you. From Monaco
onwards it’s gone well. Your 10 points ahead of your team-mate with one race
to go, so what aspect of your performance this year has given you the most
satisfaction?
DK: Yeah, like you said, since Monaco we probably started to follow the
right path more of less, a bit technically, a bit myself, but to be honest
it didn’t change much. An up and down season but we scored some good points,
we managed to start taking the maximum out of the package most of the
weekends. These things kind of give satisfaction but of course we are
looking for more performance and we are not yet where we want to be but for
sure it doesn’t take one day to be there. So we will keep pushing. Like I
said there were some good races in Spa, in Mexico and Brazil where I think
we were taking the absolute maximum out of the car and we need to try to do
this every weekend.
Roberto, back in the cockpit for Manor this weekend. A lot of change going
on in that team. Can you tell us about the team’s prospects and your own?
RM: Yeah obviously Manor wants to do a step for next year, to try to be
fighting for points every race, every grand prix and they are putting a lot
of effort on it and hopefully it goes well. The plan also for me next year
is to try to stay in Formula One and trying to see what is the best options
out there and yeah we will see. At the moment there is nothing clear yet but
we will look in the next few weeks to see what is happening.
Q: Finally, Kimi, both your team principal Maurizio Arrivabene and team-mate
Sebastian Vettel have said the target for next season is to challenge
Mercedes for the championship. How do you analyse the progress this year
towards that – and do you think it’s achievable?
KR: Obviously this year has been a lot stronger year from the team than
previous year and you can easily see it from whichever way you look at it
and it all comes to next year. Obviously that’s the aim: the aim is always
to try to be in the front and Mercedes has always been very strong last
years and everybody else tries to beat them. Is it going to happen? Are we
going to be in a position next year? We hope so at least. We have to wait
until we put the cars on the circuit in a test and the first few races –
then we really see where we are. Obviously there’s a lot of work being done
at the factory, number and stuff but it’s never the same until we’re really
on the circuit. Then we can see it pretty well, or feel it quite quickly,
after a few laps, if it’s going to a good one or not so good one. I’m sure
we’re going to have a strong package – but is it strong enough? Time will
only tell.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Khodr Rawi - motorsport.com) Question to Fernando. Fernando, how
realistic is to be beat Sauber and finish ahead of them in Constructors’
Championship here in Abu Dhabi? Do you think it’s realistic?
FA: I don’t know really. I think it’s unlikely. I think they are nine points
ahead, I think, and we score points three or four times this year only, so
to score as many as ten in one race, in the final race is a little bit
difficult but, you know, I think we will try to do our best. We will try to
perform a good weekend but I think our minds are on next year’s project and
probably half of the car is next year’s parts or next year’s philosophy as
well so I think we are not too worried about beating Sauber this weekend or
not.
Q: (Heikki Kulta – Turun Sanomat) Kimi, Bahrain, P2 was your best result for
two years. Has it been also been also the best weekend for you during this
times at Ferrari lately?
KR: The end result was probably best but it doesn’t meant that we are
somehow better than other weekends. The end result, it just looks good. But
it’s not been the easiest few years but that’s how it goes, y’know? We
improved a lot from last year but we’re still not happy and when I don’t
finish five races it’s quite a big… many races out of how many we’ve done so
far this year. You don’t expect to be very high up and fighting for a lot.
So, we have to improve and I’m sure we can still improve it and next year is
a new challenge. Let’s see. I’m sure we can do better.
Q: (Frederic Ferret – L’Equipe) Question to Romain Grosjean. How much are
you worried by the delay of the building of your cars?
RG: Something we have experienced in the past. We have always managed to put
it on track on time. As long as it’s ready for FP2 then I’m happy. We’ll try
to forget that, as we’ve shown in, I think it was Suzuka and Brazil when we
were a little bit late. We did manage to put the car on track and go for it.
It’s just harder work for the guys who don’t deserve this – but they are
going to do the maximum and then from there we try to score some good
points.
Q: (Joy Chakavarty - Sport 360) My question is for Romain. Romain this is
the first time that you’re joining a second new team. How different is the
feeling when you were joining the F1 for the first time and now, after 83
races, joining another new team. Can you just give us an idea of the mix of
emotions that you have right now? Sense of anticipation for next year? Kind
of sadness or sorrow? Whatever for leaving the team behind now?
RG: Yeah, I think you summarise it pretty well. It’s sad to leave… more than
a team it becomes a family through the years. It’s going to be hard to leave
the guys but I know they won’t be far in the paddock so that’s good news. On
the other hand there’s real excitement at joining a new team, a new
adventure, an American Formula One team is going to be great. Looking
forward to it and going to Haas is a very different thing. So I came the
first time in Formula One as a rookie. Everything to learn. Right now I’m
going in a new team and I’ve probably got the experience they were looking
for. We try to be successful as soon as we can – but it’s quite different.
It feels better now than it was the first time. Easier.
Q: (Dan Knutson – Honorary) Lewis, after your visit to the NASCAR race last
week, what did you see there that would be really cool for the fans or
competitors in F1? Or perhaps something you saw that said no way should come
to Formula One?
LH: I don’t know, I’d have to really think about that. There were definitely
some things that for sure they do a lot better than us. Or, whether it’s a
lot better… but there were for sure things that we could learn from them. It
was a great show, a great spectacle, particularly for the fans. A bit like
DTM, the fans get very, very close to the garages in the background and to
the drivers and… what else? Otherwise it was a really cool event. I hope I
get to do one one day.
Q: (Wafa Suqqar - beinsports) Kimi, after the second round in Malaysia,
Ferrari fans feeling better that maybe this year will be different. What
Ferrari can promise the fans about 2016?
KR: Like I said before, we’re going to give our best and hopefully it’s
enough to fight for championships. We keep improving, following our own way
of doing the things that we’ve done from last year to this year and
hopefully then it’s enough to be where we want to be as Ferrari. So, we can
promise a lot of things. Is it going to happen? Who knows? I really hope for
all the guys there in Ferrari that we will come back strong – or stronger
next year than this year – but there’s no point to make big promises. We’re
going to do our best and then we’ll see.
Q: (Walter Koster – Saarbrucker Zeitung) Gentlemen, last year Sochi, this
year Mexico, next year Baku in Azerbaijan; three new tracks in three years.
Are you looking forward to new tracks or do you regret not returning to the
eliminated tracks in the past like Imola, Magny Cours, Istanbul Park or
Valencia? This is for the four drivers who know these tracks.
FA: At the end of the day it doesn’t change anything for us. Going to some
of the circuits that we raced on for all our careers, like Imola, Magny
Cours, Istanbul – they are nice tracks and there is nice tradition there so
you enjoy racing at those circuits. When you go to new countries, you open
the sport up to new people and to new generations so it’s also quite a good
feeling. We are travelling a little bit more. When I started some years ago,
there were 16 races; now, next year, they have planned 21 and most of them
out of Europe, so it’s definitely more demanding in terms of travelling and
preparing the championship but as I said, it’s the direction that the sport
chooses and there is the advantage of opening up Formula One to new
countries and this is also good news, I think.
LH: Not really much to add to what he said but Fernando’s right, it’s good
to go to different countries and to spread the word of Formula One, give
them the experience and gain new followers for the sport. Those tracks you
mentioned, apart from Imola, were not particularly spectacular tracks anyway
so for sure it would be kind of good to keep the balance of the real classic
circuits rather than just a bunch of new circuits because the new circuits
are generally not as good as the old circuits, they don’t carry the same
history or heritage and I think it’s important that we keep really close to
the heritage of Formula One which is those old, historic circuits.
KR: It’s always the new places that are quite similar, designed by the same
guy, so I’m not saying that they’re not good but they are more the same. I
enjoy the older, traditional circuits. You maybe didn’t like Magny Cours, I
liked it, not many people, quiet, easy. It was one of the best places to go!
I liked the older, they looked a bit nicer, a more normal feeling than when
we come here and everything is put – in this case – in a more desert area. I
prefer there, it’s easier for people to go to – for us. We go wherever the
race is. The weekend itself doesn’t change. We have the same people as here,
the timetable is more or less (the same) and the same things happen.
RG: I think it was really great this year to see Mexico was... a very warm
welcome from all the fans, it was an awesome weekend. I would like to see
Magny Cours back on the calendar, it would be the French Grand Prix, unique
for me. Paris? The traffic is not so good. I would like a French Grand Prix.
I think Fernando’s point is completely right: in an ideal world you would
like to do all of them but it’s not possible so I think we follow the
calendar, we like discovering new places but going to Silverstone or in
Germany or Barcelona is always quite special.
Q: (Christopher Joseph – Chicane) Romain, earlier Fernando spoke of his
appreciation for the influence of the Japanese discipline on him and his
team. What are you hoping to get from the influence of the Haas team and the
American approach on yourself next season?
RG: Well, I think I have already been seduced by their approach and when I
met Gene Haas, trying to pronounce the word properly - it’s very hard for a
Frenchman – it was straightaway... the spirit was ‘let’s go racing’ and I
liked that. I really liked their philosophy, discovering more and more about
America. I didn’t yet get to a NASCAR race, I’m on the backfoot on that but
I will probably go next year and I think there is this American spirit with
the European base as the team is going to be in between Italy and Banbury in
the UK and then all the management in the US. So it can be a great mix.
Q: (Graham Cagill - The National) Lewis, you’ve won here twice before and
you were well on your way to winning in 2012 as well before the car let you
down and you’ve had two pole positions also, so I think it’s fair to say
that you go well here. Just wondering if there’s any reason why you think
you go so well here and what your expectations are for this weekend?
LH: I don’t know; I guess there are some tracks that suit some drivers’
styles more than others. Ideally you would like your style to suit
everywhere exactly the same but there are some that you just happen to go
better at. I know this is a bit like a karting track, there’s a lot of late
braking and bouncing off kerbs and really having to throw the car around. It
works for an aggressive driving style, I guess and yeah, I’ve had some great
experiences here, even from the first race which I was leading but – (to
Kimi) you won the first race didn’t you? – I’m thinking you might have won
the first race maybe. Someone won the first race after my car failed but a
great experience. It’s always a good finale here, you’ve got some good
battles, the weather’s always fantastic, great fans and for me this weekend
is... I’ve had an amazing year here last year and I’m here to try to do
something similar. |
