At present’s post-race press convention with Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz.
Monitor Interviews – Performed by David Coulthard
Q: Max Verstappen, congratulations! Again-to-back victories and your fifty fifth Grand Prix victory.Max Verstappen: Yeah, unbelievable. I feel immediately it went even higher than anticipated. I feel the automotive was very nice to drive on each compound and I feel we had a number of tempo. And yeah, it was tremendous satisfying to drive immediately. We actually stayed out of hassle. And yeah, nice begin to the yr. I imply, it could not have been higher.
Q: No, completely. Clear sweep. You led each lap, quickest lap by a sizeable margin. It regarded like play time for you on the market.MV: Yeah, it was a number of enjoyable. I felt actually good within the automotive. And yeah, it is at all times very particular to have these sorts of days as a result of they do not occur that always, you already know, that it simply all goes good, then you definately’re simply at one with the automotive and all the things simply feels nice.
Q: You needed to be fairly defensive into the primary nook. We will at all times count on that right here. However thereafter, no points?MV: Yeah, I feel the beginning was good. After all, the primary nook is a really tight hairpin. So naturally, you wish to defend the within simply to be protected, so that is what we did. And mainly, from there onwards, we simply targeted on our personal race.
Q: You aren’t getting lengthy to rejoice this victory, as a result of in just a few days we’re heading to Saudi for Spherical 2.MV: Yeah however that is high quality, you already know. It is a lengthy season. And it is a terrific place on the planet to be anyway. So for me, yeah, a few days’ relaxation and we go once more.
Q: OK Max, congratulations in your victory. Thanks. And now Checo Prez, similar result’s final yr, however nice comeback out of your fifth place in qualifying. Happy along with your race?Sergio Perez: I feel it was the utmost we might have achieved. It was a fairly a difficult race, you already know, with the administration of the tyres – I feel there’s lots we’ll study from tonight’s race, which will likely be essential for the championship. However general, I feel it is a good way to start out the season.
Q: So simply develop on that. What have been the problems you have been managing on the tyres and was it compound to compound?SP: it was actually compound to compound, the quantity of sliding we have been having, we’d have some points with the engine braking, the driveability, which isn’t straightforward round right here, as a result of there’s loads of low-speed. However like I say, you already know, I am positive we’ll analyse all of that tonight and ensure we study for Jeddah.
Q: Lower than every week away, so you do not have lengthy to return again after which try to construct on this end result.SP: Yeah, undoubtedly. I feel it is a good group momentum and we have to stick with it for the approaching weekend.
Q: Lastly, our third-place finisher. Carlos, you have been feisty on the market, you have been actually, you already know, trying such as you wished that podium end result. Nice drive.Carlos Sainz: I felt actually good on the market immediately. The beginning wasn’t very best however from then on I simply managed my tyres effectively. After which from there, I might do my tempo, overtook two or three automobiles on the way in which to the rostrum after which maintaining with a Purple Bull there on the finish, which was a pleasing shock. Nonetheless not sufficient, not the place we wish to be, however a very good step ahead in comparison with final yr and a strong begin to the season.
Q: Good begin certainly. Completely different compounds on the finish of the Grand Prix there. What have been you studying? That is the primary race of the season so that you’re sizing up your opposition?CS: Yeah, we had a really clear plan, utilizing Tender after which two Hards. With the Arduous on our automotive we really feel a bit extra snug, as a result of it overheats much less, it degrades much less. It’s a little bit of a trickier tyre with warm-up and with entrance locking however then as soon as we get it working in our guard, you may push on it. Within the Purple Bull you may see completely different traits, completely different technique decisions, however I feel additionally that is the great thing about F1. And yeah, we might mess around a bit with technique immediately.
Q: Now the great thing about Method 1 is it is the race that by no means ends. In a single week we’ll be in Saudi. Is {that a} circuit that can play to the strengths of your automotive, do you assume, or how do you see it trying ahead?CS: Let’s have a look at. It is the primary completely different circuit that we go together with these new 2024 automobiles, so will probably be a little bit of a shock for everybody to see the place we’re. I count on the automobiles just like the McLaren and the Purple Bull that final yr they have been excellent in high-speed circuits to be aggressive there. However you already know our automotive has additionally improved within the excessive pace so hopefully we may be additionally stronger.
Press Convention
Q: Nicely, Max, first race of the season, your first win of the season. Was progress on observe as easy because it regarded?MV: I feel immediately was in all probability higher than anticipated. The factor that modified was the wind and the depth of it. So yeah, it simply felt a bit higher. I simply had a greater feeling with the automotive and I might take care of my tyres fairly effectively on the similar time. In order that was very constructive. Most likely a bit extra the way it was in testing as effectively. I simply felt very snug with the automotive. That basically confirmed immediately, so I am very pleased to kickstart the season like this, but in addition as a group, to have a 1-2 is simply unbelievable. However I additionally assume that usually different groups are nearer. I simply assume that immediately all the things simply labored actually, very well, and I after all do not count on that to occur each single Grand Prix within the close to future however nonetheless, we’ll take it, we’ll look again at it, after all, we’ll analyse it and we’ll attempt to enhance additional.
Q; George Russell mentioned after qualifying yesterday that he thought you had half a second a lap over everyone else. What did you make of the hole to everybody?MV: After all, I do not understand how they method their lengthy runs, you already know, with gasoline hundreds and no matter. However from our facet, it was undoubtedly not anticipated to be a half a second forward, for positive not. However yeah, it was in all probability a bit higher than I assumed immediately.
Q: And also you say the automotive feels extra prefer it was in testing. Is it nonetheless a little bit of a aid to return out of the primary race, having had the domination that you just had?MV: Yeah, but in addition on the similar time you might see in qualifying it was very tight and yeah, there are issues that we will do higher and that is what we’ll deal with you already know for the approaching races.
Q: Nicely, let’s throw it ahead to the subsequent race. how a lot confidence do you’ve going to Saudi Arabia?MV: It is a utterly completely different observe format, much more high-speed corners. The tarmac, after all, is totally completely different to what it’s right here, so much less degradation. Naturally, in all probability that can assist different groups as effectively in comparison with us. It looks like for us at all times it is higher to have these sort of tracks, so I do not count on that to be straightforward.
Q: All proper, very effectively accomplished immediately. Thanks, Max. Checo, coming to you, nice race from fifth on the grid. Simply how happy are you along with your progress?SP: Yeah, I feel ranging from P5, it is at all times good to make good progress. There have been a number of battles on observe, which round this place, you simply go into a really completely different technique as soon as that occurs. You might be sliding much more in visitors. And I feel general, it is an excellent group end result. Yeah, it was fairly shut with the Ferraris, with the Mercs early on. We have been combating with the DRS, clearly, being a lap earlier. It simply adjustments just a few issues on the market.
Q: And also you have been on the Tender tyre in that remaining stint. You had Carlos simply behind on the Arduous tyre. Have been you involved going into that stage of the race?SP: Yeah, I knew that it was nearly managing, you already know, as a result of he clearly pushed us to cease early and we simply stopped fairly early, truly. And it was going to be a really lengthy stint, so we managed to progressively construct a niche, maintain that hole between us constant and I feel it labored effectively. We had just a few different points with the automotive in direction of the top of the race that meant that our degradation was getting rather a lot worse in direction of the top of the race.
Q: Even with out that degradation, simply how snug are you within the RB20?SP: Yeah, I feel immediately was a really good shock. We have been anticipating undoubtedly the individuals round us to be loads stronger. I feel, like Max says, you already know, that is in all probability the worst place for degradation. So I feel the higher it’s, the nearer you’re going to get. So Jeddah will likely be a really completely different problem, so will probably be fascinating to see the place we’re there.
Q: How a lot are you trying ahead to Jeddah, after all, scene of your victory there final yr?SP: Yeah, loads. You already know, I feel additionally I consider that the automotive will likely be robust there with the high-speed content material. So I feel there ought to be one other robust weekend for us.
Q: All proper. Nicely accomplished immediately. Thanks, Checo. Carlos, coming to you now. Fourth within the opening race final yr, third this yr. Given all the things that is occurred to you over the winter, simply how essential is that this podium?CS: I feel it is simply essential to start out the season effectively, begin the season with a robust race, not only for my future, only for myself, you already know, as a result of final yr I spent a number of the races, you already know, trying in my mirror, saving tyres, defending my place. And I bear in mind on the automotive launch saying, yeah, this yr I want we had a automotive to go racing, you already know, and assault individuals and do not care an excessive amount of concerning the tires and make some overtaking strikes and look ahead quite than look backwards. And it is precisely what we obtained. You already know, I obtained an attacking race, a very good race tempo and from there all the things felt actually good to complete P3. It wasn’t a simple and a simple race, however yeah, I loved it loads.
Take a look at our Saturday gallery from Bahrain right here.
