DRIVERS 1 – George RUSSELL (Mercedes) 2 – Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren)
3 – Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari) TRACK INTERVIEWS(Performed by David Coulthard) Q: Carlos Sainz, welcome. One other podium in your profession and what was a reasonably quiet weekend by way of general efficiency nevertheless it all got here alive on the finish there. Did you see the motion forward or have been you simply very a lot centered on bringing your automotive residence?Carlos SAINZ: Yeah, fairly an eventful race up entrance. For us it was all about attempting to maintain up with George. we knew the Mercedes right now might need a little bit of a bonus on race tempo however we tried all the things to maintain up with him and Oscar, on the finish, was coming actually, actually fast and in the long run P3 which is I believe a superb consequence. I believe we may be fairly joyful fairly happy with that as a result of this weekend hasn’t been simple for us and to return away with 15 factors and a P3 is an effective consequence. Q: We’re in the course of this triple header. We have come off the again of your own home Grand Prix. We’ve 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 right now.CS: Yeah, joyful days for System 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 battle for the win but, however we’re attempting to do all the things we will as a group to be again on type in Silverstone and within the upcoming races, to ensure subsequent time we’re up there to capitalise. And if not, podiums like these are all the time excellent news, and we’ll maintain pushing flat out to remain within the battle. Q: Okay, nicely, we look ahead to seeing that massive push. Properly executed on the rostrum.CS: Thanks. Q: As we transfer on to our second place finisher, who should be pondering, what may have been? All of it grew to become undone even earlier than you began the race with that qualifying penalty for observe limits? Oscar PIASTRI: Yeah, there’s a number of 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 slightly bit, however actually good factors, clearly. I believe the second half of the race we have been approaching fairly sturdy, and proud of one other podium. Simply when it is that shut, you possibly can’t assist however damage slightly bit. Q: Properly, you possibly can carry that momentum, hopefully, onto your [McLaren’s] residence Grand Prix in every week’s time at Silverstone.OP: Yeah, not my residence Grand Prix, however McLaren’s residence Grand Prix. Yeah, clearly it was a spot of excellent reminiscences from final yr, and hopefully we may 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 believe we’re nicely and actually within the combine. Silverstone’s a observe I all the time get pleasure from. Group’s residence race, so excited for what’s to return. Q: Okay, nicely, good factors right now. Congratulations.OP: Thanks very a lot. Q: And women and gents, our Grand Prix winner, celebrating his second Grand Prix win, George Russell.George RUSSELL: Yeah, unbelievable. It was a troublesome battle on the market at first of the race, simply to carry on to that P3, and I noticed on the TV that Max and Lando have been going fairly laborious. I knew Lando would need to attempt to get that race win, however, you recognize, the group have executed a tremendous job to get us on this battle. You have to be there on the finish to choose up the items, and that is the place we have been. Q: Superb. So that you have been watching the massive screens, minding your personal enterprise and your personal Grand Prix, whereas watching that battle out entrance, keen to occur what really occurred.GR: Yeah, they have been going for it. And I could not consider really how shut we have been to Lando and Max. I believe we have been solely about 12, 13 seconds behind. I knew it was a risk. You are all the time dreaming, however as I stated, simply so proud to be again on the highest step. The group have labored so laborious. We have made so many strides for the reason that begin of the season. So, yeah, the final three races have been unbelievable, so extra to return. Q: Now, look, you have executed all the things to be sure to have been in that place. The opposite two seemed like they’d the general tempo right now 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 you need to then capitalise. So that you should be actually proud with this, your second Grand Prix victory.GR: Yeah, completely. I believe it is no secret Crimson Bull with Max and McLaren with Lando are nonetheless slightly 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 choose it up. However, you recognize, simply actually happy with all people. And, you recognize, what an thrilling time for us. Q: And, George, we’re one week away from the British Grand Prix. That will be good to hold this momentum in direction of one other podium there.GR: Yeah, completely. I believe we’re driving a little bit of a wave in the meanwhile. These final three races have been unbelievable. I believe realistically we in all probability may have received the race in Canada, so this in all probability makes up for one too many errors on my aspect there, and simply actually proud to be again on the highest step. PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: George, very nicely executed 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. Right now was a deserving P3 and we acquired the victory. So it is humorous how this sport turns round and simply credit score to all of the group for all of the laborious work they’ve executed. Such enormous progress for the reason that begin of the yr. Q: That is additionally a racetrack that brings out the perfect in you. You are the primary driver to win right here in GP3, System 2 and now System 1.GR: Yeah, there we go. Yeah, it is a observe I get pleasure from. The final couple of years have been very tough 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 stated, we have been combating for the rostrum. I believe realistically, we nonetheless in all probability have the third quickest automotive behind Crimson Bull and McLaren. However the final three races, Lewis and I’ve been in that P3 spot. So, you recognize, we’re actually getting probably the most out of it. And generally, racing, it goes your means. 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 have been expressing some considerations over the radio. How was the automotive, initially?GR: It was very windy on the market, and I believe the automotive was feeling slightly bit unusual. On my laps to grid, we checked all the things, and all the things was effective. However the tempo felt sturdy. I had Lewis assault me early within the race, however then as soon as I acquired again previous him, I acquired a little bit of a niche to Carlos. I knew Oscar was going to be fast, and he type of got here slightly bit out of nowhere in direction of the top of the race on these Exhausting tyres. For me it was fairly tough. After which all of the sudden I had Toto screaming in my ear, ‘you possibly can win this’. And I nearly crashed when he screamed into my ears. It was that loud. However I believe it simply goes to indicate 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 have been barely offset strategically. You ran the medium tyre in the course of the race. How a lot did that assist you within the closing battle with Oscar to be on the laborious tyre?GR: I do not assume it helped in any respect, to be trustworthy. I believe it is tough. I believe we break up the methods with Lewis simply to attempt one thing. You by no means understand how the race goes to pan out. And VSC, Security Vehicles have an enormous issue. That VSC on the finish was fairly useful 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 recognize, the automotive’s been feeling actually good. We all know we have got slightly bit of labor nonetheless to do if we need to persistently be in that battle for the rostrum. However wanting on the steps we have made versus Ferrari, versus Aston Martin, it has been fairly enormous since Bahrain. Q: And by way of execution, was this the perfect weekend that you simply and the group have had up to now this yr?GR: Yeah, doubtless. I believe we actually executed all the things very well. I believe each session we maximised, certified as excessive as we expect was actually doable. Race begins have been good. P4 within the race yesterday was the utmost. P3 realistically was the utmost and the deserving consequence right now. You understand, the group did an amazing job. So it is good whenever you get a reward for all that tough work. Q: And what a consequence to take into your own home race at Silverstone subsequent weekend. Do you dare to dream a couple of repeat on residence soil?GR: You all the time dare to dream for positive. Something can occur. I believe Crimson Bull have been actually fast this weekend within the high-speed corners. So they will look fairly sturdy subsequent week in Silverstone. However we have got just a few days between at times. I will be on the simulator on Tuesday again on the manufacturing unit. So I am actually excited for that one. Q: Alright, George, very nicely executed to you. Thanks very a lot. Oscar, let’s come to you now. P7 to P2 is an amazing consequence for you. How happy are you with the drive you set in right now?OP: Yeah, I believe largely joyful. I believe the primary stint did not make fairly as a lot progress as I might have favored. Clearly had a little bit of an incident in Flip 1. After which, yeah, simply overheated the tyres slightly bit. And with the soiled air, it was so laborious to get inside a second. So, yeah, did not make a lot progress there. However then the subsequent 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 superb turnaround. Yeah, fairly joyful. Q: Somewhat little bit of frustration in regards to the observe limits yesterday in qualifying?GR: Yeah, positively, I imply, I used to be fairly upset yesterday that, you recognize, there are such a lot of corners, we have made adjustments on the observe right here to do away with the observe limits difficulty. 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 acquired my lap deleted for coming from a chopper cam that was solely on me, in fairly questionable decision, that stung rather a lot. So I had a bit of fireside in me going into the race. So I believe a few of my overtakes in all probability got here from a bit additional again than possibly 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 via that incident and was there any injury to your automotive in consequence?OP: Yeah, I did not get the perfect of begins, however noticed a little bit of a gap on the skin 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 believe there was slightly bit of harm, 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 believe 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 executed. 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 residence race?OP: I believe clearly final yr was an unbelievable weekend for us as a group, sort of the beginning of our resurgence. Like George stated, Max was fairly spectacular within the high-speed corners yesterday. So, you recognize, clearly bodes nicely for them at Silverstone. However I believe we have got a robust automotive and I believe we have had a very constant automotive wherever we have gone. You understand, we possibly 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 believe we may be fairly assured we’ll be within the battle. Q: Alright. Good luck with that. Properly executed right now. Carlos, coming to you now. Very nicely executed to you as nicely. You’ve got had a really optimistic weekend right here in Austria. Do you are feeling that you simply and Ferrari have maximised the bundle this weekend?CS: Yeah, I believe so. I believe there was not far more in it this weekend. I believe we did a superb job yesterday in qualifying and within the dash. And right now, we set our targets in attempting to beat the Mercedes. We managed to beat one, even when one among them acquired forward. After which I used to be behind the 2 of them, handed Lewis, after which it was all about attempting to maintain up with George. However like we noticed yesterday within the dash, it simply seemed like they’d 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 assumed that was a battle for a podium, which he was going to win. And in the long run, it grew to become a battle for a win ultimately. Yeah, we tried all the things we may, however we all know we have been struggling the previous few races. And yeah, in the meanwhile, Mercedes are slightly bit faster than us. Q: As you say, you have been struggling for the previous few races. Is that this weekend proof that Ferrari are actually again on a good keel with this automotive, that you know the way to maximise it?CS: I believe, if something, it simply proves that the final two weekends have not been simple. We have been all the time the primary Ferrari ending behind the primary Mercedes. Even in case you depend Canada, you might argue these three weekends in a row. So I believe Crimson Bull and McLaren have 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 first of the yr. So it exhibits that we have to work laborious. We have to perceive what’s occurred the final couple of races. And as soon as we perceive it, hopefully already for Silverstone, we will carry a step and enhance our efficiency. Q: Speak to us slightly 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 unit pushing flat out, you recognize, to know the troubles that we have hit within the final couple of weekends and attempting to carry already for Silverstone a bundle 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 via there, however not solely Max, additionally Mercedes and McLaren have been a transparent step forward of us in these kind of corners. And we all know Silverstone is the king of the excessive pace, so we have to do a step. Clearly, we need to be aggressive there. And we’re going to battle all the things we will and attempt to discover all the things we will, 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 problem within the race? And if that’s the case, do you assume it is improve associated? CS: Within the race, it is much less of an issue since you carry much less pace 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, you need to arrange the automotive in another way for qualifying after which in all probability you pay the worth within the race. So yeah, it is not an excellent scenario. It would not make you good in quali and it would not make you good within the race. We’ve been speaking so much about bouncing the final couple of weekends, which exhibits that it has been a little bit of a problem, however I consider there’s additionally different issues that we have to enhance so as to not less than beat Mercedes in Silverstone and attempt to get again nearer to McLaren and Crimson Bull. Q: (Marco Canseco – Marca) Query for Carlos. You might be solely factors 15 behind Charles with a race much less. Is one among your essential targets to beat him alongside the season?CS: Yeah, I really feel such as you guys look so much at this, clearly, the championship. Clearly, since I missed the race in Jeddah, I’m attempting to not deal with the championship standings as a result of I am principally competing with these guys, having executed a race much less. So I am focusing extra on attempting to get the podiums, attempting to get the wins, attempting to get the highlights, somewhat than on the championship as a result of it is not simple to compete in opposition to the perfect guys on the earth, going up in opposition to them with one race much less within the season. However yeah, up to now, I believe I’ve executed 5 podiums out of ten races, one race win. It is an excellent statistic. I believe I am driving nicely this yr. And yeah, I am specializing in having fun with the alternatives that I’ve this yr to battle for podiums that I may not have them subsequent yr. So I’ll give all the things and luxuriate in these alternatives and these moments like right now within the podium. Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A query for George, please. George, yesterday you stated that you simply’d let it play out slightly bit between Max and Lando, which labored out alright. What was your fast response whenever you noticed these two coming into view forward of you? What have been the engineers saying to you on the radio earlier than Toto came to visit?GR: I used to be simply attempting to deal with simply maximizing my driving, to be trustworthy. Marcus, my engineer, stated three laps earlier than, they’re combating actually laborious and we will win this. And I stated, look, we have to type of safe P3 first, let me drive. And I knew Oscar was quick behind. After which once I acquired into the lead, I knew it was going to be a difficult final six laps. My tyres have been tough. That VSC helped marginally as a result of my tyres have been overheating. And that simply allowed me to chill them down. Yeah, it is a bit of a wierd one to win a race like this, for positive. However as I stated, it is racing. Generally 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 received, arguably Singapore, issues may have gone very barely in another way final yr, and right now 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 residence tonight. I’ve acquired my girlfriend ready for me again residence and one among my good mates there too. So I am flying again with Fernando. Hopefully, he is not left me right here already as a result of I have been fairly busy with media this night. However, for positive, 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 possibly. And, yeah, I need to have a good time it as a result of you possibly can’t take these moments without any consideration. I really feel that I’ve acquired so much left in me and much more victories to return sooner or later however in an period of complete dominance by one group and driver, any victory by another driver, it is advisable to get pleasure from it. However it will not be as laborious as Lando’s celebration. If it is 50% as laborious as Lando’s celebration, it will likely be a reasonably huge evening. Q: (Mark Ivanov – Avto+Šport) Query for all of you, for all of three. How laborious was it in the previous few laps when all of you noticed that you would be able to end on the rostrum and the way laborious was the main focus for all of you?GR: I believe the problem was we have been approaching a number of again markers and we have been interacting so much with them. And in case you get lucky with the place, you get the DRS into Flip 1 after which into Flip 3 and into Flip 4 and you’ll achieve six tenths. For those who’re unlucky, you might possibly lose six tenths. So you might 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 have been you about Oscar in these closing laps?GR: I assumed he was going to catch me, to be trustworthy, however I believe 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 stated 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 roughly attempting to do an analogous factor, I suppose, attempting to get again to the rostrum. You understand, I felt like that may have been a superb consequence from the place we began. After which, yeah, clearly whenever you’re in rivalry for a win, yeah, issues change slightly bit. By way of what it is advisable to do on observe it is precisely the identical. You attempt to deal with what’s forward and also you’re simply attempting to drive as quick as doable particularly with solely 5 – 6 laps to go. So I attempted my greatest. I believe I went off a few occasions attempting to catch George however I can not say I did not attempt. Q: Carlos? CS: I believe I used to be nearly P2 on the time when all the things, or sorry, I used to be P4 on the time, which was nearly P2. So I did not really feel prefer it was so much happening. After which all of the sudden 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 slightly bit, however I used to be simply not fairly fast sufficient to… I had two little laps left to go for it. And alternatively, I had a really quick Oscar coming behind. So yeah, as soon as I knew it was a podium, it was clearly very tough to evaluate 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 acquired just a few choices on the desk for subsequent season. It does seem that a few the groups are getting slightly bit impatient, to illustrate. Does that put any stress on you to sort of decide imminently? Or do you are feeling such as you’ve acquired time to do it? Thanks.CS: As I stated earlier than, for positive that stress, I am not going to obtain it on a Sunday afternoon after a podium we’re eager to get pleasure from. As I stated earlier than, I believe it is generally, like George was saying, we take it without any consideration once we’re on one among these podiums, celebrating, sporting a Ferrari go well with, and I used to be pondering, attempt to get pleasure from this second as a result of who is aware of when it will be the subsequent time sooner or later. In order a lot as possibly there are some groups which can be nervous or pressuring me, it is time for me additionally to get pleasure from this second of being on a podium. And I’ll be trustworthy and easy with the groups, nevertheless it’s such an vital resolution for me additionally that I’ll take on a regular basis that I have to 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 doable with everybody and provides myself the time that I would like. ENDS
