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1 – Kimi ANTONELLI
(Mercedes)
2 – Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari)
3 – Isack HADJAR (Red Bull
Racing)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by David Coulthard)
Q: Isack Hadjar,
congratulations, your second podium in Formula 1 and, of course, here in
Monte Carlo. That was not an easy race for you, I can see it on your face.
Take us through the journey.
Isack HADJAR: Yeah, I mean, we got off to a
clean start and were managing the race, and then within the first 10, 15
laps I started having massive drivability issues. And around here… If
there’s one track you don’t want that, it’s here. So yeah, it was incredibly
challenging, having to cover 60 laps like that. And even towards the end, I
was still lacking power on the restart.
Q: And then having this red
flag, the uncertainty as to whether it’s going to be grid starts following
or not, getting your head back into that. So a very tough weekend and a
tough afternoon, I guess, to finally get that podium?
IH: Yeah, I mean,
honestly on my restart I felt like I had a good start and then suddenly I
had a hole and I lost two places. But I knew the cars ahead had penalties,
but I had limited power and I never had to send it that much in my life
through the corners to stay within five seconds of Pierre. But yeah, it’s an
outstanding weekend considering how it started in FP1, I had no confidence
to get back up, but we did it. So yeah, I’m happy.
Q: Lewis Hamilton,
you have now just had your eighth podium result here in Monaco. That equals
the late, great Ayrton Senna. No one more than you two guys have had more
podiums. You’ve been on it all weekend. Tell us about that journey.
Lewis
HAMILTON: Yeah, well, I mean, I have to start by congratulating Kimi and to
the Mercedes team, my whole family. They’ve done it again. They’ve created
an amazing car and Kimi’s doing an incredible job, just delivering weekend
in, weekend out. So, it’s great to see and I’m really happy for them. On our
side, I think we’ve been progressing over the past months and can’t quite
keep up with them just yet. And it’s probably going to take a lot of work
for us to get to their level. But to get another second place is such a
great feeling, especially in Monaco, under the trickiest conditions. It was
the hardest conditions out there and we’ve had such a great turnout today as
well. So, I’ll definitely take it.
Q: Just briefly on that, when you
mentioned the difficult conditions, what particularly of all of the Grands
Prix you’ve done here was giving you the biggest challenge?
LH: I think
for me, it’s really the car. The car is good, but we need more downforce
ultimately. And I think just with the tyres, with the different scenarios we
had out there, I ran out of tyres quite early in the first stint and then I
was on that long second stint. And these tyres aren’t particularly great
just over a long stint, so holding on to that was going to be tough. And
then once we had to slow down on the Safety Car, you lose all temperature
and you saw with other drivers out there that it was really hard to stay on
track. So I think just with all the different things that have been thrown
at us, it was massively challenging. But really, really grateful for the
day, happy, grateful to the team. Grazie to everyone back at the factory and
all the guys here who worked so hard to get this result. They truly deserve
this and more, and I’ve just got to keep working harder to try and see if I
can finally take that next step for them too.
Q: Yeah. Well, I know
you know your way to the podium, so enjoy.
LH: Thank you.
Q: Kimi
Antonelli, this is your fifth straight victory, but I think in the context
of right now, in Monte Carlo, you have been flawless all weekend.
Congratulations.
Kimi ANTONELLI: Thank you so much. It’s been an
incredible weekend, incredible race. It was one of those days where we had
so incredible pace and it was just coming all so natural. And the car was
feeling incredible and it just was giving me the confidence to push. So it
was a very enjoyable day.
Q: The last time an Italian won this Grand
Prix, you weren’t even born. It was Jarno Trulli 22 years ago. You’re not
just representing your family, your team, you’re representing a nation.
KA: Yeah, I mean, the job’s not finished. It’s still a long season and we’ve
got to keep pushing, keep raising the bar. And the goal is to keep
performing like this. The team is doing an incredible job. They’ve given us
an incredible car and I’ve got so much support from the team as well, from
my family. So yeah, it’s a really good moment so far.
Q: I was
watching you when you were out of the car during the red flag. Nothing seems
to faze you. I think when they announced a grid start, I would have thought,
“I’ve got to do it all again,” but you were just soaking it up.
KA: Yeah,
I mean, to be fair, I wasn’t super keen on restarting as well, because I
didn’t really want to restart. But then once the notification came out, I
just gathered my emotions, my thoughts, and I started to focus again, looked
at some data and so on, and just tried to refocus on restarting and then
trying to get the tyres in the right temperature. And then once I got away,
I knew I was going to make it into P1 into the first corner, and then from
that point on I just enjoyed the last few laps.
Q: Well, I think we
can call this Grand Prix weekend perfection. Congratulations. Go and enjoy
spraying the champagne.
KA: Thank you so much. Thank you, everyone, for
supporting us this weekend.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Kimi, huge
congratulations to you. Let’s start by talking about emotions, if we could.
Just how sweet does this one feel?
KA: Yeah, I’m very happy. It was a
really strong weekend and the team did an incredible job, first of all with
the rear wing that we brought, but as well with the turnaround that we had
between Friday and Saturday. The car just changed massively and obviously
gave me a lot more confidence to push around this track. And yeah, I’ve just
really been able to enjoy.
Q: Tell us more about the race then. Were
you surprised by your level of dominance in the Grand Prix itself?
KA:
Yeah, I was surprised by the pace, but today I just felt really one with the
car and I was just able to set a good rhythm with high intensity and the car
was responding really well. So yeah, definitely I was surprised, but it was
just one of those days where everything clicks.
Q: How frustrating
was the red flag for you? What were you thinking at that moment? Where was
your focus?
KA: Big time I was frustrated, because Lewis was starting
next to me this time and knowing how good they start, I was like, well, I
cannot say, I’m going to say a bad word, but I was like, “Oh man.” But
luckily, the start went OK. Also, he had a lot of wheel spin, so that also
made my life a little bit easier into Turn 1. But yeah, it was not easy to
refocus after the red flag.
Q: It seems you nailed both starts today.
Do you feel the issues you had earlier on in the season are now behind you?
KA: Well, definitely Canada was a big step forward on that side. There’s
still work to do. I think the first start today was the better one. The
second start was still not amazing, but definitely a good step forward.
Q: Final one for me. You now lead the championship by 66 points, ahead
of Lewis now. How much confidence does that gap give you?
KA: Yeah, for
sure it’s a great moment and that’s why I’ve got to keep maximising every
opportunity, every race, every session. And going to try to be as consistent
as possible. Of course, every weekend is a new challenge. It’s new different
tracks, so it requires different needs, but definitely we’re just going to
try on my side and we’re just going to try to keep pushing, keep raising the
bar and just trying to execute everything I can in the best way possible.
Q: Lewis, let’s come to you then. A record-equalling eighth podium for
you here in Monaco. Just how pleased are you with your race today?
LH:
Well, very grateful to be up here with these guys and these youngsters.
Someone just told me outside that both their ages combined, I’m older than
both of them two together. KA: Oh, really?
LH: Are you 21?
KA: I’m 19.
LH: You’re 19? Jeez. But the thing is I don’t feel it, which is kind of
crazy. So yeah,
KA: You’re in great shape.
LH: No, I feel good. Thank
you, man. Appreciate it. No, it feels amazing to be up here and such a
privilege to still be here, to be driving for Ferrari, to still be one of
the 22 drivers in this sport and in front of all these people. It’s such an
incredible experience and something that I genuinely love, so I’m grateful
to have moved forwards because we started third, and to get to second is
awesome. To have two seconds, especially I think with a good race in
Montreal and everyone was kind of like, "Yeah, but he’s quick there." I feel
like I’m in a period where I’m having to remind people of who I am, and I
think my fans last year were telling me to remind me of who I am, and now
I’m having to show up each weekend and try to do that. I think it’s great to
see that it’s like a rejuvenated love in the team, and I think their belief
also in me and the decision in hiring me and everything. So, I’m very happy.
Q: Kimi says he was nervous about having you alongside him at the
restart. Tell us what you were thinking at that time.
LH: I was thinking
about winning. I was thinking about getting him at the beginning. No, that
was an opportunity, but unfortunately, we both basically got pretty much the
same starts. I think I gained on him just a little bit and I was almost to
his rear wheel, but not enough to pop me in the lead, unfortunately. And
then as we got going, I just got to see him pull away. The performance they
have is next level. It was a good experience because it gives me a much
better idea of where I need to have the team lean and improve, not only from
what I’m feeling but what I’m seeing as well. And yeah, there’s lots of
things that we need to be adding to this car.
Q: In what areas,
Lewis? Can you give us any pointers?
LH: Just general performance.
Downforce-wise, clearly they’re above us. Obviously on power, here the power
is not such an issue. It’s just downforce. You could see just on traction
those guys were night and day different to us. But hopefully we’ve got some
performance coming, and I know the guys are working really hard back at the
factory, so I hope that they’re happy with this result.
Q: After two
consecutive P2s, do you feel that first win in red is close?
LH: I mean,
it couldn’t be closer, but it’s still 66 points. I can’t believe that I’m
second in the championship and I’m really happy and thankful for that. I
couldn’t have done that without this team, without the reliability that we
have, and also with Fred. Fred has been awesome in supporting me. I think
last year was really tough for both of us and [I’ve been] begging him for
certain changes, and he pulled through and he did those, and now I’m seeing
the fruits of that and I’m able to finally deliver for them. I think it’s
still very early days in the season, so we just have to keep chasing. It’s
actually easier to chase than it is to defend, I would say, in life. And so,
whilst these guys are very quick and they’re an amazing team, we’re going to
keep pushing, keep chasing, and I have no doubt at some stage we’re going to
get there.
Q: Isack, just a few thoughts from you, if we could. You
really had to fight for this podium, didn’t you? Very well done. Just how
satisfying does it make the fact that you got on the podium with all the
struggles you had?
IH: I mean, for many reasons it’s a satisfying result
because obviously I started the weekend in the worst way possible. It’s a
track you want to build confidence throughout every lap. You want to be on
track and I felt like I didn’t really have a Friday. If anything, I lost all
my confidence in FP2 because I just didn’t have any feeling with my car. And
in FP3, I made a step and by pushing through and being competitive, I gave
myself an opportunity for today’s race and it paid off. But yeah, I wish it
was going to be an easier race, but I faced so many issues in the car that I
really thought it was going to be a weekend outside the points at some
point.
Q: Tell us about the issues and at what stage in the race were
you having to deal with them?
IH: I think very early, from I would say
Lap 12, something like that, I started having driveability issues and it was
just undriveable. In Monaco, especially here, it’s not like you can allow
yourself to skip using first gear, second gear, and this is where the
problem was. It was very hard to drive. I was down on power at some point.
Also on the final restart, on that start, still need to figure out our
problems, but I kept pushing and we’re here. I’m happy.
Q: Final one.
Where do you see Red Bull in the pecking order now? Do you feel as a team,
Max was starting on the front row, you were close to him in qualifying, even
with all the issues, do you feel you’ve taken a step as a team?
IH: I
mean, since Miami clearly we did. Canada, we were also very much
competitive. We gave a good fight to the Ferraris. Yeah, I think we’re on
par with these guys. Today not really, but clearly I’m looking forward to
the rest and bringing the fights to these guys. That’s our target.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Fred Ferret – L’Equipe) Question to
Isack. How do you compare this podium to the first one in Zandvoort?
IH:
Yeah, I think my podium in Zandvoort is definitely just completely
different. It was done on track. I had to really fight for it with the VCARB
to qualify fourth and then be in that position. Obviously, I got lucky with
what happened with Lando, I remember, but still I did a perfect race. And
this weekend I faced a completely different scenario with my confidence
being down in the car. It’s a track you need all the confidence in the world
to deliver and I managed to, yesterday, dig very deep and kind of switch off
and go for it. And that’s what allowed me to be starting in that position
and ending up where I am. So I think they are both special, but the first
one is always the best.
Q: (Rodrigo França – Car Magazine Brazil)
Question to Kimi. Congratulations on your win. It’s possible to notice a
great change of your performance from last year after a difficult European
season but getting great results at the end of the year, such as P2 in
Interlagos. Now five wins in a row. How do you explain this big upgrade in
your results, please?
KA: Yeah, I mean, obviously I matured a lot. I feel
like last year was a massive learning, in the good, especially in the bad
moments. And despite how bad the bad moments were, I think being able to
come away and to reset and actually being able to be back at that good
performance was really important for me. That made me grow and also mindset
changed a lot compared to last year. And yeah, just not worrying about what
happened last year and just trying to focus and stay as present as possible.
Q: (Phil Duncan – Press Association) Just one for you, Lewis. Obviously
just on Kimi, actually. He obviously had huge shoes to fill when he replaced
you at Mercedes and obviously now, at 19, he’s won Monaco, he’s won five in
a row. Just how good is he? How good can he be? And just one on you, you’ve
had a high-profile supporter here this weekend. How inspiring has that been
for you?
LH: I mean, it’s all good, I think, for any of us competitors to
talk about each other, isn’t it? I don’t know how much more I can say that I
haven’t already said in the past. He’s doing a phenomenal job. He’s got an
amazing team around him with Bono, with Toto and the whole team. And I’m
really happy to see them doing what they do best. And then for him in this
moment to be delivering on the level that he’s delivering at, it’s awesome
to see. It just encourages me to want to level up and I think encourages
everybody wanting to level up. And he’s only 19, so just imagine what the
future holds for him. But I’m going to do my best to try and chase him down
for the rest of the year. And as I said, just really, it’s a real privilege
to witness it, be on the podium with two of the youngest guys here. Very
much kind of remind me of me when I was back in 2007.
Q: And the
second part of the question, Lewis. Just some high-profile support for you
this weekend.
LH: Oh yeah, no, it’s amazing to have her come this weekend
and have the support, but with my friends, incredible turnout just overall
with people. And yeah, I don’t really know what else to say. It’s amazing to
have good people around you and good people supporting you, and she does
that for me every day.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Lewis, another
one for you. You got a pit lane speeding penalty during the race. A lot of
the drivers speaking in the pen were quite surprised by that and felt it was
unfair. Were you surprised to be hit by that? What happened there?
LH:
Yeah, I wasn’t speeding. I think it’s just the way the pit lane is. I’ve
done this pit lane for years. It’s not like I came in and didn’t press the
button or something like that. Pit lane limiter is on immediately. And I
think it’s just the line that you take, which is the same line we’ve all
taken for years, where you come in, you kind of cut part of the white line.
Head down, went out. And I was shocked to hear that I was speeding because I
wasn’t actually above the speed. It’s all about, I think, the distance and
something that we really need to look into because I heard lots of people
got that today and they probably weren’t really speeding. And having to do a
stop-and-go, sort of stop and wait for five, 10 seconds, whatever people
got, it destroys you on a track so short as well, your chances. So I’m
thankful that it didn’t impede me too much.
Q: (Rodrigo França – Car
Magazine Brazil) Question to Lewis. Lewis, with eight podiums here, he still
has six wins. So, do you think you can get this record, six wins?
LH:
I’ve been here a long time and still haven’t got to his level on that, but
I’m going to be here for a while, so I’ll keep chasing it. And just to be in
his presence, in the sense of the eight podiums, for example, is very cool.
I still remember being young and watching Ayrton, and still today he’s my
favourite driver. So, it’s really cool. |
