Formula 1 News: 2024 Austrian GP Thursday Press Conference
Five F1 drivers met with the media Thursday at the Red Bull Ring to answer questions ahead of the 2024 Austrian GP.
DRIVERS
- Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing)
- Charles LECLERC (Ferrari)
- Logan SARGEANT (Williams)
- Zhou GUANYU (Kick Sauber)
- Yuki TSUNODA (RB)
Q: Charles, good to see you. Let’s talk about performance first of all. Spain was better than Canada but how much more performance do you need from your car to challenge for the win this weekend?
Charles LECLERC: Well, I guess the gap that there was from us to pole position, which was two or three tenths in Barcelona. However, I feel like the potential is in the car. We just need to optimize our package and then we’ll be back to where we want. We didn’t do that in Montréal, especially with tires and the conditions were a bit outside of our operating window. And then in Barcelona, we were just not fast enough. Again, the preparation on the simulator for this track went well. So I feel confident we’ll be back in the fight.
Q: This is a fast track, but it’s got short radius corners on the whole. Do you think that will help you?
CL: Yeah, we’ve been struggling mostly with long, slow-speed corners, which here there are a little bit less. So that’s a good sign for us. But we’re also working on that in order to have a better car in those corners, which I think we’ve seen some good steps forward in the last few races. However we were struggling then in other corners, so we’ve just got to put everything together, but we are working on it and I’m confident it will be fine this weekend.
Q: Charles, final one from me for now. There have been changes to the track limits here. Specifically, gravel is now being used to sort of define the edge of the track. What are your thoughts on that? I think you haven’t done a track walk yet but I would love you to just tell us what you think in principle of what you’ve heard about the changes?
CL: I mean, it’s interesting. I’ve seen pictures. These two corners were quite tricky already before the gravel trap that we have now in those corners, in Turns 9 and 10. But I guess that now it’s pretty clear where the track limit is. And we won’t have this type of problem anymore, which is a good thing. But again, I’ve still got to drive the track to tell you exactly what I think of it, but on paper, it looks positive.
Q: Alright. Thank you. Logan, let’s come to you next. Throw it back to Spain, first of all. It was a frustrating race for you and for Williams. But I think there was no surprises there. Is that the case?
Logan SARGEANT: Yeah. I mean, Spain’s always been a tricky race for us. But I’d be lying if I said it probably wasn’t one of the most painful ones we’ve had in the past 18 months. So, I guess some understanding to do there of what exactly went wrong on the car, what was causing the lack of performance. But even more painful for me, the bits that were brought to the car were underperforming and not delivering the expected load of downforce, so yeah, we’ll try and get that fixed but that didn’t help things either.
Q: What does all that mean for this weekend in Austria?
LS: Well, unfortunately it’s a Sprint race, so not much time to figure things out, not much time to experiment, you know, try to figure out what’s going on my side in terms of bringing the package back to where it should be. So we’ve changed some bits. We’re going to do our best to figure it out. But yeah, I don’t expect everything’s going to turn around. But I think this track as a whole should suit us much better than Barcelona.
Q: Logan, can we talk about your own performance now? Because I feel Barcelona aside, you’re enjoying a good run of form at the moment. In Monaco, you qualified ahead of a Red Bull. In Canada, what were you, just one thousandth behind Alonso or something like that. Do you feel that you’re driving the best you have in Formula 1 so far?
LS: Yeah, definitely. I think it’s been a good string of races. It’s just been, you know, difficult as a whole. The team’s been doing their best to bring the updates to both cars, but it’s definitely taken some time. And I feel like I’ve generally been doing a pretty good job with, you know, what I’ve been given so far. Just try to keep that up and hopefully we can level it out soon.
Q: Final one for me, there’s been a bit of movement in the driver market today. How are things shaping up for you for 2025?
LS: At the moment, I’m just focusing on my job, doing the best I can to make the most of what I have underneath me. Options are open.
Q: Alright. Best of luck this weekend. Thank you. Zhou, let’s come to you now. We saw a much better qualifying performance from you in Spain. Both cars were running new parts, but you were also running an old chassis. What made the difference for you?
Zhou GUANYU: I mean, I feel like it’s the chassis. You know, we had a new one put in the car from Imola. And for me, of course, we have to understand the circumstance with the different layout on the tracks, you know, Imola, Monaco, Montréal, super bumpy. I don’t think it’s a strength with this year’s car. But mainly on my side, I was very lost before Spain just because I wasn’t able to push the car around, you know, in the weekend I had in Canada. Everything I do, every movement, I just really felt has a much bigger impact on the balance and also on the driving side. So we decided to change everything back to the old one. And it seems to be picking up the performance we should be or having the grip, the confidence that I have with this car. So, yeah, really happy to see the progress went into the right direction. And then, looking forward, of course, to these tracks, I think they could be suitable a little bit better for this year’s car.
Q: Zhou, it’s interesting because we saw Daniel Ricciardo earlier in the year revert back to a different chassis. What kind of a feeling were you getting from the old chassis that you were trying to recreate in Barcelona?
ZG: I mean, these days, you know, with this new generation of cars, it’s very sensitive on everything you have. For me the main issues or the places I was really struggling was mainly that I feel the bumps very aggressively and very harsh when I take them. So when you go to a track with a super bumpy surface it’s very difficult for me to have the confidence to push on the braking and also to have the car that you can throw into the corners and that’s where I was mainly lacking, you know, just that early part of the braking into the corner that you’re missing a lot of grip and potential. Yeah seems to be like we need to understanding to further investigate on the ones that’s been put on for the recent races. But it’s clear that we’re back to, let’s say, the form or the performance where the car should be, which is a very promising or positive step to be taking from.
Q: Alright. Well, good luck this weekend. Just throwing it forward to 2025. Are you clear in your mind what you want to do next year?
ZG: Yeah, I mean, I want to stay here. It’s very clear. But of course, we’re talking to different options and as well as with Sauber. And yeah, nothing has been decided. Like, it’s very easy to say: we’re all waiting for what Carlos wants to decide at the end of the day. But hopefully he can make his decision sooner. And then I think that will just turn around a lot the driver market. But before that, I think, you know, the guys who still haven’t signed can’t really give any clear answer or direction where they want to. But we’re talking and there’s options, but we need to wait and see.
Q: Alright. Good luck with that. Thank you. Yuki, let’s come to you now. Now, explain Barcelona to us, if you could, because the team brought a lot of upgrades there and I think it’s fair to say they didn’t work as you were hoping. What were the issues?
YT: Well, I hope I have a clear explanation into this week, but obviously the team is digging into that problem very hard. We still see what we wanted to see on the data after the race, but just, yeah, somehow it’s not performing well. Yeah, we saw a couple of things, the might cause it, but there’s no still clear answer, so… Yeah, that’s a bit of a mystery for us and obviously a couple of things that we could have done better on the set-up side or whatever. But yeah, it still doesn’t explain why we lost as much as that compared to previous races.
Q: It’s a Sprint weekend. Everything is condensed here. Are you going to run the new parts again here or are you reverting back to the old spec car?
YT: So, we’re going to test for sure, as a team across the cars, and even though we knew that it’s going to be a Sprint qualifying race. We wanted to know these answers soon as possible, with comparing the cars. It’s not like old or new and everything. We’re still bringing some new parts into this week. It’s kind of mixed between all of them but should be end of this week. We know the answer, what was causing it and what’s the direction we should take in the future.
Q: And final one from me, Yuki. There’s a lot of speculation as to who your teammate is going to be in 2025. What would you rather, youth or experience?
YT: Both.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Nelson Valkenburg – Viaplay) For everybody but Charles, because you already answered the question. With the new track limit situation in Turns 9 and 10, are you guys happy with it? And what problems do you guys foresee for the three of you?
LS: Well, I think it’s always tricky here. I don’t think it’ll completely solve it, to be honest. I managed to do track limits in Imola in Turn 9, which is almost impossible. So if I can do it there, I think it’s still possible to do it here. And I would like to see a way in the future where it’s completely eliminated with the design of the track. I think there’s always an opportunity to do it, and there’s no reason for that.
ZG: Yeah, I mean, I think there will be still track limits, for sure, but it’s a nicer way to be understanding you’re out if you touch the gravel. But I think, you know, there’s certain tracks where every driver is quite happy. For example, the last corner in Shanghai, the curb is kind of extended, a little bit higher, so all the people are not forced to use more than the track limit. I think these are happening applying more in other tracks now but here is definitely difficult because obviously you have like bikes or other people running here. so it’s always a bit tricky. But let’s see I think it still will be a difficult one to judge.
YT: Yeah, it’s a good modification, but hopefully it won’t be like Monza, second chicane, that all the gravel come into the racetrack and increase the chance of a puncture. That’s it. But hopefully it’s good.
Q: (Rachel Brookes – Sky Sports F1) Charles, when we spoke after the race in Barcelona, you sort of intimated that the contact with Carlos at the start of the race had cost the team some points. And when I spoke to him, he was adamant that he did nothing wrong. Can I ask where you two are at now, what conversations have been had with you and the team, and if you’ve got any concerns for your relationship going forward?
CL: For our relationship not at all. Just because we came back on the same plane Sunday night and it was a matter of seeing each other and, yeah, it’s all good. We had a discussion. As always… and I think the issue always seems huge from outside. But then between us we know each other so well since so many years that we know that after the race there’s tension, we are both in the heat of the moment disappointed with each other, and then we speak together and all is good. So I have absolutely no… Yeah, I’m not worried at all for our relationship going forward. And it’s just been an event and a race where it was a bit more tense, which happened in the past. And it may be not the last time, but all the time we’ve managed that by speaking to each other and then it’s all good going forward and it’s just the same. So I’m not worried at all.
Q: (Diego Mejia – Fox Sports Mexico) To Yuki, just following up on what you just said about the gravel coming on the track. Is it only the punctures, or is it a distraction when somebody in front of you runs wide and gets the gravel on the track, does it change the grip when you’re going there?
YT: Yeah, I think so, especially in qualifying. When someone drives on the gravel and the gravel comes into the track, for sure it compromises the coming corner, which will be last corner which is still a high-speed corner and you still need a good rear grip. So that’s the only one thing probably you can concern. Also, that the gravel might also cause floor damage as well. The speed difference between Monza and here is quite a lot different, so it might not happen, but if that happens it’s pretty hard to avoid that gravel.
Q: (Panogiotis Seitanidis – Anti TV, Greece) A question for Charles. We saw a few days earlier you carried the Olympic torch back in your home country. How important was that moment for you? And maybe there was in the past the talk about bringing motorsports into the Olympics. If that would happen in the future at some point, how would it feel to represent your country there?
CL: I mean, it was a huge honor for me to be able to carry the Olympic torch, especially in my home country in Monaco. So it was definitely a very special moment. It would be great to have motorsport at the Olympics. However, I think it’s a bit more difficult to organize than other sports because obviously we are all driving for different constructors with different cars in Formula 1. And to be able to have all the same car, you will have to choose, obviously, which route you want to go to, what downforce, what horsepower and everything. But it’s definitely possible. And I would love to represent Monaco. I’m very proud of being from Monaco. We are very few Monegasques. And it feels good to be representing such a small but beautiful country. So I would love to. But I don’t know if there are any plans of that any time soon.
Q: Let’s bring in Max now. Good to see you, Max. Look, what about motorsport as an Olympic sport? What do you think of that?
Max VERSTAPPEN: No, it’s not for me. It’s too much just car related. I don’t know, it’s probably also with racing. You didn’t grow up in that kind of Olympic environment. Yeah, just not for me, to be honest. I don’t feel like it. I don’t think we belong at the Olympic stage. And that’s fine because we have our own championship, you know, which I think is really well received. And I enjoy watching the Olympic Games in front of my TV.
Q: Alright. Well, let’s bring it on to this weekend. How do you see the lay of the land here?
MV: Nice, nice weather, good food. Home Grand Prix for us as well, which I think is always very nice. And yeah, the performance side of things, you know, the Sprint weekend is always a bit more difficult, a bit more tricky, I think, for everyone to get everything right. But that’s fine. It’s a different challenge and we’ll try to do the best we can.
Q: And Max, as the field closes up to you, what kind of reaction are you seeing from Red Bull Racing?
MV: We’re pushing as hard as we can, of course, to keep on improving. So that’s what we’ll try to do now in the coming races, which I think are, of course, very important to see where we’re at.
Q: Final one from me. We’ve discussed the track changes with the gravel on the outside of 9 and 10, for example. The others have spoken about it. Can we just get your thoughts on that?
MV: Yeah, I mean, in general, of course, it’s a great track to drive. I always enjoy it a lot, and especially the high-speed corners around here, they’re a lot of fun. But, of course, with the layout that we have, with the run-offs naturally behind it, we’re always talking about track limits. And it’s a bit of a problem as well, where, you know, throughout the lap, the tires are overheating, the front tires are getting really hot, so you naturally just understeer wide, and sometimes it happens already on the entry of the corner that the outcome on the exit is one or a few millimeters, which then gives you a track penalty. you know like you know track limit violations and I just hope maybe with the gravel will stop that a little bit. I mean naturally you have to be a bit more careful and be a bit more precise. So, we’ll see if it’s the right way. I mean we’ll also try it. I think no one has a clear solution at the moment for what is best. Of course, we have to share the track also with MotoGP, for example, and other kind of categories. It’s a bit tricky to, at the moment, come up, I think, with the best solution around here.
Q: Do you feel it worked in Shanghai when something similar was done there?
MV: Yeah, but of course, in Shanghai, I mean, some corners, they maybe have one fast corner, but then quite a few slow corners. So it’s easier, I find, to judge the limit than here in the last sector.
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sport, Italy) A question for Max. Max, in Spain there was again a Christian/Toto back and forth about your future. Do you want to close the matter definitely by saying that you will stay in Red Bull 100%?
MV: I think I’ve said this before. I mean, actually, of course, people are talking, but it’s most important just that we have a very competitive car for the future. At the moment, of course, it’s very tight, but we are working very well as a team to try and improve more. And for sure, I said this already with the team, we are working and focusing also on next year to try and be competitive again.
Q: (Rachel Brookes – Sky Sports F1) It was a follow-up on that, Max, actually. If your car isn’t the fastest then at the end of this season, we’ve already heard from last weekend that most people think the McLaren’s the quickest. If your car isn’t the best car in the field, would you then leave?
MV: I don’t think that’s how Formula 1 works, where then suddenly you can say, ‘well, bye, guys’. It’s not how it works. I have a long contract with the team. I’m very happy where I’m at. And like I said before, we are focusing also already on next year with things that we can implement on the car. So I guess that should say enough of where I’m driving next year.
Q: (Nelson Valkenburg – Viaplay) Question for Logan. Do you have the exact same floor as last week? Or have tweaks already been made?
LS: No, it’s still the same. We’ve tried to change some things around it to potentially help. But yeah, I don’t expect the problem to be eradicated.
Q: (Diego Mejia – Fox Sports Mexico) Max, have you heard anything from Honda regarding the engine that you had the issue with in Montreal?
MV: No. No, not yet. At the time, it was not looking great. Not necessarily the engine itself, but just the situation. And I’m just waiting to see what comes out of it.
Q: If you have to take a grid penalty at some point going forward, what kind of track would you be looking to do that at?
MV: I’m not going to tell you.
Q: Thanks for that.
MV: Makes everyone smarter, so…
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Max, another question for you about the team’s future competitiveness. 2026 is such a big break point for F1. What are you hearing about the Red Bull Ford engine project and how everything’s going with that? How engaged are you with them in terms of getting updates in terms of the progress they’re making?
MV: Yeah, I mean, of course, I’m not the one designing the engine, but I find it incredibly important, of course, to know the basics, basically, and see where the project is headed. The team has hired a lot of good people. And honestly, the only thing that I can say about it is that everyone is pushing flat out to try and make it the fastest engine possible. And I like to be involved with the discussions. It’s a very exciting project for the whole team. And yeah, I have no doubt that everyone is trying their very best. And we have to wait and see, of course, how everything will be. But from what I can see at the factory, when I’ve been around, they have all the tools that they need to have to make it a success. And hopefully, of course, it will be.
Q: (David Schneider – Shiga Sports Japan) A question for Yuki. You have been supported by Honda since your junior categories. And it is a very successful partnership so far. How do you feel about the new situation for 2026, where you’ll definitely not be working for Honda for the first time?
YT: 2026. well, yeah, I mean, never say definitely, but yeah, I mean… Yeah, we don’t know. It will be interesting to see if they can, you know, be one of the competitors, you know, strongest competitor that I have to beat. In that situation still I’ll be happy and I’ll be excited that I can compete with them, actually, and knowing that they’re going to have a good engine. And, yeah, I mean, you never know. If I drive theirs, that’ll still be good. But, yeah, I mean, so far… if they’re leaving to Aston still, and if I’m be part of this Red Bull family, that’d be still exciting. And, you know, you never say completely goodbye, whatever.
Q: (Zsolt Godina – F1Vilag.hu) Max, we had heard recently some stories that you had a test in Imola with an older car. If it’s true, can you please tell me how important it is to compare the feeling with the new car and the old car?
MV: Yeah, we had the test with the ‘22 car, which is allowed, of course, now this year. And I just wanted to get my references back because it’s been a while, you know, since driving that car. I’ve not driven it again since ‘22. So, yeah, it’s a fun track as well, of course, Imola. And, yeah, we had a good day. It was nice and warm also. And, yeah, just refreshing my mind of how that car was driving compared to this one.
Q: Charles, is that something you do at Ferrari? Have you driven the two-year-old car just to get a reference for this one?
CL: Yes, we did, especially at the beginning of the season, I think it has the scope, obviously, to try and compare with the new car, which is always helpful, but also to, as a driver, get back into the rhythm before the actual testing. So we’ve been doing that, yes.
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A question for Zhou and for Logan, please. You said that you’re keeping your options for 2025 open. Obviously, you both like to be in Formula 1 next year, but are you looking at potential options outside of F1? Are you in any talks with anybody else in other categories like WEC or IndyCar, for example?
ZG: For me, no. I’m just talking to the F1 teams currently. So it’s very clear. But of course, it’s interesting also as a championship. But for me, at the moment, it’s not an option there at the moment. So nothing more to add.
Q: Zhou, would a third driver, a reserve driver role be of interest to you?
ZG: I mean, if it comes to the case, obviously you need to see exactly where the whole project [is going], because I think to be a reserve driver would be interesting if they can promise a seat is available for the coming seasons. I think that would be still something I can take, but otherwise you need to see exactly where I want to, of course, be heading over, because I don’t want to be, of course, once you take that role, some drivers never come back, which is not the case I wanted to be at.
LS: Yeah, from my side, I’m exploring all options within and outside of F1 at the moment.
Q: (Valentin Vallet– MotorsInside.com) The Red Bull Ring is a track that has changed several times. From your pilot’s point of view, is the model, the way it has been remodeled to preserve its history and to offer great battles on track?
MV: But since we’ve been driving it, the track hasn’t really changed, right?
Q: It hasn’t changed since you’ve been driving it. But perhaps just give us your thoughts on the history associated with this track, because of course it was the Osterreichring and a very fast track back in the day. Do you think it still has retained some of that?
MV: Yeah, I mean, I’ve asked to try and get it back to how it was back in the day, a bit faster first sector would be quite cool, but I don’t think that is possible at the moment. But yeah, I’ve seen some really cool onboards, you know, from back in the day. I think it’s still, of course, now a very nice track, but I think in general, you know, even if you had that first sector, like just all the way with the fast corners, I think it would be even better because then it’s basically only like one slow-speed corner or whatever on the track. But it’s a cool layout. But what I like the most is that the fans, they can actually see a lot of the track when you’re sitting on any grandstand. And I think that makes it quite a special atmosphere because it feels like you’re a bit more in an arena kind of feeling. And yeah, for racing and watching the race, it’s definitely one of the best tracks on the calendar.
Q: ( Diletta Colombo – Automoto.it) A question for Charles. Do you think that the recent performance slump of Ferrari is maybe due to set-up issues?
CL: I don’t think so. Montréal, I think we’ve identified quite well what was going wrong. And it was more down to the tires. In Barcelona, I think it was just raw pace and we were just slower than what we expected. But I don’t think we didn’t optimize our package. We’ll keep on working on ourselves, try to optimize also the new package that we have on the car. that obviously was the first race in Barcelona and we still have some work to try and find something and understand a bit more these new parts that we are using now. However, I don’t think that the issues were the same in Montréal and Barcelona, so I don’t think it’s a trend.
Q: (Ben Hunt – Autosport) Question to Max, please. We’ve danced around the subject a little bit today. If I could just say to you: simple yes or no, will you be driving for Red Bull next year, please?
MV: You didn’t get that out of my answer before? OK – yes. But that’s what I said. I mean, we’re already also working on next year’s car, you know. Yeah, I think when you’re very focused on that, that means that you’re also driving for the team.
Q: (Zsolt Godina – F1vilag.hu) Charles, how do you see the dynamics within the team since we know that Carlos is leaving at the end of the year? Has it changed a little bit or not?
CL: No, we’ve been working very, very well. I think in the past, again, I guess the question is more because of what happened at the last race. But in the past, we also had those moments where it’s tricky. And between team-mates, especially when we are so close to each other, this moment happens. And it’s all about how you deal with it afterwards, face to face. And I think this has always been done very, very well between Carlos and myself. I have no worries about going forward and I honestly haven’t seen any change since. That is the case. At the end we are professionals and we know that it’s good for both of us if there’s a good relationship within the team and that we work well together on track. Sometimes I’ll go a bit over the limit. Sometimes Carlos will go a little bit over the limit. And then it’s all about speaking to each other and reset. And I have no worries going forward that it won’t be the case anymore.
Q: (Zsolt Godina – F1vilag.hu) You don’t think his priority is to have good race for him instead of Ferrari?
CL: No.
Q: (David Ryborz – APA – Austria Presse Agentur eG) One question for Max about football. Do you follow the European Championships? The Netherlands just…
MV: I knew this was coming. Jesus Christ…
Q: (David Ryborz – APA – Austria Presse Agentur eG) I mean, they just lost against Austria in a great match, but both got through to the knockout stage. Who do you think will win the tournament?
MV: Yeah, I mean, of course, I was very disappointed that we lost, but actually it put us on the right side, I guess. I would say that the strongest teams are on the left side. But still, I mean, you want to do well, right? I think Austria actually did really, really well. You know, they had a great formation. They played really well together and that’s great to see as well. That it’s not always that on paper the best team wins, I would say. And I think that also shows that there are a few surprises this Euros. So it’s very difficult to judge. There have been a lot of draws as well between certain countries. So honestly, it’s impossible to tell who’s going to win. Of course, I would like Holland to do really well, naturally. But yeah, we need to do better. And we’ll see. It’s exciting.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) A question about your teammate for next year, Lewis. How much are you guys already talking about your future partnership? Do you guys chat about things that are going on at Ferrari? Or is that kind of all stuff to come?
CL: No, we speak quite often actually. But as I had already replied to that, we are not really speaking about what’s going on within our team. Because for now, I am fully focused on my season ahead with Ferrari and obviously the other seasons after that. And Lewis is focused on his last year with Mercedes and finishing on a high. So we are not speaking about anything that is going on within the team, about upgrades or whatsoever, but more about general stuff, not related to performance or anything like that. But we have a good relationship, so of course we speak quite often. But again, not too many details.
Q: (Adam Cooper – Adam Cooper F1) Question for Max and Charles, and the others can answer if they have a view. Very sadly, last week, a nine-year-old boy was killed in a motorbike race at Interlagos. It started a debate about kids, generally, competing in motorsport. Obviously, you both started very young. You were encouraged by your dads, who were drivers. Do you think the sport should have a look at how young kids do start in karting these days? And do you think maybe sometimes kids don’t understand the risks?
MV: Then you can have the debate as well, are they allowed to travel by themselves to school? Because I think there are more accidents on the road than what happened in racing. I think in general, racing is quite safe. You’re on a closed track. Accidents happen, unfortunately, and of course, it’s very sad that these things happen. And of course, when you’re pushing to the limits, you run the risk of crashes. But I would feel way more unsafe with my child traveling to school in a busy city, crossing the road with a lot of idiots involved than my son or daughter racing on a track. It’s their passion. That’s what they want to do. They want to become successful. And by becoming successful, you need to practice. And the earlier you can start, the more you can practice and the more you learn.
CL: I didn’t know about that and it’s very sad to hear. It is a dangerous sport and I think it will always remain a dangerous sport. I think there are lots of efforts and a lot of work to try and make this sport safer. And of course, I guess that whenever there’s an incident like this, everything is analyzed and we try to do a step forward as a sport for the kids and for ourselves as well, even when you are older, to race in the safest conditions as possible. Whether you should limit the age, I think it’s already limited, to very young but it’s limited. And obviously, with the power that you can race with, the categories now are limited with an age, which I think this is good. However, on the safety, I mean I don’t want to go into it but I don’t know in which conditions the crash happened and these are things that should be looked at and see whether as a sport we can do a step forward to put the kids and ourselves in the safest conditions possible.
Q: (Carlo Platella – FormulaPassion.it) A question for Charles. You said that this year’s car is struggling mostly in low-speed long corners, but in Barcelona, you seem to struggle also in high-speed long corners like Turn 9 or Turn 14. Can you confirm that? And if it’s that so, is that another weakness of this car?
CL: I actually don’t confirm that. I think maybe in the race, it’s always difficult to see because there’s a lot of tire management going on. And we might be saving more in 9 and 13 than others and that might look like a weakness from outside, but it might not be the case, actually. However, in qualifying, there are two corners where we have lost everything in Barcelona, and that was 5 and 10. And 10 being probably the corner that fits the characteristics that I was saying earlier, slow and long corners, slow-speed and long corners. So these are the kind of corners that we really need to work on. On 9 and 13, in qualifying, I don’t think these were big weaknesses.
Q: Charles, can we just throw this forward to next weekend, to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone? What does it mean for that race?
CL: First of all, we’ve got a weekend this weekend to perform at our best. And actually here we have quite a lot of high speed as well. So it will be a good test to see where we’ll stand in Silverstone, as much as there are quite different tracks. Yeah. Again, we’ve had these new upgrades only since one race. And we’ve still got to understand it and understand how to set up the car in order to optimize this upgrade in the best possible way. And I hope by Silverstone, we’ll be at 100%. And we’ll be back at fighting for the pole position and the win.
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) Max it’s been very close between you guys and McLaren over the last few races. Are there any particular areas where you feel that McLaren has perhaps surpassed Red Bull? and with regards to upgrades and your thoughts on 2025 what is it in particular that you’re asking for in those lineage of cars?
MV: I think McLaren at the moment, they’re just very solid. They’re good everywhere, every single track, kind of. And also, I think you could see in Barcelona, they were very good on their tires. They could just push more on them compared to, I think, everyone else on the grid without actually degging off that much at the end of stints. Because even the last stint, my last few laps were quite a struggle, where Lando was definitely catching up a lot. So these are things that we have to do better. Plus, of course, our known issues with the curbs and bumps, low speed, basically. And yeah, those are things that we try to understand better also for next year.
Q: (Nigel Chiu – Sky Sports) The last few Fridays perhaps haven’t been quite as strong for Red Bull and you’ve been on the back foot going into Saturday. But with just one practice session this weekend. Do you think you’ll need to be stronger than the last few weekends on a Friday?
MV: I would say I would say Barcelona, we had just a normal weekend, we were just too slow. And then you try to keep on making adjustments. And then luckily, I think in qualifying, it all felt a bit better. But that was probably just a normal progression that you have throughout the weekend. So yeah, before that, of course, we had some messy weekends. So we cannot afford that anymore, these kind of things. So of course, I just hope for a clean weekend, basically like we did in Barcelona, but hopefully a little bit more pace as well.