|
1 – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull
Racing)
2 – Sergio PÉREZ (Red Bull Racing)
3 – George RUSSELL (Mercedes)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by Pedro de la Rosa)
Q: George, what a race, man! Back on the podium. Can we say that Mercedes is
back now?
George RUSSELL: I'd love to say that but today was very tough. I gave it
everything I could to hold Max off, he did an amazing job, and we are so
proud to be standing here. The guys have worked so hard, so this is for
everyone back in Brackley and Brixworth, thank you.
Q: We heard at one point that you were having overheating issues and you
couldn't push as much as you wanted. I mean how much did it hamper you?
GR: I heard it was a lot to be honest, but when I had the Red Bulls in my
mirrors all I was doing was my maximum to keep them behind and it was an
enjoyable, good couple of laps and I’m just pleased to be able to bring it
home in P3. A lot of points on the board for us. So yeah, well done to Max,
he did a great job.
Q: Well done, man. Tell us about the last few laps? Could you push full or
did the car still have overheating issues, because we saw with Lewis that he
had to back off.
GR: Yeah it was very difficult in the last few laps. It was a survival race,
when we knew we had the gap, and as I said, just proud to bring it home in
P3 and thanks to all the fans here, they have been amazing all weekend, and
the support… Formula 1, at the moment, is in an incredible place so it's
great to be here at the moment.
Q: Well done, you did so well. Max, well done, your first victory again
since 2016 here in Spain. We saw you having issues in Turn 14, with the DRS,
tell us about it?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, I mean of course I went off. I suddenly had a lot of
tailwind, so I just lost the rear, went off and then, of course, I was in
the train and I tried to pass, but my DRS was not always working. So, yeah,
that made it very tough but we managed, due to the strategy, to get ahead
again and do our own race and eventually win the race. So, a difficult
beginning but a good end.
Q: And you switched to a three-stopper. I mean without DRS or with a DRS not
working that well, I mean, how did you manage to overcome that?
MV: Yeah, I tried to stay focused. Of course, it’s not nice when stuff like
that happens. And yet of course very happy to win and also very happy for
Checo. It was a great result for the team.
Q: Your pace with soft tyres was amazing. I mean, at one point you were the
fastest by a country mile. Did the soft tyres work very well with your car?
MV: Yeah, I think so. I think the behaviour of the car was good on the soft
but also on the medium. I think it was working out quite well.
Q: And on the fight with George. I mean, we saw you a bit of frustrated at
one point. I mean, he was closing the door he was changing direction a bit
too late.
MV: Yeah, it was more for because of my DRS you know, but yeah, at the end,
we managed to get ahead.
Q: Checo, you are Mexican but we’re here in Spain. So are you half-Spanish
now? Can we say that?
Sergio PÉREZ: Yeah, definitely. I mean, you already have very two good
drivers but I’ve been feeling a lot of support this weekend, so I'm
extremely happy to be on the podium for the first time in the Spanish Grand
Prix.
Q: A one-two for Red Bull here in Spain. Amazing to be here in the podium.
You could have won though.
SP: Yes, I think it was close. But at the end it is a great team result and
I'm happy for that.
Q: We heard you on the radio at one point saying ‘let me attack George, I
can get through’. I mean were you a bit frustrated at that point?
SP: Yeah, we were on different tyre strategies at the time. I let Max by in
the beginning, then I thought at the time that I could I could go by and not
lose crucial seconds, you know, to make my strategy work, but anyway, it's a
good team result.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Max, many congratulations, Barcelona was the scene of your first Formula
1 win and you've done it again. However, you had to do it the hard way
today. Just how satisfying is this victory?
MV: Yeah, a bit of a race with two halves, because the first 30 laps were
very frustrating for me, after I went off in Turn 4 first of all, which
really caught me by surprise, because I didn't feel like I was actually
braking later or throwing more speed into the corner. But it was very gusty
out there today. Like, one lap it felt all stable and then the next lap
suddenly you could have more oversteer in places. So probably that caught me
out, by surprise. So that was not ideal, of course. But then, of course, I
dropped back behind George and Checo. Checo was so kind to let me by to try
to attack George because I think already we were planning to do two
different strategies as a team, at the time. But then as soon as I was
attacking George, my DRS stopped working all the time on the main straight.
So that was extremely painful. Like, sometimes it would open, like, almost
halfway on the straight or not at all. So yeah, that made me stuck behind
George for 20 laps solid. So it was a tough one.
Q: Couple of things to pick up on there. Was there any damage after running
through the gravel at Turn 4?
MV: Didn't feel like it. I mean, there is, of course, gravel there. But I
didn't feel like I damaged the car, because once I was back on the track,
the car felt like normal. So I was lucky there, of course.
Q: And the DRS problem? Is there anything you can do in the cockpit to try
and improve the situation?
MV: No, because I mean, I'm pressing the button, but the system is not
opening. So this is not working. So we really have to fix that.
Q: We haven't seen you and George battle on track wheel-to-wheel in Formula
1. Just how much did you enjoy the fight with him?
MV: I was a bit frustrated at the time, because I couldn't get him because
of the DRS issues. But the fight itself, I think was really cool. Also, I
think that lap where I did go on the inside and then George went around the
outside, but then I was on the outside of Turn 3 again, I think that was a
really cool fight. Yeah, I look back at it and I'll smile now. At the time,
of course, I was a little bit frustrated. But it was a really good and tough
battle, I think.
Q: Sergio, coming to you. Well done, your third podium of the season. You're
first here in Spain. Just how good was it on the podium when so many people
were chanting your name?
SP: Yeah, it was great. My first podium here in Spain. They obviously have
their two very good drivers, Spanish drivers, but I can say that I'm
probably the third one in terms of support here because every year it's been
amazing. And to be on the podium for the first time, it’s nice, and great
team result as well. We took our opportunities and very pleased with that.
Q: Great team result, as you say, but you did say over the radio on the
slowdown lap that you do want to talk to the team about tactics. Did you
feel the win was on today?
SP: Well, on the first stint, when I let Max by, I was told that I was going
to get it back. And we knew we were on different strategies. So when I was
back on it, I felt like I could have gone through and probably given a
better shot at my strategy, to make it work. But at the end of the day, it
turned out to be the three-stop the way to go today.
Q: Just tell us a little bit about the tyres and deg. How unpredictable was
it out there today?
SP: Not very unpredictable. I think we kind of expected it to be this bad.
So, it was not a surprise today.
Q: George, second podium of the many congratulations. First up. How good
does this result feel?
GR: It feels great to be on the podium and I think it goes to show the hard
work and effort that's gone on back at a factory, both in Brackley and
Brixworth. We've always said that you got to be there at the end to pick up
the pieces, and pick up points and especially on days like today it was
incredibly tough out there for the cars, for the drivers. But I feel like
we're making progress. And I think we, as a team, have turned a page. I feel
like this is probably the start of our season now.
Q: You're on the podium back in Australia. But does this feel closer? Do you
feel closer to the guys sat next to you?
GR: Yeah, definitely. I feel like this was more genuine. I think we probably
have probably halved the gap to those front runners, compared to the rest of
the season. And I think we know there's probably more performance to find.
It's been a season of problem solving, as opposed to trying to find more
performance and bring more performance to the car. And I think we've now
finally solved our issue. And we can now focus on bringing more performance.
So yeah, we're six races behind but there's no reason why we can't claw this
back.
Q: And George, can we get a word from you on that battle with Max?
GR: Yeah, it was enjoyable. I mean, it's… I think Max and I first raced each
other back in 2011. So it was nice to have the opportunity to fight with
him. And, you know, I'm here to win, I'm here to fight and I obviously
wasn't going to make it easy. I felt bad for him, because he obviously had
the DRS issues and he was clearly the faster man today. But still, I think
it was hard, fair racing. And that's what we would like to see, and expect,
in Formula 1.
Q: How much were you having to manage temperatures throughout the race? Or
was it just at the end?
GR: No, it was definitely when I was battling with Max, I was managing
tyres, the engine was overheating, then trying to go as fast as possible to
keep them behind. You’re juggling so many things. And then in the last five,
six laps, it was literally just bring it home, get it to the end of a race,
because we were right on the limit throughout the whole race. But the team
did a great job to not allow us to go over that limit and have to retire the
car. Nobody enjoys these challenging races with really difficult
temperatures but that can make a difference. And if you do a better job,
you're there to see the rewards, so proud of everybody to bring this home.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Ronald Vording – Motorsport.com) It's a question to Max. Max, today has
been a great day for you in the Championship. Congratulations on that. But
are you worried in any way by what you've seen from Ferrari, before the
Leclerc DNF? They seem to have made a significant step this weekend. And
it's not only one-lap pace anymore, but also on tyre deg and race pace.
MV: It's a bit too early to say about the full race. Of course tyre deg,
because he did pull away from me a little bit at the time, but there were
races also before where this has happened a bit. I mean, I'm not saying that
I'm not looking at it, for sure they had a really strong weekend and we
definitely need to improve. We need to be better over one-lap performance,
especially. But I think we were so early on in the race that it was a bit
difficult to tell how big the margin was exactly. Because I don't even know
what lap I went off but it was very early on and then we never really had a
reference anymore, right. We always have to improve, but for sure, after
this weekend, it shows that with all the upgrades they brought I think they
definitely took a step forward. So now it's up to us, of course to try and
close that gap down again.
Q: (Joost Niederpelt – NU.nl) Max at some point, the team was giving you
instructions on how to handle the DRS button. What did they tell you to do?
And what did you do before that?
MV: There was not… I mean, I could have shouted back on the radio something,
but there is nothing you can do because I mean, I'm not stupid, once you get
the light and the activation beep, then you press the paddle. If it doesn't
open, there's clearly an issue. I've spammed it like 50 times at one point
on the straight and it's just not opening, so there was clearly an issue. I
mean, I tried all different kinds of things, stay off the kerb, on the kerb,
open it a tiny bit later but it was just broken – or like malfunctioning. So
yeah, we clearly have an issue there on this wing.
Q: (Matt Kew – Autosport) Max, in the cooldown room you're talking to George
about what a great battle that was so does it worry you the review that the
stewards took note of it and were looking into it to see if there's any foul
play, or if you both thought it was it was a really solid battle?
MV: I think maybe they were looking at the moving a bit, the weaving… ah,
Turn 3, because of leaving one car width? Yeah, luckily nothing happened. I
mean, there was a bit of grip on the outside, so I'm okay with it. I think
it was hard racing. And of course, I went around the outside but I'm also in
the blind spot of George, so I think he didn't even really notice where I
was exactly, right? Well, for sure you knew that I was there, but it's
always hard to fully give a car’s width there because it's a fast corner,
you’re drifting wide. So if I was in George’s position, I would have
probably done the same, so it's just how we are, I think.
GR: Yeah, I think it's important that we are allowing this hard, fair racing
and the rule is to give a car’s width and that was what was done and I think
there was still a wheel on the track from Max. But yeah, it's a little bit
difficult at the moment. I think there's a lot of… We've obviously got the
new stewards in and it's very difficult for everybody, and trying to
understand each other, what we feel like is required from the driver's side,
and what they expect from us as well, and it will just need this open
dialogue. But I wasn't even aware they were looking into it, to be honest, I
thought it was hard and fair racing.
Q: (Adrian Rodriguez Huber – Agence EFE) Checo, congratulations, you've
proven a long time ago that you're a very good driver but you've proven over
the last two seasons that you’re a great team player, but I kind of believe
you have your own heart and you want to win. When do you think this, your
third victory, can come and if you have to put it on a balance, Red Bull
gives you a chance to make lots of podiums, but it doesn't look easy to gain
victory. So how can you comment on that?
SP: Well, I think today… I think what was clear was that the three-stop was
a better race, race time, and the various strategies, so I think if I went
in that direction, I would have won the race. And it worked out for Max. I
think that was something we discussed. It was good, because we didn't know
at the time which strategy was going to be the best one. I only felt that in
the first stint when I gave the position to Max, that I was told that I was
going to get it back and when I was on the two-stop I felt that I could have
gone through Max and George a bit earlier to try and make the strategy work,
but probably it wouldn't have been enough. But it still is a great team
result, the season is still very young and, yeah, I think the momentum in
the team is great. So we just have to discuss a few things internally. But
yeah, there's nothing that I'm concerned of. If anything, I can say that the
atmosphere in the team, the momentum we're carrying, it is tremendous, like
no other team, so I'm pleased with that.
Q: (Carlo Platella – FormulaPassion.it) Max did you expect already this
morning with the team that this race would have been on three stops?
MV: We had a lot of options to look at because it was very difficult to
judge how the deg was going to be so we were just trying to be very
flexible. And yeah, during the race, you make that decision, right? They put
me early on, because of being stuck, having my DRS issue, I think we decided
to be a little bit on a different, more aggressive strategy, because if I
wouldn't have had that DRS issue, I could have cleared George earlier and I
would have, let’s say, opened the gap again. And then you're in a different
situation where maybe then we do a different strategy, right, but we had to
improvise a bit because of that. And it worked out well because the tyres
were very difficult. Even in my last stint, like the last few laps. Of
course, I had the margin in the back, but the tyres also they didn't feel
let's say amazing anymore.
Q: (Ronald Vording - Motorsport.com) Max, in Miami, you said that Red Bull
made the weekends too complicated for themselves. This weekend wasn't
straightforward, either, if you look at the DRS issue. Is that execution and
fighting those small technical issues still a concern for you going forward?
MV: Well, it's just things we can improve, right? That issue with the DRS,
of course, was quite costly but at the end, we still won the race, so as a
team we are quite flexible. We adapt quickly if we have issues and we try to
work around it, even during the race, so that's good. But, yeah, of course,
we tried to make sure that that doesn't happen again. But we didn't retire
which other teams did. So that's already a good improvement and you can see,
it completely swings the championship around again. So from our side, yeah,
we just have to try and be really consistent and try not to make too many
mistakes. I mean, you're not a robot, I mean mistakes will happen. But yeah,
we'll try to minimise it.
Q: (Pilar Celebrovsky – Paddock Magazine) Max, we have seen that Leclerc had
to retire. Do you have the feeling that these cars are less reliable than
the previous years’ cars?
MV: It shouldn't be really car related because like the engines and stuff
are pretty much the same. Of course, the fuel has changed a little bit, but
it's a bit weird. Yeah. also from our side, of course, we had already two
retirements where before we were always really strong on reliability, so
it's a bit difficult to tell. It's also not major issues that we had. I
don't know, of course, about Ferrari, but from our side it’s little things
and yeah, we are trying to be on top of that, but I don't think it's
specifically car related. |
