DRIVERS
1 – Charles LECLERC (Ferrari)
2 – Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren)
3 – Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Carried out by Alex Brundle)
Q: Carlos, nice lap. You appear to have the automobile beneath you at Ferrari this weekend. Is that the way in which it felt to you? Actually, actually sturdy efficiency all through qualifying.
Carlos SAINZ: Yeah, I believe we had a stable quali, a stable day basically with the 2 vehicles. And I believe we put ourselves in an excellent place for tomorrow. I’ve by no means actually been 100% attached round right here in my profession. It is a observe that I are likely to wrestle a bit, so to be P3 is an efficient place for tomorrow, as additionally my race tempo yesterday appeared sturdy, so all to play for tomorrow.
Q: The observe was shifting round in all places beneath you. How tough was it to maintain up with the swift evolution of the observe early on after which it tailing off in direction of the final a part of qualifying?
CS: Yeah, positively. The observe was ramping up quite a bit and we have been getting increasingly more grip because the observe cools down and the solar goes down. So it was all about adapting. I discovered one thing going into Q3 that gave me a bit extra confidence. Yeah, in all probability wasn’t one of the best of build-ups to try this Q3 lap, however at the least I discovered one thing that allowed me to place it into the highest three, which is a good place for tomorrow.
Q: Was the Ferrari entrance row accessible immediately, or was Oscar a little bit bit far-off from you?
CS: If I might have been a bit faster, sure, however it’s Baku the place I’ve by no means been my greatest model of myself round right here. However I believe tomorrow we could be.
Q: Nice job. Thanks a lot. Oscar, second on the grid. Good job. You appeared to seek out a little bit bit further into Q3. The place did that come from?
Oscar PIASTRI: I simply received a bit nearer to the partitions and on the final lap received a little bit bit too shut! However yeah, simply tried to essentially get probably the most out of it. This observe actually rewards dedication. So yeah, the final laps in Q3, I knew I had quite a bit much less to lose. So simply attempt to maximise the automobile. I used to be feeling good during. Simply did not maximize it that a lot within the first a part of qualifying. However no, very pleased with Q3.
Q: Taking a look at your race tempo, are you going to have the pace to be sturdy and problem for the victory tomorrow?
OP: I believe from the place we’re beginning, sure. However I believe following round right here goes to be actually powerful. We noticed yesterday that it was fairly powerful when you get behind somebody. So hopefully I can get some clear air and that will be good. However yeah, we’ll see what we are able to do. I believe our race tempo is nice. However once more, the Ferrari is actually not sluggish.
Q: And given the qualifying efficiency, it goes with out saying, you will have the inexperienced gentle to go all out for victory tomorrow.
OP: Positively.
Q: Charles Leclerc, mesmerising lap. From an evocative win for the staff at residence in Monza to persevering with your superb run of type in qualifying right here. Simply speak us by means of the problem of setting a lap like that between the partitions. It has been so low grip all weekend, however you completely nailed it.
Charles LECLERC: Yeah, properly, I imply, it is one in every of my favorite observe of the season. I actually prefer it. It hasn’t been a straightforward weekend as a result of clearly the crash in FP1, which did not make me lose confidence, I knew that the tempo was there, however clearly you have to construct again up to the mark. Then in FP2, we had an issue on a brand new half we introduced on the automobile and there was one thing unsuitable there. So we misplaced one other half an hour after which it’s laps that you do not actually get well. So I used to be not fearful, however I knew that we needed to make up a while. However the tempo was all the time there. After which in qualifying, till Q3, it was all about attempting to remain so far as attainable off the partitions. After which in that final lap, I went for it a bit extra. And the lap time got here very properly. I imply, the automobile felt actually good and all the pieces felt nice. So, yeah, it is superb to be on pole.
Q: You might have your self and Carlos up within the high three positions. Is {that a} profit strategically shifting into tomorrow with two Ferraris close to the entrance of the sphere?
CL: As an instance it is one of the best we might have hoped for. I imply usually the even aspect of the grid has a little bit bit much less grip, so first and third is the place you need to begin and hopefully we are able to play a staff sport tomorrow to win that race. However it may be an extended race. Up to now we have been very sturdy in qualifying struggling a bit within the race. This yr we now have a stronger race automobile, so I hope that we are able to lastly make it tomorrow.
Q: Extra whispering with the tyres, identical to in Monza, to take it by means of to the tip of the race maybe?
CL: Oh, positively. I imply, tyre administration shall be an enormous factor tomorrow as properly. So we have got to do an excellent job. We have performed a extremely good job in Monza. However yeah, as I stated, we now have to reset each race as we do. And that is what we did. So tomorrow is one other race with different points, though tyre degradation is there. It is with completely different tyres. So you have to adapt to that. And we’ll do our homework tonight to prepare for tomorrow.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Good job, Charles. Each of your laps in Q3 have been ok for pole. The automobile appeared very attached. Simply speak us by means of that ultimate lap.
CL: Effectively, it was an excellent lap. I simply took a little bit bit extra danger in comparison with the primary try in Q3. It was necessary to simply have a lap on the board, after which within the second lap, you simply take extra danger and see what occurs. Fortunately, I completed each of the laps, they usually have been good laps. The automobile felt actually good since FP1. Actually, we barely modified the automobile from FP1 to now. Right away, I felt pleased and the stability remained actually good. We needed to counter a little bit bit the observe evolution as a result of there’s a number of observe evolution right here, however the feeling was there immediately in FP1, though there weren’t many laps in FP1 and FP2. That did not cease us to get well after that and to be comfortable for all of the weekend.
Q: What’s it about you and this racetrack, 4 pole positions, the place do you discover the time?
CL: This I do not know. I have been serious about it. And clearly, every time you will have an excellent weekend, you attempt to analyse. However I do not actually have a powerful reply to it. I suppose it simply goes with my driving fashion very naturally, as a result of more often than not, you need to work quite a bit to attempt to achieve lap time. However there, I simply really feel good with the rhythm of this observe for some motive. And yeah, that makes it a very good observe for me.
Q: You stated you have not needed to change the automobile a lot this weekend. So what about your race tempo? Let’s throw it ahead to tomorrow. How assured are you?
CL: I imply, I did not do a lap with excessive gas, however it’s been a reasonably sturdy level of the automobile this yr. So I’m not fearful going into tomorrow’s race, however clearly we have to do issues proper. So I am going to must do a little bit of homework tonight with the intention to prepare for tomorrow, however I am not too fearful that we’ll do one of the best job with our bundle after which we’ll see whether or not it is ok to win the race tomorrow or not.
Q: And in spite of everything these pole positions at this racetrack, what would it not imply to lastly win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
CL: It will be good. I imply, in ‘21 and… No. Yeah, ‘21 and ‘20, I believe, it was fairly surprising, the pole place. So we did not have the tempo within the automobile to win. No, sorry, ‘21 and ‘23. In 22, we had an excellent automobile, after which the engine blew up. So, hopefully tomorrow the tempo is there, and we do not have something that stops us to win it. However once more, earlier than serious about the ultimate outcome, there are nonetheless a lot of laps round this observe, and it is a very tough observe. So we’ll see tomorrow. However within the meantime, I am going to simply make it possible for I’m doing one of the best preparation attainable.
Q: Alright. Very properly performed immediately. Thanks, Oscar. Let’s come to you now. Entrance row begin. However you stated over the radio that that second lap of Q3 was the messiest one you’ve got ever performed. Actually?
OP: Possibly not the messiest ever, however it actually wasn’t the cleanest. A couple of massive moments in there and a few love faucets with the wall. So, yeah, I imply, I pushed to get all the pieces out of it that I might. And, yeah, perhaps a little bit bit an excessive amount of in some locations, however I do not suppose I had sufficient to get polled immediately, so… I am fairly pleased with the entrance row. And yeah, hopefully we are able to attempt to put up a battle tomorrow.
Q: You solely had the one set of recent tyres for Q3. How a lot did that maintain you again?
OP: I do not suppose that a lot ultimately. I believe the used tyres I did, I did roughly half a lap on it. So it wasn’t fully used. And round right here, the tyres have been a little bit bit unusual, I might say. And simply with the observe evolution, it is extra about doing an excellent lap slightly than having the proper set of tyres. So I used to be fairly pleased with P3 after the primary set. After which I discovered a little bit bit extra on the second set of tyres. So yeah, I used to be fairly pleased with that.
Q: You’ve got talked about the observe evolution. Charles talked about it. How a lot did it ramp up through the session? And did you get to some extent the place it stabilised?
OP: No. It was simply getting quicker and quicker. I believe from the beginning of FP1 to now… Usually we go perhaps three seconds quicker or perhaps 4 in some locations, however right here it has been, I do not know what the quantity is, however it’s like seven or eight. So, you actually needed to adapt quite a bit by means of the weekend and attempt to adapt your driving to the observe you’ve got received and adapt the automobile to what the observe goes to be, which all the time makes life a little bit bit tougher for the engineers and for us. However, yeah, it is by no means stabilized. And I believe on a avenue circuit, it by no means will. It would simply proceed to get higher and higher.
Q: So it seems to be like one other good battle with Ferrari, because it was final day out at Monza. Who do you suppose’s received the quicker race automobile right here?
OP: Most likely whoever finishes in entrance tomorrow, I might say! I do not know. I believe it is very, very even. By way of all of observe it appeared very tight between us, Ferrari, Mercedes and Purple Bull. To be sincere, I used to be a bit shocked Purple Bull weren’t a bit additional up on the finish of Q3, however I believe our race tempo appeared good yesterday, however these days the highest 4 groups are so shut in race tempo that qualifying usually makes an enormous distinction. So I’ve received confidence that our automobile shall be fast. However yeah, I believe there’s positively seven different vehicles out on the observe which can be actually not any slower.
Q: Oscar, very properly performed to you. Carlos, if we are able to come to you now. Nice to see you again within the high three. Can I begin with this query as to who’s received the quicker race automobile, Ferrari or McLaren? What’s your opinion on that?
CS: I believe it is extraordinarily tight. I believe it is clearly one in every of… Charles was mentioning it’s one in every of his greatest tracks and he tends to all the time discover a few tenths on the Ferrari round right here and that in all probability makes us seem like the quickest automobile, however I believe it is actually inside two tenths between the highest 4 vehicles and it makes it an thrilling battle and an thrilling race for tomorrow.
Q: Effectively, let’s deliver it again to immediately for you. Simply speak us by means of the quali out of your perspective and Q3 specifically.
CS: Yeah, however I managed to seek out a few issues in Q3 that gave me a bit extra tempo than what I used to be displaying in Q1 and Q2. Most likely discovered it a bit too lat. By the point I discovered them, I want I might have had extra laps earlier than to get used to driving the automobile a bit like that. And I felt like I used to be extra aggressive. However, , it is all the time been a observe that I wrestle quite a bit at. It is one of the best observe for Charles and one of many worst ones for me, and I am glad to be P3 and have an excellent place going into tomorrow, though it is one thing that I preserve engaged on round right here as a result of from FP1 I all the time are likely to lack a little bit of rhythm and I must construct it up.
Q: Are you able to inform us a little bit bit extra about what you discovered in the course of the session?
CS: Nothing that I can reveal clearly in a press convention, as a result of I might be revealing a bit an excessive amount of, however simply little issues. Little issues that you are able to do in quali to get the automobile to cease a bit higher within the lengthy braking zones, that provides you a bit extra confidence to brake these three to 5 metres later that round right here is key. It is fascinating as a result of I usually really feel very snug in metropolis tracks like Singapore, Monaco or any, however Baku has by no means been, in my 10 years in Components 1, a kind of. However yearly I come again right here attempting to enhance myself, looking for extra of an edge in my driving, however it simply does not come very pure to me.
Q: Carlos, whenever you have a look at the info, Charles’ knowledge, is there one explicit space, given how good you’re at avenue tracks, is there one explicit space that you just have a look at Charles and go, OK, it is there?
CS: Yeah, for certain. I imply, the braking, no. It is all about braking right here in Baku and having the arrogance to cease the automobile as late as attainable, trusting that the automobile then goes to show in into the nook. And yeah, that is the place he excels round right here and the place he is notably snug from the start of FP1. From my aspect, I do not know why I haven’t got precisely that very same feeling that I’ve in Singapore, perhaps on the upper downforce, or in Monaco with increased downforce, however it’s what it’s. I nonetheless suppose I made some good progress. I am going into tomorrow into the highest three. So, yeah, I nonetheless suppose we’re within the combine.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A query for Charles and Carlos please. Charles, we heard you kind of complaining a little bit bit on the radio in regards to the tow, I believe in Q2. Are you able to guys simply sort of clarify for those who had any particular plan for that whether or not it was lacking the tow with one another or was it timing it with different vehicles? Are you able to simply kind of like go into the ways there, please?
CL: Oh, no, no, it was nothing right down to Carlos. It was simply because I used to be the primary automobile of the group, so I had no person in entrance, however there was no… Yeah, we did not plan something between the vehicles. I simply want there was perhaps one other staff in entrance and I did not need to be the primary automobile. And on a observe like this it makes a little bit of a distinction and I additionally noticed Max’s lap in Q2 who had an enormous tow within the final sector, so I simply did not need to be shedding out to pole in Q3 due to one thing like that, so I used to be simply ensuring that the staff knew that it was going to be necessary for Q3.
CS: It was, I believe, a matter of… I believe we each went in the course of the session in Q2 whereas each different staff waited till the observe evolution. We prioritised placing a lap in the course of Q2 to be secure going into Q3, and that left us uncovered to no tow. And yeah, we have been simply ensuring that for Q3 we have been having one. That’s when it counts.
Q: (Aytan Asgarli – Nargiz Journal) I wish to ask you, Carlos, Baku has produced some unpredictable races previously. What’s probably the most uncommon or surprising factor? How do you put together mentally earlier than the race tomorrow?
CS: I believe the most important problem of Baku usually is when there are pink flags as a result of that breaks the rhythm of the race. I bear in mind one yr there was two or three pink flags on the identical race and that actually breaks the rhythm of the race. after which you need to wait whereas they clear the observe, and clearly that’s the largest factor. Then the Security Vehicles. Right here it is very tough to maintain temperature within the tyres, so every time there is a Security Automotive restart, it is very simple to entrance lock, very simple to go vast into the primary three corners. So yeah, all these features make Baku an unpredictable race, as a result of as quickly as there’s one curve ball, like a Security Automotive or a pink flag, it truly generates much more chaos after, as a snowball impact.
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A query for Oscar this time, please. Oscar, we heard Lando sound fairly downbeat yesterday in regards to the automobile. Had been you kind of feeling the identical factor about it or have been you much more pleased after FP1, FP2? Was there something you needed to change in a single day to be sitting right here immediately?
OP: Actually, I used to be fairly pleased with it. We had a bit to seek out for certain. However yeah, I believe I stated yesterday I felt like we have been within the ball park. And yeah, I am not massively shocked to be sat right here. However, yeah, I positively did not really feel like we have been the quickest yesterday. However, once more, I really feel prefer it’s so shut between the highest 4 groups that you just by no means fairly know who’s going to return out on high. Purple Bull have been trying very fast at sure factors. Ferrari clearly trying very fast. Even Mercedes at factors as properly. So, yeah, I all the time thought we have been in a reasonably good place. So, yeah, not that shocked to be right here.
Q: (Lewis Larkham – Crash.web) Charles, your fourth pole in Baku. The place does this one rank in comparison with the remaining, and do you are feeling it was your greatest but, and in that case, why?
CL: No, it isn’t one of the best. I believe the ‘21 one was in all probability one of the best as we have been in a really, very tough yr. I believe we have been preventing for P9, P10, that championship and to be on pole right here was very particular. Nevertheless, it was an excellent lap. I imply, it was a extremely good lap. Once more, there’s not… For some motive, there’s not that a lot scatter between my laps on this observe. It seems to be like I am very constant. However once more, I do not actually have the magic reply. However I identical to the rhythm of this observe. And each lap I used to be doing was fairly aggressive from FP1. And the stability was feeling actually good. So the lap was good. It was actually good. However yeah, it is also very tough to check it to different years.
Q: (Aytan Asgarli – Nargiz Journal) I wish to ask a query to all three of you. And it is truly fairly a straightforward one, however extra like enjoyable associated. What anthem music do you take heed to earlier than a race to get into the zone, contemplating how onerous it may be tomorrow on the town circuit?
CL: I like instrumental, motivational music. It is just like the film music. That provides me a number of vitality earlier than moving into the automobile. But when I’m too tense, which does not occur fairly often, however it did on a couple of events, like Monaco perhaps, earlier than the beginning this yr, then it is extra calming music, and it is very calm, simply to launch the strain a little bit bit. However yeah, in any other case, instrumental, motivational music.
Q: Do you ever take heed to your personal music?
CL: Earlier than Monaco, I did, as a result of that is much more calming than the opposite kind of songs I usually take heed to.
Q: Oscar?
CL: Do you take heed to my songs?
OP: No! Possibly I ought to. I actually do not take heed to something. Once we’re in Europe, I usually find yourself listening to no matter Lando listens to as a result of it is at a quantity loud sufficient for each of us. After which, I imply, no matter they play on the grid, you possibly can sort of take heed to no matter you need, however particularly once we go to love the Netherlands, yeah… I do not understand how your calming music works in Zandvoort, however usually no matter they play on the grid, which to be sincere is generally my sort of music anyway, however in a couple of locations it is a bit a lot and also you simply sort of… It’s important to shout generally to talk to your engineers, which is a little bit bit irritating, however it’s all for the environment.
Q: Carlos?
CS: I’ll sound boring, however I do not want any music. I am already pumped up and nervous sufficient, having the goosebumps earlier than the race to even put one thing on my ear to pump me up much more. I truly simply talked a bit with myself. Typically I must, if I pump myself up, I do a stronger heat up. If I must relax, I’ve a bit extra time to sit back. I inform you one factor that pumps me up right here is the Azerbaijan anthem. It is fairly sturdy right here. It is a good one. And it is an anthem that once we’re standing on the grid could be very highly effective, truly, and it is good enjoyable.
ENDS
