At present’s submit qualifying press convention with Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and George Russell.
Observe Interviews – Carried out by Jolyon Palmer
Max Verstappen, pole place, beginning off 2024 such as you completed ’23. Look, a fairly routine session for you on the market. It was very shut, however how was it for you?Max Verstappen: Yeah, it was lots of enjoyable, truly. The monitor had lots of grip, however with the wind, , the final two days, it has been fairly difficult to get the entire lap collectively. And it was the identical in qualifying. Q1, Q2, after all, you naturally go a bit sooner with the monitor ramping up, however then to essentially get all the things out of it in Q3 was a bit of tougher. However, after all, very pleased to be on pole. To be trustworthy, it was a bit of bit surprising. However fortunately in qualifying, I believe the automobile got here to us and I felt a bit happier with the entire automobile.
You talked about it was surprising. By apply, you have not been proper on the entrance. All of us anticipated possibly the Crimson Bull this yr seems totally different, appeared prefer it may be spectacular. It isn’t been really easy on one lap tempo, however you got here into this genuinely considering that this was actually a combat on.MV: Yeah, I stated already yesterday, , we simply wanted to fine-tune just a few little issues on the automobile to attempt to get that, for instance, excellent stability, although with the wind that was not potential as we speak. However fortunately, I believe we went in the correct path as we speak and we might actually push a bit extra with the automobile. And fortunately, one other step in qualifying.
You are very used to ranging from the entrance now. One other race tomorrow to attempt to win, take the lead within the championship and begin a brand new marketing campaign. Your race tempo seems good. Are you feeling snug? Are you nervous about any risk from someplace?MV: I believe the race goes to be shut as properly. We do look good within the race, and that is, after all, an important factor. However, yeah, we’ll see tomorrow. I am assured that we will have a robust race.
OK, good luck and properly finished, Max. Charles Leclerc, second place, an excellent qualifying, however ultimately, not fairly sufficient for pole, however a very good entrance row.Charles Leclerc: Yeah, I am a bit upset, however yeah, we did a very good qualifying. I imply, it has been a tough weekend till now. We have been making an attempt fairly just a few issues in FP1, FP2, FP3, after which I discovered the candy spot in qualifying. Q1 was a bit difficult. Sadly, we put two new units of softs, which compromised a bit of bit the Q3. However all in all, it is fairly a very good qualifying, a very good begin of the yr. We’re in a greater place in comparison with a yr in the past, so that’s good. Now now we have to see the race tempo tomorrow.
And a few tenths as we speak between your self and Max out entrance. Whenever you look again and also you go into the information, are you able to see how that may be potential? It appeared actually shut till that time.CL: Oh, yeah. I imply, in Q2, I believe I did a 0.1, which was kind of the lap time that Max did in Q3. So it was there within the automobile. I believe we misplaced a bit of bit the rhythm with the used set of C3 in Q3. Then you must re-adapt to the brand new tyres, and I misplaced a bit of bit there, however all in all, it has been a constructive qualifying.
And from the tip of final yr, you are very used to beginning alongside Max on the entrance, each of you qualifying so properly. What can we count on from Ferrari within the race? It wasn’t essentially a robust level final yr. Are you assured you possibly can take the combat to him?CL: I am assured we did a step ahead, however now we have to attend and see tomorrow how a lot of a step ahead we did. We actually assume that Crimson Bull remains to be forward by fairly a bit within the race. I imply, so we’ll see. But when there’s a chance, as all the time, I will go for it and we’ll see what occurs tomorrow.
All proper. Effectively finished, Charles.CL: Thanks. Thanks very a lot.
George, Russell, properly finished. Prime three to start out the yr. You have to be happy with that for Mercedes after the place you’ve got been the beginning of the final couple of seasons. Appears to be like like a giant step ahead.George Russell: Yeah, completely. All people on the manufacturing unit have finished an incredible job to offer Lewis and I a automobile that we really feel a lot happier with, a base that we will construct upon. However in the end, , Max remains to be on the market in entrance. We have nonetheless bought some catching as much as do. However I believe once we take a look at our qualifying performances of the final two years in Bahrain and our race tempo, beginning P3 for tomorrow is a good place.
Yeah, it seems a giant step ahead. Even from final week, folks have been saying the race tempo was robust for the Mercedes, however the qualifying tempo could also be a little bit of a weak spot. You seem like you’ve got turned that spherical within the house of every week. Has there been lots of work gone in in between testing right here and racing right here?GR: Yeah, big quantity of labor. We have had some actually nice drivers again at base doing the work on the simulator. Lewis and I’ve been again on the simulator as properly, , fine-tuning the set-up, making some enhancements. Time will inform tomorrow if we have clearly made a giant step ahead in single lap within the qualifying tempo. We hope we have not compromised the race tempo in any respect. I believe it’s going to be an in depth combat between everyone aside from Max.
What is the objective then? A podium or dreaming of the win?GR: I believe clearly Crimson Bull is so robust for the time being. Max is doing a very nice job. He is bought the brand new tyres as properly. I believe if there’s a chance to take the lead, we’ll go for it. However in the end, I believe the race is, for all of us, is for second. However as I stated, no one is aware of. It is the primary race of the season. So excited to be again. And let’s hope for some craziness.
Press Convention
Max, the hypothesis and hearsay of testing is throughout and right here you might be once more, on pole. Simply how good does that really feel and the way was that session for you?MV: Testing was superb however then it was very windy thus far, I believe this weekend, and it was only a bit tougher to get the stability of the automobile collectively and yeah it was simply steady work all the best way to qualifying. and I do assume that we made some good enhancements on the automobile and I believe that made us then do the lap in qualifying.
You made fairly a leap on that second run of Q3, the place did you discover the time?MV: I simply had a bit extra grip someway. The primary run, it simply did not actually really feel that nice. The tyres by no means actually switched on. After which on the ultimate lap, yeah, it simply felt higher from Flip 1.
And Max, there’s been a lot speak concerning the hole between Crimson Bull and Ferrari. Simply what do you make of the space between you and Charles, slightly below 0.3 of a second?MV: I believe it was only a very tight qualifying and I believe it was simply additionally very difficult situations with the wind this entire weekend. So, yeah, if you will get the lap collectively instantly, you’ll find one, one-and-a half-tenths in a nook. And I believe it was simply good for us in Q2, Q3, particularly Q3, I’d say. All of it simply improved a bit of bit extra. However yeah, I believe all through the entire of qualifying, you may see the gaps have been tremendous shut and I believe you by no means actually knew who was going to be on pole heading into Q3. So I believe that was very thrilling to see.
So 57 laps tomorrow. Simply how a lot of a step into the unknown is the primary race of the season?MV: I imply, now we have finished fairly just a few lengthy runs now, to the purpose the place you nearly become bored with it. Yeah, I am assured that now we have a very good race automobile, however I believe additionally what you noticed already yesterday within the lengthy runs, the gaps are small and it is about consideration to element and that can make the distinction additionally tomorrow.
Do you are feeling it is nearer than it was right here final yr?MV: It feels prefer it, as a result of all the best way till qualifying I did not have a very good feeling, the place final yr I believe it was a bit higher, we have been a bit stronger all through the entire weekend. So yeah, we’ll see how that can evolve.
Very properly finished. Thanks, Max. Charles, coming to you. Very properly finished to you as properly. How was the lap?CL: The automobile felt good. The final lap wasn’t the most effective lap I’ve finished. I believe the most effective lap was in Q2, the place I put all the things I needed in that lap. In Q3, I did not actually discover the grip immediately out of the field, which was a bit unusual, so we’ll take a look at that. And yeah, having a scrubbed set additionally at the start of Q3, I believe, put us a bit of bit on the again foot, as a result of the monitor is evolving and it’s kind of tougher to learn how a lot entrance flap you want to put for that final run. And there I believe we misplaced a bit of bit the rhythm.
Inform us concerning the resolution to run the brand new tyres earlier within the session?CL: I am not likely pleased about it, but it surely’s one thing we’ll talk about with the workforce. I believed there was various margin, however clearly being the primary qualifying of the yr, the workforce did not wish to danger it. So we needed to run once more with one other new gentle, which once more, it places us a bit of bit on the again foot for the remainder of qualifying.
So on the again foot, do you are feeling that you may have been nearer to Max in Q3 in case you’d had two new units? And what’s your response to that, slightly below three tenths?CL: I imply, if we might have finished a lot of issues, however on the finish we’re P2 and three tenths off. I believe it is nearer than what it seems on the timesheet. However it is a good factor. We have been anticipating Crimson Bull to have a bit extra margin than what there was as we speak. So we’re a bit nearer than what we thought, however the largest query mark is clearly tomorrow within the race. And I am fairly positive they’ve a bit extra margin than what we have seen as we speak. However once more, let’s wait and see.
However the messaging from Ferrari is that you’ve got made progress with the longer runs. That’s nonetheless the case?CL: Yeah, the sensation is significantly better in comparison with final yr. Final yr, every time we had used tyres, the automobile would turn out to be very, very troublesome to drive. The stability can be fully misplaced in comparison with the quick runs. This yr, we’re a bit extra… I imply, we’re in the correct window now within the lengthy runs. So it feels rather a lot higher. It helps us to be extra constant. Nonetheless, once more, for the competitiveness, we’ll see tomorrow.
Take a look at our Friday gallery from Bahrain right here.
