SUZUKA, JAPAN – APRIL 6: Max Verstappen from Oracle Red Bull Racing and Netherlands, Lando Norris from McLaren and Great Britain, and Sergio Perez from Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing walk on the track during qualifying before the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Circuit on April 6, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)
Featuring top qualifier Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, second-placed Sergio Perez also from Red Bull Racing, and Lando Norris from McLaren in third place. Interviews were conducted trackside by Jean Alesi.
Q: Lando, how exciting is it to compete for pole position in Suzuka qualifying?
Lando Norris: It’s always thrilling. Opportunities like this are rare, but today we had a strong car. I managed to fight and deliver some impressive laps, especially in Q3. So I’m extremely pleased with today’s performance. It’s always a pleasure to be here in front of the fans, and it’s a positive result for McLaren. We had a great race here last year and a good one last weekend, so it’s good to still be in the fight.
Q: McLaren has historically been competitive in Suzuka. Are you aiming for a podium finish tomorrow?
LN: Definitely. We’ve had a solid weekend so far and made significant progress. We’re trying to catch up with Red Bull, who are doing an exceptional job. Credit to the whole team. However, we’re working hard and slowly reaping the rewards. So we’ll keep fighting. Today’s performance is a promising start to the weekend, but the main task is tomorrow.
Q: We wish you good luck, and I’m sure the fans are looking forward to the race tomorrow. Thank you. Checo, what did you have for breakfast? Did you eat something substantial?
Sergio Perez: Yes, it was a fierce battle today, especially with Max. It felt like a solid lap. The conditions out there were quite challenging. Especially in the final sector, it was easy to lose a few tenths, especially when closing the laps and approaching the chicane. But we managed to put it all together. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.
P: During your final lap, you were very close to securing pole position. Did you believe it was possible for you?
SP: Yes, I think we were consistently close throughout the whole weekend, including qualifying. When you are operating with such small margins, every little detail can make a difference. I didn’t have a good start to the lap, so that could have been the deciding factor. However, I believe we are in a good position for tomorrow. Our long-run pace wasn’t the strongest this morning, but we worked to improve. Hopefully, we will be competitive tomorrow.
P: We noticed some Mexican flags among the Japanese fans. We wish you the best for tomorrow.
SP: Thank you, I appreciate it.
P: Max, congratulations. It’s fantastic. Watching you all day, especially at Spoon this morning, we were impressed by the speed you carried through the corner. However, was it challenging for you to secure pole position?
Max Verstappen: Yes, it was a fierce battle at the end. Overall, this track is quite demanding on the tires due to the aggressive asphalt. When you are on the limit, things don’t always go perfectly. However, the most important thing is to be on pole. Of course, you strive for perfection on every lap, but it’s not always achievable on a track like this. Overall, it was a very good day, and we have a strong starting position for tomorrow, which is what really matters.
P: With your teammate next to you on the grid, do you feel more relaxed for tomorrow?
MV: Well, it’s great for the team to have both of us in P1 and P2. Hopefully, we can maintain this position tomorrow and continue with a good performance.
P: Incredible pole position, Max. Very well done. Can you start by describing how great those laps in Q3 during qualifying were?
MV: Here in Suzuka, it’s always a wonderful feeling when the fuel is low, the balance of the car is almost perfect, and you can accelerate at maximum speed. The improvements in car performance every year make it even more exciting, especially at high speeds. So today was really enjoyable.
P: On your last lap in Q3, you were even faster. However, I wanted to ask if you lost any time when you encountered George Russell at 130R?
MV: Yes, I started losing time from Turn 13. The tire sensitivity on this track is high. If you push too hard in Sector 1, you will run out of grip on the tires at the end, which happened to me on my last lap. So I didn’t make any significant improvements. Also, my last chicane suffered because the front tires were deteriorating, and I couldn’t hit the curb as I should. It wasn’t ideal, but it was still good enough. Of course, perfection is always desired, but not always achievable. Fortunately, it was enough today.
P: Max, can you tell us about the conditions during qualifying, like the wind and the evolution of the track throughout the session?
MV: This track requires a lot of driving at maximum speed. Although there was some improvement in Sector 1, it wasn’t a significant gain. The evolution of the track didn’t seem huge during qualifying. It was more about adjusting the car and taking risks in Q3.
P: One last question from me. You mentioned yesterday that the competition seemed tighter here, and that was evident in qualifying. Do you expect the race to be just as tight?
MV: Yes, so far, my long-distance races have not been satisfactory. The pace was not as good as I would like. It’s a bit uncertain for tomorrow because Ferrari, in particular, seemed very comfortable during the long-distance races. They may not have been as fast in qualifying, but they were definitely fast over a longer distance. We will have to wait and see how this unfolds in the race.
P: McLaren?
LN: They have also been quite decent. Unfortunately, I was not happy with my own long-distance race, so everyone else seems to be doing better.
P: Great job today, Checo. You were only a tenth behind Max. How satisfied are you with your session?
SP: Yes, as Max mentioned, it all comes down to small margins. It was easy to lose a tenth or two by pushing a little too hard in certain corners. With the amount of energy we put into the tires here, it was challenging to hit the perfect lap. It was a tight session, but overall, the whole weekend was positive. We made progress and maintained consistency in qualifying. Now, let’s see what we can achieve tomorrow. Our long-distance pace doesn’t look great at the moment, but we made some changes that we hope will result in a better race pace.
P: Checo, you seem much more comfortable in the car compared to last year, when you were eight tenths behind Max in qualifying. What do you attribute this to?
SP: As Carlos would say, we stopped trying to reinvent the wheel. We were messing around too much with the car, going around in circles. Now, we have a better base and we are happier. We learned at the end of last year that it is better to take a step back and not push for the perfect setup too aggressively, as it compromises other aspects. That has been the case this year. I am more comfortable, happier, and my confidence is slowly coming back.
P: Well done. Thank you. Lando, now back to you. You were the best of the rest today, just two tenths off pole position. Did you expect to be so close in qualifying?
LN: I expected to be closer, but not as close as today. It was a tight battle among many teams, including Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Ferrari. They didn’t seem to have as much of an advantage as in previous weekends. So, among eight cars, we knew it would be challenging. To finish behind the top two, I consider it a good job. It was tough to put in good laps, but I was more pleased with my two laps in Q3. Two tenths is not a significant difference. Compared to last year, when we were five tenths off pole, it is a clear improvement. This track is where we introduced upgrades last season, making it the best comparison for our progress over the winter. It’s a very positive sign.
P: You are also much closer compared to the first three races. Is this specific to this track, or have you found something in the car this weekend?
LN: The car remains exactly the same.
P: And the race? What can you do to challenge the two drivers ahead of you?
I’m not sure. There’s not much we can do. On the first lap, I’ll try to get a good start. Last year, I was side by side with Max at Turn 1, so I hope to replicate that. However, it’s challenging. They are fast. They may have complained about their race pace, but they haven’t had a bad race in the last four or five years. They will probably do well tomorrow. We also face pressure from behind, so we need to keep an eye on the mirrors. At the same time, I want to move forward and I believe we have the pace to maintain our position.
Q: Do you think this is your best chance in recent memory of at least beating one of them?
A: I’ll say yes. It’s complicated. Checo is doing a great job, making it harder to keep up with him. However, we proved last year, when we were further back, that we could stay close and not fall too far behind. So that’s our goal for tomorrow. Realistically, we are still far away to challenge them. They are faster than us. Although we are faster in qualifying, they usually pull away more during the race. So let’s be realistic. Our competition is with the drivers behind us. At the same time, I will do my best to progress.
Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) A question for Lando, please. You mentioned that the two laps in Q3 were the most satisfying during qualifying, but can you explain the difference between the two, between the first and the second? Thank you.
Similar to what Sergio and Max said, when you push a little harder, there is a small price to pay. It’s a delicate balance between pushing too hard and not pushing enough. I was very pleased with my first lap in Q2, the first lap. So I decided to try a few more things to unlock some extra performance. It was still a good lap, just a few hundredths of a second slower than the first. I tried to push a little harder in Sector 1, but ended up losing grip on the front tires. It’s easy to exceed the limit. I made some gains in other corners, but not enough for a significant improvement. So, both laps were good, just one was slightly better than the other.
Q: (Ronald Vording – Motorsport.com) A question for Max, but others can contribute if they want. Are you surprised to see Ferrari not performing well in qualifying, considering their usual speed in one lap? And regarding the long race, do you have any idea why it has been more challenging to find a balance this weekend? Is it due to the new updates on the car or the lack of data from the lost FP2?
MV: I can’t say what’s happening in the Ferrari box. But it’s clear that they seem competitive during long races. We will see tomorrow if this is true. On our side, we have some ideas on how to improve for tomorrow, and we have already made some changes after FP3. Our race pace is not so bad, but it’s not as comfortable as in previous races. Hopefully, the changes we made will make a difference.
Q: Checo, anything you want to add about qualifying?
SP: Same.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) The slightly cooler conditions compared to our usual visit in September. How has this affected your approach in the car?
SP: It’s more pleasant because the tires perform better in one lap. Also, not having the sun in your face makes it easier to navigate high-speed corners. The cooler conditions were favorable. In terms of tire degradation, it doesn’t make much of a difference due to the high energy exerted on them.
MV: It also looks more pleasant with the cherry blossoms, making it more suitable for this time of year with Australia, Suzuka, and China on the calendar. It would be a good idea to have Suzuka and China back-to-back in the future, maybe even adding Singapore. Cooler conditions naturally provide more grip, which is always beneficial on a track like this, which demands a lot from the tires.
LN: I don’t have much to add. It looks nicer, and it seems to be in our favor. Our performance has improved, so I can’t complain. I wouldn’t mind having a bit of sun on my face, though. Checo has a nice tan, and I’ve lost mine a bit. Overall, it’s better this way.
P: (Joost Smedema – NOS) At the beginning of the weekend, you mentioned that the team made changes to avoid brake issues, like in Australia. Can you provide more details on what has changed since last weekend to prevent a repeat?
MV: We took on a more supervisory role to check certain things. Sometimes, due to time constraints or curfew, there may be rushed work to make changes between sessions. We want to ensure that everything is meticulously checked without blaming any individual. It’s helpful to have someone overseeing things and addressing any potential issues.
P: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) For both Red Bull drivers. How does the car feel with the recent updates compared to the first three races?
SP: The car’s characteristics have not changed significantly. We have made improvements, and the car is better overall. However, it may not be as noticeable on this track, as it is more suitable for other circuits. We will have to wait a few more races to fully evaluate the impact of the updates.
MV: It’s difficult to evaluate without running with the previous package here. But naturally, it should be a step forward, and we will work to understand and optimize it even further.
P: (Ronald Vording – Motorsport.com) Another question for Max, but others can contribute if they want. You mentioned earlier that you prefer the experience of driving the 2021 car. How does this compare to the previous car on a demanding track like Suzuka?
MV: The high-speed performance is good with these cars, but in low-speed corners, it feels a bit heavy. Fortunately, there are not many low-speed corners here. Personally, I find high-speed corners more enjoyable in any car. The old cars were more agile, but the current car generates a lot of aerodynamic pressure in high-speed corners.
P: (Sándor Mészáros – AutoSport ES Formula) Max, your long-time chief mechanic, Lee Stevenson, has left the team. Chief mechanics are often overlooked heroes. Can you discuss the importance of a strong working relationship with the chief mechanic?
MV: I had a great relationship with Leroy since I joined Red Bull in 2016. He was my number one mechanic until the end of 2020. We shared many memorable moments together. He took on a different role, spending more time at the factory and sharing the duties of head mechanic. He had a fantastic opportunity at Sauber, and I don’t blame him for exploring something new. We are still good friends, and sometimes in life, you have to try new things and step out of your comfort zone. If it doesn’t work out, you can always come back.
P: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) There has been a lot of discussion about Fernando’s tactics in Melbourne and what is considered acceptable. Can you share any clarifications or discussions from the drivers’ meeting?
MV: We had a brief meeting, and everyone was a bit tired. We are tired of talking about it.
© 2024
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