F1 – 2024 British Grand Prix – Post-Qualifying Press Conference transcript

DRIVERS

1 – George RUSSELL (Mercedes)

2 – Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes)

3 – Lando NORRIS (McLaren)

TRACK INTERVIEWS

(Carried out by David Coulthard)

Q: Lando Norris, third on the grid for tomorrow’s race. I noticed you speaking to Sir Jackie Stewart there. Nonetheless smiling, however I believe somewhat little bit of frustration as a result of it regarded such as you have been the person laying down the lap instances.

Lando NORRIS: I used to be till the top, however no, I am pleased with the P3. Three Brits lock out of the highest three, so fairly cool right here. No, good laps by George and Lewis each. They did a superb job. They put in some good laps and somewhat mistake on my half on the finish, however P3 remains to be good.

Q: Effectively, it is nice to listen to you are pleased with that. You will be aiming to make the kind of begin you probably did final yr, so it is nonetheless all to play for.

LN: No, 100%. And it will rain once more tomorrow, so I am excited. It will be a very good race. We’re fast. I can carry the battle to George and I can carry the battle to Lewis, so excited to placed on a very good present tomorrow.

Q: you could have a figuring out smile. so this battle for McLaren shouldn’t be over.

LN: No I am excited. We’ll have some… I hope we will have some good battles, so I look ahead to it.

Q: OK, Lando congratulations. On to the endlessly younger Lewis Hamilton. Congratulations in your second place The group displaying their appreciation, Lewis. Did you actually suppose you can pull that lap on the finish? It is an unimaginable 1-2 for Mercedes.

Lewis HAMILTON: Yeah, nicely, first off, an enormous, large because of this unimaginable crowd. We’re so proud to be right here. Three Brits within the high three is unimaginable. And an enormous congratulations to George. He did such an important job. We positively did not count on to be entrance row this weekend, however that is big for us, for our crew. The automotive felt implausible on the market. And so everybody within the storage right here, all our crew which have come right here actually deserve this.

Q: It was a vastly difficult qualifying session. You had the moist, with the Intermediates in the beginning. There have been individuals going off. any specific standout second aside from that stunning lap for you was there some extent the place you have been pondering ‘oh, I am up in opposition to it’.

LH: No, no, no., As I mentioned, the automotive felt nice. It was nearly getting the tyre temperatures on the proper place and you understand sealing the deal once you had the time on monitor. So I believe I used to be in a position to do this. I believe finally there was nonetheless time left on the desk, which George was capable of finding. However I really feel actually assured concerning the automotive tomorrow and I believe with the circumstances we’ve we are able to work collectively to maintain Lando behind.

Q: OK, nicely, Lewis, congratulations on getting within the high three and second place right here at Silverstone. And at last… George Russell, you are in pole place on the British Grand Prix.

George RUSSELL: Come on! What a sense, what a sense. At first of this yr, I do not suppose we might have even dreamt of being on pole right here. And, you understand, a one-two, for Lewis and I, Lando in P3. That is simply mega. It is all the way down to all these followers as nicely. They offer us a lot power. So, yeah, thanks a lot for that.

Q: Six days in the past, you took the victory. Right here you take the pole. Lewis was saying the automotive’s been feeling nice, so he is not shocked that it is a 1-2. However I did not realise, trying by the free apply, that you simply guys might actually take it to the McLaren.

GR: The automotive for the time being is feeling so, so good. It actually got here alive in quali, and truthfully, what a pleasure to drive round this circuit. And, you understand, we’re driving this wave for the time being, completely buzzing, however eyes on tomorrow. We have got a race to win, and it will be tight with Lando. Max goes to be quick as nicely, however I am so excited proper now.

Q: Lewis has spoken up to now concerning the energy of the group driving him forwards. Are you choosing up that mantle and taking a few of that power?

GR: The group give us all a lot power, the three of us. I do not suppose Silverstone might have dreamt of the three Brits within the high three. So, truthfully, the assist, we simply completely adore it and we will not look ahead to the race tomorrow.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: Many congratulations, George. What a efficiency by you and Mercedes. You received in Austria final weekend. You are on pole right here at house. Simply how good does this really feel?

GR: Yeah, that is positively top-of-the-line emotions I’ve ever had on a Saturday afternoon. The automotive was simply insane. Once we went out in Q3, it simply actually got here alive and no doubt, top-of-the-line emotions I’ve ever had driving this circuit and crossing the road, seeing my identify in P1, after which seeing we’re each on the entrance row. We could not have even dreamt of that after the primary three or 4 races. Yeah, it feels good.

Q: Have you ever been shocked by the tempo of the automotive at this time?

GR: It has been feeling nice since Canada once we introduced these upgrades. You understand, the 2 of us have been qualifying within the high three constantly, nevertheless it actually got here into its personal at this time. We have been actually fast in FP1 yesterday. We struggled in FP2 somewhat bit, however these circumstances simply actually acquired the automotive into an ideal window, and the lap was simply actually, very nice, and there isn’t any ensures for tomorrow, for positive however we really feel like we’re driving this wave for the time being. And, I imply, clearly, for us as a crew, I do not know when the final time was. we have been on a entrance row. However, you understand, 2021? Possibly earlier than.

Q: George, you say that final lap in Q3 was actually, very nice. Simply the place did you discover the time over that first run in Q3?

GR: From Flip 6 to Flip 9, I gained loads. Flip 6 and seven have been mega. There’s an enormous headwind by there so I braked actually, actually late and I simply might carry the velocity by the corners. But it surely was simply on rails, the automotive. I simply felt so assured in it. Q3, we actually turned it up as a result of Q1 and Q2 have been very, very difficult. I felt like I used to be about to get knocked out at numerous factors. The monitor improved in each single lap. And possibly going into Q3 was essentially the most stress I’ve ever felt in a qualifying session as a result of the entire Q1 and Q2 runs, it was like on the verge of getting knocked out each single event. And I wasn’t feeling that assured with myself. However as quickly as I went by Flip 1 and a couple of in Q3, I felt good and managed to do the laps.

Q: Effectively, George, let’s throw it ahead to the race. With apply being so affected by the climate, simply how a lot confidence do you could have within the long-run tempo of the automotive?

GR: Yeah, I believe. realistically we all know we’re in all probability a tenth or two behind Lando and Max, however I believe we have got a very good battle on our fingers. However the climate’s going to play an enormous half in that. You understand, it has been raining and drying up all through the final couple of days. There is a little bit of rain on the forecast tomorrow. We’re in all probability heading in the right direction for one more Montreal-style race the place it will be very changeable. So it will be a protracted race. As I mentioned, we’re driving this wave proper now, nevertheless it does not imply something as a result of tomorrow is the place the factors are scored. However we’re clearly in an important place to battle for victory.

Q: Alright, look, better of luck. Effectively carried out at this time. Lewis, let’s come to you now. An eleventh front-row begin at Silverstone for you. Simply inform us concerning the session out of your standpoint.

LH: It was an important session. Naturally, the most effective session that we have had as a crew to only have the true tempo and be capable of really compete with the McLarens and the Purple Bulls, I believe is extremely satisfying, simply actually an enormous enhance for the crew. And the automotive felt nice, as George was saying, an enormous congratulations to George for getting the pole. However to be on the entrance row, I believe, is huge for our crew. So a lot of them are right here this weekend with their households. And it has been a very long time since we have had it. So this can be a nice feeling.

Q: How was the build-up of the session by Q1 and Q2 out of your standpoint?

LH: It is fairly simple for me, to be trustworthy. I imply, when it is moist, that is after I’m in all probability the happiest. So I am tremendous assured in these first circumstances. That was the simplest half for me, I might say. After which it acquired somewhat bit tougher as soon as we acquired to Q3, only a bit with stability. However nonetheless, as I mentioned, I am tremendous grateful to be right here.

Q: Alright. And Lewis, simply throwing it ahead to the race, do you could have perception within the long-run tempo of the automotive?

LH: Effectively, I believe I used to be cautious with my set-up, extra pondering to have a pleasant stability within the race somewhat than all for one specific lap. So I do suppose that the automotive will probably be good tomorrow, yeah.

Q: Alright. Better of luck. Thanks very a lot. Lando, coming to you now. You mentioned somewhat earlier that you simply’re pleased with the automotive. Simply inform us, to begin with, what occurred on that closing lap of Q3.

LN: I simply ran large out of Flip 14 and that was it.

Q: With out that, do you suppose pole was within the offing for you at this time?

LN: No, I used to be already a tenth-and-a-half down, so it is robust. I believe, you understand, George and Lewis have carried out an important job for the 2 automobiles to be up there. Reveals that the crew are additionally doing an incredible job. It was tremendous shut. I believe if I put in a adequate lap, it was shut and inside a little bit of a battle. However, no, they’ve appeared very fast all weekend since FP1, like George mentioned, so there or thereabouts, however I simply did not ship it at this time.

Q: Lando, are you shocked by the tempo of Mercedes right here?

LN: No.

Q: Okay. Effectively, look, throwing it ahead to the race then…

LN: It is a easy query!

Q: Throwing it ahead to the race. Are you anticipating them to be your most important challenger tomorrow?

LN: Yeah, I believe even in case you take a look at final yr, Mercedes have been in all probability one of many quickest within the race. If not doubtlessly the quickest. So I count on them to be very fast tomorrow, particularly as they will take care of their entrance tyres very nicely. They’ve an excellent entrance finish. And I believe that is going to be a very good saviour for them tomorrow. However once more, like George mentioned, the circumstances are going to be tough. However we’re there. We have been very fast within the races during the last two months. It is in all probability been one in every of our strengths. It has been really race tempo over quali tempo. However this can be a very totally different kind of circuit. It is a very totally different structure. But it surely’s nonetheless a power. And hopefully it comes again in the direction of us somewhat bit tomorrow.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) A query to George, please. Truly, a few questions. Simply going again to that final lap in Q3, I believe you began off somewhat bit slower by the primary couple of corners. It was slower on the finish of the primary sector, however then purple by the top. So are you able to simply clarify what was happening initially there? And in addition, you talked about the struggles Q1, Q2. Did the automotive change a lot forward of Q3 for that large transformation?

GR: The wind picked up on that final lap and also you had a bit extra of a tailwind by Turns 3 and 4. So I believe a couple of of us have been brown in that first sector, however then abruptly you picked up a lot extra downforce by Flip 6 and seven and within the final nook as nicely once you’re going into the wind. In order that was in all probability… the explanation for it. However no, Q1 and Q2, we have been simply not attempting to make use of our new Tender tyres to permit us to have the 2 new units for Q3. And I believe we have additionally saved one set of recent Softs for the race tomorrow. So the Tender is a possible race tyre. So once you’ve acquired automobiles which can be barely slower than you throwing tyres at it, you are simply all the time on that again foot. And that was form of the reasoning for it. Yeah, the monitor dried up. We acquired into the groove, and the lap instances got here.

Q: (Niharikia Ghorpade – Sportskeeda) Lando, you begin on second row with Max. How necessary is it going to be to have a clear begin? And in the case of the race, we noticed in Canada that it was a little bit of the pit cease technique the place you misplaced out to Purple Bull. So how a lot of a risk is Purple Bull to you? And given that they are on the again foot, how assured are you going into the race and executing it correctly?

LN: I am positive Max goes to be racing us tomorrow, however I’ve nonetheless acquired two different guys I’ve acquired to fret about, so I do not care nearly Purple Bull. I believe our technique has been superb during the last two months, so I am joyful. The crew are doing a very good job and subsequently I’m assured we are able to execute a very good race. We’d like good tempo. We’d like to have the ability to race nicely. I have to go two guys if that is going to be on the playing cards. So, yeah, assured from what we all know and what we have seen over the previous few races that we are able to go forwards.

Q: (Silvia Arias – Parabrisas) Lewis, with the Mercedes performing like that, finish of final yr, do you suppose would you be in Ferrari subsequent yr? Do you suppose you’ll be in Ferrari subsequent yr performing, in case you had final yr the automotive you’re having now?

LH: Sure.

Q: (Fred Ferret – l’Equipe) A query to the three of you. Do you could have an reason why the Brits are so good in Formulation 1?

LH: Roast dinners.

LN: It might’t be. I haven’t got roast dinner.

LH: No?

LN: Possibly that is why I am not on pole. I’ve acquired greater than George. I imply, I believe we grew up in these circumstances. I believe Q3 was simply fully dry, however I believe by the entire of this weekend, between the three of us, we have in all probability been, on common, the quickest. We all the time get pleasure from these circumstances, much like Canada. The three of us have been up there being amongst the quickest once more. Yeah, positively rising up in I believe only a very aggressive… I believe England is essentially the most aggressive form of space to develop up in. Then form of extra Europe-based, however climate and simply competitiveness of rising up and having essentially the most aggressive upbringing and competitiveness was the principle factor.

GR: Yeah, I believe, like Lando mentioned, simply grassroots in all probability, within the UK, is essentially the most superior for motorsport. And we’re so lucky to have so many nice drivers. And also you simply push each other alongside that journey. And I believe additionally so many nice British drivers up to now have impressed the children to get into racing.

Q: (Simon Abberley – Nevis Radio) George and Lewis, you mentioned on Thursday you were not too positive in case you had the automotive for this weekend. Clearly, you are doing fairly nicely with the place you are sat simply now. With that in thoughts and the changeable circumstances for tomorrow, have you ever perhaps geared your automotive extra in the direction of the rain? Or is that this one thing that you simply thought might be doubtlessly attainable on Thursday however weren’t too positive about enjoying your playing cards out to the media but?

GR: I believe, if something, we really equipped barely extra for the race, which is often a trade-off you’d all the time take. You possibly can qualify P4 and get into the lead on lap one, or vice versa. It feels so nice for us to be right here now, however the race begin, issues can change in a short time. So we would all the time kind of gear it up barely extra for the race. However yeah, I imply, nothing’s modified since final weekend, and the automotive’s been performing so nicely right here. So you have to look into it and try to perceive why it has been so good, particularly in these high-speed corners, as a result of in Austria, Purple Bull have been miles forward of everyone. And for the time being, we have been the quickest. So yeah, it is a tough sport typically.

LH: I fully forgot what the query was. What was it? Effectively, I mentioned that earlier on. However we would set the automotive up just about precisely the identical, whether or not it is moist or dry. It is simply all about optimising the aero bundle.

Q: (Will Wooden – Racefans.web) Query for George, please. George, you talked about that this might be one other Montreal-style race. That clearly did not go fairly the way in which that you simply wished from the place you began. How do you guarantee that tomorrow works out higher for you?

GR: Yeah, thanks for that query. You understand, it is… we’re all racers, we’re pushing the bounds. I mentioned after Montreal, my kind of danger reward dial was turned as much as the max and that kind of performed in opposition to me at sure factors. And simply remembering that the race is received proper on the finish. It does not matter what occurs beforehand. So yeah, that was a very good studying for me. We nonetheless got here away with a podium, however each single state of affairs is so totally different. As we speak, for instance, in qualifying, it was raining in simply three corners. And the remainder of the monitor was bone dry, however these two corners, three corners, individuals have been going off the monitor. So very, very difficult.

Q: (Kieran Jackson – The Impartial) Lewis, you’ve got received right here eight instances. The blokes alongside you have not received at Silverstone earlier than. Do you suppose that have might actually enable you tomorrow, notably if it rains prefer it did in 2008? Is there loads you possibly can take from that race so a few years in the past, however in related circumstances maybe tomorrow?

LH: All of the experiences positively assist and rely. As I mentioned, when it is moist, that is the circumstances I used to be maybe most snug in. However these two have additionally pushed very nicely within the moist additionally, so I do not suppose it will make a distinction.

Q: (Carlo Platella – FormulaPassion.it) A query for the Mercedes drivers. How totally different is that this automotive to drive in comparison with a few months in the past?

GR: I believe we have made some small adjustments, which have had a big effect. We knew from the beginning of this yr, the baseline of this automotive is considerably higher than what we have had in earlier years. However we went from having an oversteer automotive final yr, then to an understeer automotive this yr. And now we have simply dialled it again and located the joyful medium. Once you’ve acquired the stability in a very good place, the tyre temperatures are in the best window, and the lap time simply actually snowballs positively. It hasn’t been a considerable change, nevertheless it’s made a large distinction to the lap time.

LH: Huge distinction.

Q: The place is it totally different?

LH: In every single place. It is simply higher in every single place. From Bahrain, for instance, the automotive felt horrible, and the progress that we made by way of dialling and fine-tuning the automotive to optimise the aero bundle. This crew has by no means struggled so as to add efficiency, however the place notably they put that efficiency has all the time been, with this technology of automotive, has been an enormous query and the place we’re getting the downforce from. So, yeah, however now they’ve carried out an incredible job, the engineers again on the manufacturing unit. However, you understand, look, it is… We might positively take it at this time, however these guys are nonetheless… Purple Bull, notably Max, and the McLarens are very, very, very quick. And in some methods, you understand, you noticed within the final race, they have been fairly a bit forward of us. So I am hoping that tomorrow, with the circumstances, we are able to maintain our personal.

Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) One other query to Lewis, please, simply on somewhat a distinct topic. The Apple film, once more, is doing numerous filming at Silverstone, because it was final yr. I simply questioned, are you able to give us any replace on what you’ve got seen and the way it’s going? And in addition, what’s your ideas on the movie merely being titled, good and easy, F1?

LH: There’s probably not anything I can add that I have not already mentioned. I believe Joe and Jerry and the entire crew are so grateful to be right here and have been extremely respectful of this house and have been very, very considerate. Some individuals simply exit and go about it their very own method, however they have been actually eager to guarantee that the heritage could be very a lot on this film. And so I believe individuals… You understand, the trailer is popping out quickly. So I am trying ahead to individuals seeing that. And what else? The title. I imply, it is in all probability… Effectively, what else are you going to name it? You understand, I believe it might distract from what the collection is, so I prefer it.

Q: (Taylor Powling – Motorsport Monday) Query to George and Lando. With a blended circumstances race attainable tomorrow, will you be encouraging your groups to assessment what occurred in Canada to be sure you nail these altering circumstances in the event that they do happen?

GR: I imply, yeah, completely. However as I mentioned earlier than, it was so tough in Canada. You understand, on the grid, I elevated my tyre pressures as a result of rain was meant to hit in 20 minutes time, which is about 12 to fifteen laps, and it hit in 40 minutes. After which that is, you understand, Lando was 10 seconds behind us after which ended up 10 seconds forward of us and clearly was low on tyre stress. So if the rain hit when it did, we’d have been in a very good place. Because it turned out, Lando was in the best place. So we are able to do all of the reviewing we wish. The very fact is it is very, very tough to foretell.

LN: I imply, we assessment every thing. It isn’t simply form of each race that is moist or Inters or no matter you assessment. However once more, like George says, each case is totally different. It’s a must to be ready for each eventuality. And it isn’t like you possibly can plan this stuff. You understand, it is loads about simply decision-making and being ready on the time to only execute no matter plans you have to have prepared and form of have in entrance of you. So we did a variety of reviewing of Canada, so I am positive tomorrow will probably be higher.

ENDS