SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JUNE 29: Dutch driver Max Verstappen from Oracle Red Bull Racing team, who secured pole position, British driver Lando Norris from McLaren team, who finished second, and British driver George Russell from Mercedes team, who finished third, pose for a photo in the closed park during the qualifying session for the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2024 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Interviews in the closed park conducted by Jolyon Palmer with the top three finishers in the qualifying session in Spielberg: P1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing), P2 Lando Norris (McLaren), and P3 George Russell (Mercedes).
P: Max Verstappen, pole position. I must say you were in a class of your own today. How was it?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yes, the qualifying was really good. We tried to make some adjustments to the car based on what we learned this morning. I think it worked out. The track was a bit hotter than yesterday, which made it a bit more challenging to drive, but overall, the car was much better for me today. I was able to push more in the corners and all the laps were perfect. It was a really enjoyable experience out there.
P: We’ve had some tight battles for pole position recently, with you and George separated by just 0.00. Up until yesterday, the difference was only nine hundredths. However, with the changes we made to the car, you seem to have gained confidence and left everyone behind by tenths on this short track.
MV: Definitely. It’s been a while since we last secured pole position, so it’s great. The team worked really hard to make the car more competitive, and I think this result is a strong indication of that. I hope we can showcase our performance in the race tomorrow as well.
P: We witnessed an exciting battle between you and Lando in the earlier Sprint race. Tomorrow you will have another McLaren alongside you on the grid. Any thoughts on that?
MV: It’s always good to have a good battle on the track. I hope we have another close fight tomorrow, but I’m not thinking too much about it right now. I’m very happy with the car’s performance today and I hope that translates into a good race pace as well.
P: Lando, how was your qualifying session?
Lando NORRIS: No, it was a good qualifying session. I think we did the best we could today, considering how much faster Max was compared to us. The conditions were a bit trickier than yesterday, and it was more challenging to put in perfect laps. But overall, it was enough and I’m satisfied with the result.
P: Looking ahead to the race, you had a chance to fight Max in the earlier Sprint race. Do you think the longer race distance will work in your favor?
LN: It’s going to be tough. Considering today’s pace, it’s clear that we’ll have to give our best to keep up with Max and the Red Bull cars. I’ll definitely try to do a better job than this morning. We’ve been stronger in races compared to qualifying, so I’m excited and looking forward to it. Anything can happen in a long race, so let’s see what happens.
P: Congratulations, Lando. Let’s hope for an exciting race. George Russell, back on the podium. Mercedes secured a podium position in qualifying for the third consecutive Saturday. You must be pleased with that.
George RUSSELL: Yes, for sure. The car is feeling really good at the moment. The team has worked tirelessly to bring improvements, and it seems like we are ready for a real fight, especially with Ferrari. We are still a bit behind McLaren, and Max and Red Bull were exceptional today. However, we are heading in the right direction, and that is promising.
P: The Sprint race didn’t seem easy for you and the team. Although you were close to the Ferraris, you were still a step behind the top two. Did you make significant changes to the car?
GR: Yes, we made some changes. Adjusting the wing level helped us improve tire degradation for tomorrow’s race. We compromised a bit in qualifying to focus on the race. However, McLaren still seems to have an advantage over us. Nevertheless, it’s great to be on the podium for the third time in a row, alongside Lewis. It’s a positive feeling.
P: What are your expectations for tomorrow? Are you dreaming of a win or focusing on securing a podium finish?
GR: Well, those two guys had an intense battle in the Sprint race, so maybe I’ll just sit back and watch them! Realistically, they have a better pace than us. Our main goal is not to compromise our race too much while fighting with them. However, anything can happen in a long race, so let’s see how things unfold.
P: Max, congratulations on the impressive pole position today. How satisfied are you with your qualifying session and the final lap in Q3?
MV: I think the whole session was very good. The car’s balance was much better, which allowed me to accelerate more and trust the grip. It was a pleasant experience. I focused on getting through Q1 without using a new set of tires, and it worked. From there, we made some fine-tuning adjustments to the balance. Every lap was good, and it’s all about nailing every corner. It hasn’t been the easiest period for us, and finding pure pace has been challenging. So, this result is definitely positive for the team.
P: Max, Lando mentioned your perfect lap in qualifying in Barcelona last week. Was this qualifying session close to perfection for you?
MV: It was good. There’s always room for improvement, of course, when I look at the lap. I felt confident, and I knew that if I put in a solid lap, it would be enough for pole position. That’s what I did today, and that’s what matters. As a team, we’ve worked hard to be more competitive compared to the last few races, and it seems to have paid off. I’m happy with that. Although I always strive to nail every qualifying lap, some are better than others. This one was definitely very good, but I wouldn’t call it perfect.
P: Are you surprised by the difference between you and your rivals?
MV: Yes, definitely. It’s a short lap, and the difference turned out to be quite significant. However, I felt very comfortable with the car’s balance, which allowed me to push and attack the corners. I believe that’s what created this difference.
P: So, the car performs exceptionally well in qualifying. What about the pace in long-duration races?
MV: It’s something I hope will be good as well, but we’ll find out tomorrow. The car’s balance has improved, which I hope will help with tire management during the hot and demanding race. We’ll do our best to take care of the tires and deliver a good performance.
P: Congratulations on a great day, Max. Thank you. Lando, let’s talk about you. Another start on the front row for you here. How was your lap?
LN: It was good, but not amazing. The conditions were a bit trickier today compared to yesterday, due to the wind and other factors. In relation to Max, we were much further back, closer to the Mercedes and Ferraris. So, there were some areas where I could have done better. Yesterday, I probably did a better lap and made up some of the difference. However, today, Max did a great job, and Red Bull made significant progress compared to yesterday. They were simply much faster than us. Still, starting P2 on the front row is a positive result, and I hope we can turn it into something great tomorrow.
P: Did you manage to improve the car since yesterday?
LN: It seems not! We made some minor changes, but overall, I think we did a good job throughout the weekend to optimize the car’s performance. Maybe others were able to make more progress than us, and we reached our peak earlier in the weekend. We believe we took a step forward, but several factors made things more challenging today.
P: Let’s look at tomorrow’s race. This is your second start alongside Max Verstappen. What is your plan?
LN: It’s somewhat similar to before, but not completely! I’m going to focus on perfecting a few things from the previous race. I know what I did wrong, and that was quite evident. However, considering Max’s pace today, even if I had executed everything perfectly, I’m not sure if I would have been able to keep up with him. Today’s qualifying session showed that Red Bull had a significant advantage over us. So we’ll see how it goes. Every day is different, conditions can change, and races have been favorable for us recently. The race is one of our strengths compared to qualifying. I’m excited to see what we can achieve.
P: Alright. Congratulations, Lando. George, now it’s your turn. Very impressive session for you as well. How satisfied are you with your overall performance?
GR: It was a good session, just like for Lando. The gap to Max was bigger than we expected. We made some changes to the car, which I believe will benefit us in tomorrow’s race. However, the final lap in Q3 was a bit chaotic. I had to let several cars pass during the warm-up lap, and during the actual lap, there was dust and gravel everywhere. It’s frustrating as a driver to see gravel on the track while going through the corners. So there was a bit more potential, but I’m still satisfied with finishing in P3. I’m not sure where Oscar’s lap got deleted. Hopefully, we can fight for a podium finish tomorrow.
P: Speaking of the race, how do you expect your pace to be in long races?
GR: I think Lando and Oscar seem to have a slight advantage over us. Obviously, Max is in a league of his own at the moment. I’m not sure where Oscar finished in the standings, but I believe Lewis and I can beat the Ferraris tomorrow and potentially hinder Oscar’s progress. He qualified in seventh, right? But it’s a long race, and anything can happen, especially with high tire degradation.
P: So, what’s the plan for the start? Are you planning to make a bold move on the outside and take the lead in turn 1?
GR: What do you think? No, I think it’s more challenging here. These guys always fight hard. So maybe this time I’ll sit back and watch everything unfold. But no, I think last week, I lost a lot of time battling with Lando, and probably focused too much on the cars ahead of me. In the end, it cost me a position to Lewis and almost to Charles as well. So, as I mentioned before, I think the race will be about managing the rear tomorrow.
P: Max, you briefly mentioned the changes you made to the car’s balance during this qualifying session. Given the performance compared to yesterday and earlier today, what were you looking for during lunch to take that next step? How did you manage to improve the car’s performance?
MV: We were looking for a more stable balance, a better connection between the front and rear of the car. And it worked. The changes we made proved to be effective. Sometimes, even small adjustments can make a significant difference in lap time. I’m really happy about that because, as I mentioned before, it hasn’t been the easiest period for us, and finding pure pace has been challenging. So, this is definitely a positive result for everyone.
© 2024
The Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, achieved another impressive victory at the Monaco Grand Prix last Sunday. Hamilton, who currently leads the world championship, showcased his exceptional skills by overtaking his competitors and crossing the finish line in first place. With this win, Hamilton further solidified his position as one of the greatest drivers of all time.
The race in Monaco was filled with excitement and adrenaline. The drivers faced a challenging circuit, full of tight and narrow curves, making overtaking an extremely difficult task. However, Hamilton demonstrated his mastery by finding opportunities and executing incredible maneuvers, leaving his opponents behind.
In addition to his driving skills, Hamilton was also praised for his intelligent strategy during the race. He knew how to manage his tires efficiently, ensuring consistent performance throughout the laps. This was crucial for his victory, as other drivers faced tire wear issues and had to make extra pit stops.
With this win, Hamilton extended his lead in the Formula 1 world championship. He now leads with a comfortable margin, leaving his competitors struggling to catch up. It seems that it will be difficult for anyone to take the title away from Hamilton this season.
On the podium, Hamilton expressed his gratitude to the team and fans for their continuous support. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and the dedication of everyone involved in achieving success. Hamilton also took the opportunity to thank the fans for their unwavering support, which motivates him to continue giving his best in every race.
The next race of the Formula 1 World Championship will be held at the Silverstone circuit in England. Hamilton, who is British, will certainly have massive support from fans in his homeland. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain his dominance and secure another victory for his team.
There is no doubt that Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest drivers of all time. His skill, strategy, and dedication make him a force to be reckoned with on the race track. With each victory, he continues to write his name in Formula 1 history.
