Introducing the top qualifier Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, second-placed Sergio Perez, also from Red Bull Racing, and third-placed Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin. Post-qualifying interviews were conducted by Ho-Pin Tung.
Q: Max, you secured your fifth pole position of the season, marking the 100th pole position for Red Bull Racing. Your performance improved throughout the session. How would you describe your lap?
MV: Yes, I believe that after the Sprint race, we gained some valuable information for the car. The car performed even better during qualifying. I am extremely pleased with how the entire qualifying session went. The car was a joy to drive. In Q3, my final lap was pretty good, and I am also happy to have driven in dry conditions. The track conditions were favorable, making everything very enjoyable.
Q: We witnessed significant changes in track conditions during the session. Can you explain the challenges of adapting to these constantly changing conditions?
MV: I believe that transitioning from a race to low fuel conditions always requires a lap to get comfortable again. Additionally, new tires are used for each session, allowing us to identify areas where we can gain a little more in each corner. Yesterday, due to the rain, we had extra tires, which provided us with more practice opportunities. So, apart from my first lap in Q3, we were consistently improving our times. The evolution of the track was not as significant here, but that’s not a problem.
Q: Checo, the Red Bull team seems to excel in Shanghai. Can you share your experience in qualifying?
SP: It was quite intense. I almost got eliminated in Q1 due to traffic with one of the Williams cars, which forced me to abort my lap. However, I managed to come back with warm and used tires and made it to P15. The start of qualifying was quite chaotic. Q2 was a bit calmer, allowing me to feel the car’s balance better. We made progress throughout the session. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to reach Max. However, it’s a fantastic result for the team considering the significant changes in track conditions. I hope this pays off tomorrow.
P: Despite not being able to reach Max in qualifying, you had to recover in this morning’s Sprint race. How confident are you in your ability to challenge him tomorrow?
SP: I believe tomorrow’s race is open. We have the potential to fight from our current position, and we showed today that we have good pace in longer races. I’m looking forward to it.
P: Fernando, after the disappointment in the Sprint race, this must be a great feeling. You didn’t reach your personal best time in Sector 1 on that lap. Do you think you could have done better?
FA: Yes, I’m not sure how far ahead Checo is. In Sector 1, I had a moment in Turns 1 and 2, almost losing control of the car. I had to decide whether to continue or abort the lap because I lost about two tenths of a second in those two turns. However, I didn’t give up and kept pushing for the rest of the lap. I managed to set a good lap time. I believe the car has improved since this morning. We made some setup changes. Let’s see if we can convert that into points tomorrow.
P: How advantageous was the opening of parc fermé for you? Are you confident that this will translate into good results in tomorrow’s race?
FA: The opening of the parc fermé was beneficial for everyone. We couldn’t make significant changes to the car, as we were already in the rhythm of the weekend. However, we managed to make some minor adjustments to deal with balance issues and make educated guesses for tomorrow’s race. It’s a gamble, and we won’t know the outcome until tomorrow afternoon. However, I am extremely happy and proud of the team. We won’t give up, even if we’re not in the desired position yet. We will keep pushing.
P: Fernando, you have a large number of fans cheering for you in China. You are immensely popular here. Is there anything you would like to say to your Chinese fans?
FA: That’s truly amazing. It’s one of the best races of the year. I want to express my gratitude to the fans. They are incredibly passionate about the sport and show immense support for all the drivers and teams. Thank you, xièxiè, and see you tomorrow.
P: Max, you performed excellently in every segment of qualifying. It seemed like a very smooth session for you, but can you explain the final lap of Q3, when you gained three tenths?
MV: Yes, Q3 was a bit confusing for me because on the first lap I was slower than in Q2. It could have been because of the wind, as it’s challenging to understand its impact. The wind direction on this track affects the car’s balance a lot. However, for the final lap, I didn’t know what to expect, so I just kept pushing. Everything came together, the grip was better, and I managed to improve. It was a great feeling. Overall, I was very happy with the car throughout qualifying. It was well-balanced, which allowed me to push and secure pole position today.
P: You mentioned the wind, but how did the track conditions change during the session?
MV: Personally, I didn’t notice a significant evolution on track. There may have been a slight improvement in Q1, but it could also be because, coming from a race with high tire degradation, it takes time to adjust to new tires and low fuel. From Q2 to Q3, there was little change.
P: Max, in the past, you mentioned that you are not focused on statistics, but I want to share some with you. You are the first driver since Mika Häkkinen in 1999 to secure pole position in the first five races of the season. Furthermore, this was Red Bull’s 100th pole position in the team’s history. What do you think about these achievements?
MV: Before getting into the car, Christian informed me that if I secured pole today, it would be the team’s 100th pole position. I thought it was a cool milestone and was motivated to give my best. It’s an incredible achievement for the whole team, with a significant contribution from Seb in the past. Having a 1-2 in qualifying shows that the car is performing exceptionally well. Personally, it has been a great start to the year, and I feel confident in qualifying, even compared to last year. It’s a shame we retired in Melbourne; otherwise, we could have a stronger lead. However, it’s still a fantastic start.
P: Looking ahead to tomorrow’s race, how did the 19-lap race this morning help in your preparations?
MV: The morning race provided valuable information about tire degradation and helped us understand what we should focus on for tomorrow. The wind direction will change again, affecting the car’s balance in some corners. However, if the car performs at least half as well as in the Sprint, we should be in a good position.
P: Checo, let’s talk about you. You did a great job, achieving your best starting position at the Shanghai International Circuit. You made significant progress on the final lap of Q3. Can you tell us about that?
SP: Unfortunately, my first lap in Q3 wasn’t good, which hurt me. I’m not sure exactly what happened. Maybe the tires were colder, but it just didn’t work out. We made adjustments to the front wing, which put us at a disadvantage for the final lap. Surprisingly, track conditions improved significantly during the final lap, and I was able to put in a good lap. Overall, it was a confusing qualifying session for me, starting with Q1, where I almost got eliminated. I had traffic on my first attempt, which forced me back to the pits. I was out of position most of the time, and with the changes in wind conditions, it was crucial to be on track at the right time to adapt and learn from the new conditions.
P: Did you make many changes to the car after the Sprint?
SP: Yes, we made several changes to adapt to the new conditions. As Max mentioned, the change in wind direction had a significant impact. This circuit has low grip, so changes in wind conditions affect the car more compared to other tracks. We learned a lot from the conditions in the Sprint race and made the necessary adjustments. It was important for me to have a clear understanding of the car’s performance.
P: When you mention adjustments, can you provide some details on the areas of the car you focused on?
SP: We had difficulties with tire degradation, especially at the rear. So, we tried to create a more stable platform. However, this comes with its own compromises, especially at different cornering speeds. It was challenging to find the right balance in constantly changing conditions. My first proper lap was in Q2, second attempt. The first lap in Q3 was far off. It wasn’t the smoothest qualifying session, but overall, it’s still a good result for tomorrow’s race.
P: All’s well that ends well. Thank you, Checo. Now, let’s hear from Fernando. You had an impressive performance. How would you rate your lap in Q3?
FA: It was a very good lap, although not perfect. I had a moment in Turns 1 and 2, where I lost control of the car. In Turn 3, I had to decide whether to abort the lap or continue. I chose to brake late in Turn 6 to make up for lost time. I gained a tenth there and decided to keep pushing. In Turns 9 and 10, I gained another tenth. That was crucial because there were six cars within two tenths, and we were leading that group. I am happy with the lap and the qualifying overall. These moments and laps are encouraging for the future. I am proud of the team’s relentless spirit. Maybe we are not in a strong position yet, especially in race conditions, as we are still the fourth or fifth fastest team. However, we continue to fight and strive to improve. Today’s result reflects that.
P: Can you clarify something? Without that good start to the lap, do you think you could have held onto P2 after the first attempt?
FA: It’s hard to say. We just checked the times, and there’s about two tenths difference between Checo and me. That’s roughly what I lost due to the mistake. It would have been a close fight with Checo, but ultimately, whether it’s P2 or P3, it doesn’t make a significant difference. We’re starting tomorrow’s race in a position that doesn’t reflect our true potential. I believe we’ll finish around seventh, eighth, or ninth place. However, we’ve been qualifying well this year, and we’ll take that as a positive aspect.
P: P2 or P3 doesn’t matter much, but is there a preferable starting position, inside or outside, on this circuit?
FA: I started in P3 this morning, and it didn’t seem to make a big difference. Lewis started in P2 and had a great start. So, both sides of the track are similar. The crucial action happens in Turns 1, 2, and 3. I hope we can have a clean start and complete the race successfully.
P: (Jesus Balseiro – Diario AS) Fernando, what are your expectations for tomorrow’s race? Will it be a typical race where you need to constantly check your mirrors and try to maintain your position? Also, you received a penalty just an hour before qualifying. What do you think about that?
FA: Yes, I am expecting a challenging race. We are slower than the Ferraris, McLarens, and probably the Mercedes. We often qualify ahead of them, but in the race, we have to wait and see when they catch up to us and how many laps we can defend our positions. This has been the case in the previous four races, so I don’t expect anything different in this fifth race. It will certainly be a tough race for us. However, we cannot apologize for being fast in qualifying, so we will take that. As for the penalty I received this morning, I may not agree with it, but they have the authority to make their decisions, and we have to accept and move on.
P: (Erwin Jaeggi – Motorsport.com) This question is for all three of you. How do you feel about the track development over the weekend, considering the special treatment the asphalt received?
MV: It wasn’t significant. Maybe in FP1, there was some improvement, but even in qualifying, the track evolution was not substantial. Some people expected the paint to wear off after FP1, but it’s still there to some extent. So, I would say it’s relatively stable.
P: Checo agrees. Fernando, what do you think?
FA: Personally, I think the biggest challenge was in wet conditions. The track was very slippery. I hope we have a dry race tomorrow, and I believe it will be good.
© 2024
The future of sports: a new era of innovation and competition
In recent years, the world of sports has been the stage for a series of changes and innovations. With the advancement of technology and the growing demand for entertainment, sports are undergoing a radical transformation. New modalities are emerging, competitions are becoming fiercer, and athletes are reinventing themselves to remain competitive.
One of the main trends shaping the future of sports is technology. From the implementation of VAR in football to the use of data and advanced analytics in athlete training, technology is revolutionizing the way sports are played and watched. Additionally, virtual reality and augmented reality are providing fans with an immersive and interactive experience, bringing them even closer to their idols and competitions.
Another major change we are witnessing is the diversification of sports. Sports like e-sports, which involve electronic gaming competitions, are gaining more and more space and attracting a young and engaged audience. Furthermore, extreme sports, such as skateboarding and surfing, are becoming increasingly popular, showing that the search for adrenaline and excitement is on the rise.
However, it’s not just the sports themselves that are changing. The way athletes are trained and prepared is also undergoing transformations. Nowadays, athletes have a multidisciplinary team, including nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and performance analysts. Additionally, science and technology are being used to optimize training and improve athletes’ performance.
With all these changes, the future of sports promises to be exciting and full of opportunities. Fans will have access to increasingly immersive and interactive experiences, while athletes will have more resources and technologies to achieve their best performance. We are witnessing a new era of innovation and competition in the world of sports, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.
