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1 – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull)
2 – Charles LECLERC (Ferrari)
3 – Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by David Coulthard)
Q: Max Verstappen, well, what a race; 2022 is go! it wasn't the start you
needed in Bahrain but this was a brilliant weekend for you and some really
close and respectful racing with Charles.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, it was really tough, but a good race. I mean, we were
battling hard at the front and yeah, we just tried to play the long game.
They were really quick through corners, we were quick on the straight. But
the tyres were wearing out quite quick around here. You could see at the
end, I think we had a little bit more pace, so I just tried to get by. It
wasn't easy, playing smart tricks in the last corner, but eventually I
managed to get ahead. But even after that he was constantly in the DRS and
then with the yellow flags in the last lap, just knowing how much you should
lift, whether it was allowed or not. It was tough but I’m really happy that
we finally kickstarted the season.
Q: Just put us in the cockpit with, as you say, smart tricks running into
the DRS, we're just seeing the lock up, you both locked up going to where
the DRS line is, we can see it on the screen behind you, and then coming
onto the start/finish for the pass. This strategy you're having to deploy,
this is a new form of racing.
MV: Yeah, it seems like once you get quite close, because I think the cars,
when you get to within half a second, you actually can have a good exit. And
I think that makes a lot more tricky to actually do the pass, let's say in
the last corner compared to last year, so it's a lot harder to plan your
pass.
Q: OK, well, you are the winner tonight, so congratulations. Charles
Leclerc. Well, you did everything in that grand prix right. I take my hat
off to you in terms of when you first allowed Max to overtake you into the
last corner, the dummy you threw, I thought you had a problem. But you were
strategically making sure you had the DRS. That was some smart racing.?
Charles LECLERC: Yeah, it was, but it wasn't enough today. But oh my god, I
really enjoyed that race. Again, it's hard racing, but fair. And every race
should be like this. So it was fun. I'm of course disappointed. I wanted to
win today. We just missed. I mean, we had two very different configurations
with Max and Checo and both the Ferraris. We were quite quick in the
corners, but quite slow in the straight, because we put more downforce and
so it was extremely difficult for me to cover Max in the straights, but it's
like this, and he did a great job and it was a fun race.
Q: Did I hear correctly, you were on the radio congratulating Max,
acknowledging that this was a great battle. The respect is there.
CL: Oh, yeah. It's always been there, especially when you finish a race like
this, honestly. I mean, we are on a street track, we've been pushing like
I've rarely pushed before, to the absolute limits and we take risks at the
end. So of course there is respect, but I’m a bit disappointed.
Q: Carlos, a little bit of confusion before the safety car start. We heard
you on the radio very clearly, the safety car line here a little bit tricky
when you come out of the pit lane. Overall your thoughts on your race?
Carlos SAINZ: Yeah it was close call there with Checo but in the end I think
he got a bit unlucky with a safety car obviously but the rules are the rules
and I think I was just ahead at the safety car line and it was my position
then, and since then it was all about holding on to P3. The Red Bulls were
super quick in the last 10 laps after the tyres cooled down on the safety
car, on the virtual. They were flying and they were putting pressure on us.
For me this race was a bit of progress from Bahrain. I think I managed to
find a bit more rhythm with the car. Still some tenths to find but I think I
will end up getting there.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Many congratulations to the top three finishes of the FIA Formula 1 Saudi
Arabian Grand Prix in third place, Carlos Sainz. In second place, Charles
Leclerc. And taking his first victory of 2022, and the 21st victory of his
Formula 1 career, our winner, Max Verstappen. What a race Max, more
tremendous racing between you and Charles, crossing the line just half a
second apart. What were those closing laps like from your point of view?
MV: Qualifying laps! It was tough. I didn't really feel that happy on the
medium. All the time, when you would get close to the car ahead the tyres
would die. So there was not much racing going on there. So it was a little
bit frustrating to just sit there and wait for the right lap to pit so you
could go onto the other tyres, because as soon as we went on to the hard
tyre I had a much better feeling. So then I of course tried to stay close
with Charles after the safety car restart and, yeah, I was just trying to
keep the gap more or less the same. And that was basically it, you know,
just trying to match the lap times, trying to get a bit closer, then he was
pulling away a bit. I got a bit closer again. And yeah, then of course, we
had the VSC at the end. And then it's always a bit of a question mark, you
know, what's going to happen after with the tyres, of course, because they
cooled down a lot, but it seemed like we had quite a good first few laps on
that restart. I had a good feeling with the car and the tyres were still
only holding on quite well through the high speed. And of course, I then had
a few good opportunities, but Charles really played it smart in the last
corner. So it was not easy for me to actually get by. And of course then I
had to line myself up again to have another go at it. And eventually I had
the go and I got ahead but then once I was ahead it was really like four
laps flat out trying to stay ahead because Charles was consistently in my
DRS. So yeah, it was quite tough out there.
Q: It was great to watch and a real game of cat and mouse. Were you having
to apply some old karting tactics out there?
MV: Well, in go-karting you can rub a bit, you know, with the sidepods and
stuff. That's unfortunately not possible anymore in Formula cars. But we
have done that in the past. I think we are okay.
Q: And Max from a performance point of view, how was the car? Do you feel
you've taken a step forward since Bahrain?
MV: Difficult to say if it's a step forward, but I think we are always
learning and of course every track is different as well, in terms of what
you need from the car, so still a lot of things to look at. Because clearly
yesterday I wasn't very happy and also in the first stint it still wasn't
how I would have liked it to be. But having said that, I think in general,
being the car following you just open up your tyre a bit sooner and it's not
great out there. Because as soon as I felt like I was in clean air, the car
actually did change a bit in balance. So yeah, we'll have a look but still
quite a few things of course to get on top of because it's a very new car
still.
Q: Charles, coming to you now. It was very close in the end. Did you enjoy
the fight, and did the yellow flag on the penultimate lap cost you?
CL: I definitely enjoyed the fight. It's obviously disappointing to lose the
win so late in the race but it was a fun fight. It was very difficult
because we had two cars that were in a very different place. I was very
strong in the first sector, in all the corners, and basically much less
strong in the straights. So it was very, very tricky. I tried to have the
DRS in the last corner. It worked twice but it didn't the last time and then
obviously there was this yellow flag. I don't know if we are speaking about
the same yellow flag but I think the one where I could have had a chance to
at least be alongside was the one into Turn 1 where I had no DRS there, so
this was a little bit of a shame but it's part of the game! We'll try again
next race.
Q: Now, you talked earlier about being able to push hard throughout the
race. So, tell us about the tyres. How consistent were they tonight?
CL: They were consistent, but the first run was a bit more difficult. I
think we did a great job by managing those Mediums, because it wasn’t easy
following Checo. But, towards the end we actually had quite a good pace on
those Mediums. And then on the Hard, it felt nice whenever I had a little
bit of margin I felt like I could keep the gap to Max but then obviously
with the Safety Cars with the Virtual Safety Cars as soon as he got within
DRS range, everything became a bit trickier there. But yeah, it's like this.
Q: And Charles, tell us about that first pit stop. Lots of radio chat
between you and the pit wall. Were you ready to pit or was it all an effort
to try and persuade Red Bull to put Pérez in?
CL: No, no. We were ready to pit. I mean, yes we basically went for the
opposite to Checo in front, and he boxed that lap, so yeah, I think we did
the right choice.
Q: Carlos coming to you, another podium many congratulations. First up, were
you happier with the car here than you were seven days ago in Bahrain?
CS: I was happier than in Bahrain, definitely. There's been a bit of
progress done from my side of the garage, with the feeling with the car.
Also, having the opportunity to come to this track, one hundred days only
after we were here with last year's car has given me a much clearer picture
of the type of corner and the two or three corners that I'm still lacking
with this car – because it’s quite clear for me now, it has given me a great
opportunity to understand fully the magnitude of how much I need to adapt
and how much I need to get the car bit more to my liking. I felt like today
we did a small step in the right direction and you know still… well, while
I'm still not 100 per cent with the car, to keep bringing the points and the
podiums is important, until I will get back to 100 per cent and it will be
time to join these guys at the top for the fights.
Q: Talk us through the start. It seems you made a very good getaway but lost
out to Max on the exit of Turn 2. How much did that compromise your race?
CS: Yeah, it's a very narrow start here. So I had a very good launch out of
the start. And then I was squeezed a bit in between Checo and Charles, and I
had to lift and this gave Max the opportunity to go on the inside, and pass
me outside of Two with a better run. I was just basically a bit unlucky
because I think I was just boxed in, due to my good start and I had to lift.
So yeah, the good thing is that it was a good start and they’re going to be
important for this year. Those good starts. And we need to keep them up.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Frédéric Ferret – L’Equipe) Question to Charles and Max. Two questions
in fact. The VSC, it seems that Max, you closed the gap to Charles. Is there
a way to be clever under VSC? And second question, how do you manage to
fight for the DRS, and be second as a driver?
CL: For the VSC I mean, I don't know. This is probably more a question for
Max. And I'm pretty sure that if there is a way, he won't say it now, in
front of everyone. But yeah, I felt at one point that Max was closer, but
actually, I think at the actual restart, I don't think it was the case. But
we'll look into it anyway. And yeah, I knew that the strength of Max and the
Red Bull in general, this weekend was the straight line speed. So I
basically knew that if I was leaving Max with a DRS behind for the main
straight, I will basically be overtaken very easily. So, I just wanted that,
DRS, so on the first lap, I braked very early and I got the DRS and manage
to overtake back on the run to Turn One. And then the second one, obviously
Max knew that I was going to do that, so we both braked quite early, but I
still managed to stay in front at the end. And the third time, it didn't
work out for me. But yeah, I just tried to do the best I could to keep the
position but it wasn't enough today.
Q: Max?
MV: To be honest, I was a little bit surprised myself that it did look a
little bit closer, but I don't know how close Charles was, of course to
zero, you know, with the delta. That's always a bit of a question mark. But
also, sometimes it depends a bit where the restart is: if it's in a corner
for somebody in front or not. I think I was still on a bit more of the
straight side and had a bit of a better run into Turn Four as well. So, it's
a bit tricky. And yeah, I think, like Charles said, you know, you always try
to of course have a good run with the DRS into the final zone, where then
you have a lot of fast corners where you cannot pass so, of course you know
Charles played is very smart there, but also, it seemed like their
defence/attack mode is very powerful. So, for me also, even more top speed.
It was very hard to nail the overtake, but eventually it worked.
Q: (Christian Menath – motorsport-magazin.com) Question for Max and Charles.
Max, you already mentioned earlier that it was not fun to drive behind
another car. But the battle you had at the end, the other ones being
overtaken, having the chance to re-overtake and so on. Do you think we could
have seen this kind of battle with last year's cars or only with this year's
cars?
MV: I think the cars are better to follow, it just depends on the tyre. Like
the hard tyre was capable of following closer, the other compounds – and
this depends on the track – but they just fall apart. Like, as soon as you
follow for a few laps, they just open up. And I think it's also a little bit
of a thing … probably tyres, but also the weight of the car pushes you over
the tyre edge. So, this is something we need to look at for the future.
Because yeah, we improved the following with the cars, and I think probably
the racing, but if the tyres don't let you, due to whatever reason, if it's
the weight of the actual car, that’s a bit of a shame, because in the first
stint, I think we could have actually raced a bit more if the tyre didn't
die. Because everyone was basically struggling with the same thing at one
point. So yeah, we need to understand that a bit better.
CL: Yeah, very similar, very similar comments. But it is definitely a step
forward compared to last year in terms of following. The balance of the car
is much more predictable, compared to last year's car where it was very
difficult to understand whether you will lose the front, or the rear being
behind. This helps us to have the confidence, to actually push behind
someone and to be a bit closer. So, it is a step forward but, as Max said, I
think there are other things that we can probably look out for the future to
make it even better.
Q: (Erwin Jaeggi – motorsport.com) Question for all three: it has been
suggested earlier that one could lose DRS when the new technical regulations
prove to be successful. What do you think after this race? Do you think if
we should keep DRS because it's a technical aspect as well? Or do you think
everyone should scrap DRS when the new technical rules prove to be a
success?
MV: Well, if I didn't have DRS today I would have never passed. I think we
are still too sensitive for that. And of course, some tracks are easier to
pass than others. But for me at the moment, if DRS wouldn't be there, I
would have been second today.
CL: Yeah, I think we still need DRS for now.
CS: I agree, I think without DRS passing would be reduced significantly. So
I think we are still better off with DRS. What we might need to consider
maybe is the speed delta that there is with the DRS might be a bit too much,
which gives the car behind maybe too much of a speed delta [so] that
sometimes the overtake is done before the braking. And you’d much rather
have the two cars battling under braking rather than passing like in the
highway. Now, that is sometimes what can happen. So maybe we need to have a
look at this but we definitely need DRS nowadays.
Q: (Matt Kew – Autosport) Max was this battle with Charles more satisfying
after similar circumstances over DRS detection in Bahrain? And was that
battle playing on your mind today?
MV: Every battle is different but yeah, well, it's just smart racing and
good racing, you know, so just have to deal with it, adjust to it. And yeah,
it was a lot of fun. It was not easy but a lot of fun.
Q: (Jesus Balseiro – Dairio AS) Carlos, you're not entirely happy with your
feel of the car but it is still two podiums in two races, so what are the
good things you're taking from this start of the season with Ferrari?
CS: Well, the fact is that as you say you I'm not feeling 100% but I felt
like this weekend we already did a step in the right direction and this
gives me hope that if we keep working like this then I should just keep
getting better and better every race. It might need a bit of more trial and
error, try in one direction, maybe not getting it right and coming back. But
yeah, as I said before, I was here 100 days ago with a car that gave me a
lot of confidence and I was super quick around here with last year’s car,
and coming to this track and doing the same lap 100 days later with a car
that doesn't give me exactly what I need or, or the way I feel, makes me
realise exactly what I need to work on and where I need to put the car for
the future. So it's going to be a… it has given me a greater overview of the
situation, and I know exactly what to do for future races and in which type
of corner I need to work on.
Q: (Andrew Benson – BBC) To both Max and Charles, initially, in the middle
stint of the race, it looked like Charles kind of had things under control.
But then after the VSC, Max, you were all over the back of him. Charles were
you struggling with tyres at that point? We saw you have a couple of snaps
at the last corner. And Max, we heard you being asked to manage through the
high speed. Do you both feel that tyre management or tyre usage was the
decisive point in the race? And Max just to you, because we didn't hear from
you yesterday, after all the events of the weekend and the drivers nearly
strike and so on. Are you comfortable racing in Saudi Arabia?
CL: Yeah so for the tyre management, I don't think we did anything wrong,
there. Yeah, I don't think it is the reason why we lost a win today. I
forgot what I wanted to say. Alright, go ahead. Oh, yeah. All right. Yeah.
MV: Yeah, that middle bit. I was just trying to stay with Charles without
hurting the tyres too much because that was a bit my problem in the first
stint, to see what would happen in the last 10 laps or 15 laps. And yeah,
then of course, that VSC happens so the tyres also cooled down quite a bit.
But then yeah, when I started to fully push, seemed like we had good pace.
So that's why I think I could actually push up to Charles a little bit. So
yeah, a lot happier on the hard tyre in general with degradation. And about
the race here, well, we had a lot of guarantees that of course, we would be
safe but I think after this weekend, all the drivers also together, we will
speak with F1 and of course also the team bosses to see what's happening for
the future.
CL: I'm back. So yeah, I think the point where we struggled the most is
whenever Max got the DRS basically, because our weaknesses were just bigger,
the straight-line speed difference was much bigger. We were still quick in
the corners, but not enough to have that margin to cover. So from that
moment onwards, it was a bit more difficult for us.
Q: (Beatrice Zamuner – F1analisitechnica.com) Carlos, can you just explain
the nature of the problem you had on your car before the race? And did you
fear you could not take part in the race at any point?
CS: I am not sure if I'm allowed to go into detail about the problem. I
think it's better you ask the team exactly what happened. What I know is
that there was a bit of tension there because we were obviously about to go
to the grid and the mechanics and everyone just did a great job to put
everything back together to have the chance to race today. So a big
thank-you to them. These things happen and it was important, you know, to
get out there to score the points today. So good job.
Q: (Christian Menath – motorsport-magazine.com) Carlos, do you think it was
a bit unfair that you got the position back after the restart or not before,
that you had no chance to attack Max?
CS: It definitely was very strange. I think as a sport we need to keep
analysing these things because we could simplify things so much more if
Checo would have just given me the position during the safety car which
basically would have given me an opportunity to fight Max at the restart and
would have given Checo on opportunity to fight me to get the position but
what happened is that I was obviously fighting Checo, but I knew that Checo
was going to give me a position quickly and he couldn't fight me because he
was going to give me a position back so in the end, we created a mess that
for me is unnecessary, given the fact that we did six laps behind the safety
car and there were
millions of opportunities for Checo to let me by and have a good fight at
the restart. If I would have get passed by Russell for example, what would
we have done and would Checo have had to let by Russell and me, which would
have been tremendously unfair for him too or then Checo doesn’t give me back
the position because there's Russell in between me and him and it's
tremendously unfair for me. So I don't know, it's just these kind of things
that as a sport we need to keep getting better at because I think we need to
simplify things and just make it more quicker and easier for everyone to
understand and even for the drivers to go racing with a much clearer mind. |
