1. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 2. Lando Norris (McLaren), 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Performed by Marc Gene)
Q: Charles Leclerc, a podium. I do know it was a tough race. You needed to handle temperatures initially. You had a giant second with Norris. How was the race? How tough was it?
Charles LECLERC: It was a tough one. On the primary stint it was all about making an attempt to handle the temperatures, which was fairly tough. However, yeah, on the finish, we did the very best race we may do at the moment. I used to be… I imply, the entire weekend I have been slightly bit on the again foot. So third place was the very best we may obtain on my aspect at the moment. Superb race by Carlos at the moment. and yeah, it is a good weekend total for the crew, which is optimistic.
Q: You managed to do the quickest lap on the finish. Each level counts for the Constructors’ Championship. Ferrari’s again. Ferrari has been doing very nicely currently. What do you assume is it the teamwork? How come it has improved a lot currently?
CL: I do know we’re working tremendous nicely as a crew. I feel it has been fairly a couple of races now that we’re coming again to the extent we must be at and it is superb to see. Clearly, the Constructors’ continues to be our goal and with weekends like this we’re getting nearer to it. So, I hope we will proceed in that route and get that Constructors’ title, which is essential.
Q: Thanks and good luck for the rostrum. Lando, that was an eventful race, preventing initially with Max, then with Charles. How completely satisfied are you with P2? Everyone’s delighted with the race you probably did.
Lando NORRIS: It was a really robust race. You realize, the primary few laps, a whole lot of it was simply making an attempt to remain within the race and keep away from any crashes. However Carlos drove an excellent race, so congratulations to Carlos and Ferrari. They had been very fast at the moment. So, I attempted. I attempted my finest. And a giant due to all of the followers. The followers make it very pleasing right here. So, yeah, a giant thanks to everybody.
Q: Discuss us via the overtaking with Max. Okay, that was, in fact, very polemic. He bought two penalties. However tell us out of your automotive, how did you put together for that overtaking?
LN: Yeah, I imply, I knew what to anticipate. I did not need to count on such a factor, as a result of I respect Max lots as a driver, however I used to be able to count on one thing like this, and that is, yeah, not very clear driving, for my part, however I averted it, and it was a superb race.
Q: And the championship hopes, I suppose they’re extra open than ever. You bought many factors to Max. How is it in search of the following races?
LN: I simply maintain my head down, you already know. I am doing my finest. We’re doing an excellent job as a crew. I feel at the moment we had been in all probability the quickest in the long run. However we’ll maintain our head down. That is all I can do for now. Concentrate on ourselves and we maintain pushing.
Q: Properly performed. Carlos, you’re the king of Mexico! Tell us how… I will discuss in regards to the overtaking in a while, however first, what’s the feeling to be inside right here with all these followers? It’s also possible to reply in Spanish in order for you.
Carlos SAINZ: Gracias, Mexico. Sure. It is unbelievable to see this crowd. I have been feeling their assist all week. I really feel like I’ve a whole lot of fan base right here in Mexico they usually gave me a whole lot of energy to do the weekend that I’ve performed. Actually, I actually wished this one. I actually wanted it additionally for myself. I wished to get it performed. I have been saying for some time I wished yet another win earlier than leaving Ferrari and to do it right here in entrance of this mega crowd is unbelievable. Now 4 races left, I need to take pleasure in as a lot as attainable, and if one other one comes, I’ll go for it.
Q: You probably did such an incredible overtake on Max. Inform us, how did you put together that overtaking? How assured had been you that you might succeed on it?
CS: I did not put together it, to be trustworthy. I used to be only a bit aggravated firstly and having misplaced place to him. And I mentioned, I have to shock him a method or one other as a result of Max is tremendous tough to move. He is confirmed it many, many instances. And yeah, I used to be a bit far again, however I mentioned, I’ve nothing to lose. I am simply going to ship one down the within. And I have been very assured and breaking into flip one this weekend. And I knew I may make it.
Q: Final query in Spanish. There are a whole lot of Ferrari followers right here in Mexico, aside from Checo followers, additionally for Ferrari. The final victory for Ferrari was in 1990, it is Ferrari’s fifth right here. How is it that you’ve improved a lot? You had been very assured, you had a whole lot of confidence that you just had been going to win.How did you’re feeling that you just had been going to win? How do you know?
CS: Sure, I’ve seen all weekend that it might be my weekend. I even have all my household right here watching me this weekend and I wished to do it in entrance of all of them. What a weekend. What a day from pole.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Congratulations Carlos. You wished yet another win with Ferrari and also you delivered it in emphatic type at the moment. Simply how particular is that this victory for you?
CS: Yeah, actually particular. I felt like this weekend was going to be an excellent alternative to win that race. And yeah, I had an excellent feeling coming into the weekend. Additionally, clearly very decided to win it. I knew coming into it that we’d have an opportunity to win. And I have been centered, been on all of it weekend. On high of that, I knew my household was coming and my finest pals, my girlfriend, lots of people had been right here to assist me. And I mentioned perhaps future has one thing prepared for me this weekend, that my perhaps final win with Ferrari can are available entrance of them with all of the assist that I had from all of them this yr and in an incredible podium, an incredible place like Mexico Metropolis. I have been driving nicely and I made it stick and you can’t think about how completely satisfied and proud I’m proper now.
Q: Properly, how emotional was it up there on the rostrum along with your race engineer, along with your automotive subsequent to you?
CS: It was extraordinarily emotional. I did shed a tear, you already know, within the Spanish anthem. Yeah, for certain it is among the best moments in my profession. My mum had by no means been current on a race win with me, and the truth that she was coming right here this weekend, I wished actually to win a race in entrance of her. And yeah, on high of that, the best way the entire weekend deliberate out, it was simply excellent. And, you already know, with that transfer… Shedding firstly after which having to combat again with Max simply made every part a bit extra tough. Most likely makes it style even higher as a result of I needed to work arduous for it. And to do that weekend in entrance of all of them was unbelievable.
Q: As you say, the one level within the race the place you had been headed was simply after the beginning. Are you able to discuss us via the opening 750 metres of the race?
CS: Yeah, I did not get a superb begin, however on the identical time, I feel Max, you already know, tends to start out very nicely. Max and Purple Bull on low-grip tracks and right here may be very low grip. And each time there’s low grip, the Purple Bull tends to start out rather well. So I used to be sort of ready additionally for a situation the place Max was going to go alongside me into Flip 1, I braked as late as I can break, and he brakes as late as me, and I had no area to enter Flip 2. And from then on, I did not lose my head, and I knew that each half alternative that I bought to the lead again, I’d attempt to do it. And yeah, you already know, with Max, you’ll want to be decided, you’ll want to be decisive. In the event you’re not, you are by no means going to move him. And in that case, I feel I caught him a bit without warning and I may make it stick. Yeah, excessive rigidity at that time additionally as a result of then that initiated a combat behind me that almost bought me concerned additionally from what I heard. So, yeah, it was an thrilling second of the race.
Q: It was an incredible transfer on Max, as you say. When you had been previous him and again within the lead of the race, had been there any dramas? We did hear a report of a misfire at one level. Was that an remoted incident?
CS: Remoted, utterly, yeah. The one misfire I had all race was on the exit of Flip 3. Touchdown after the curb, I did slightly brief shift and it gave me a misfire, which was a bit scary, however we have had them through the weekend and we all know it is because of the altitude and the mapping. However as soon as I used to be within the lead, I used to be trusting my tempo, my administration, and I knew this weekend I have been very fast and I knew I simply needed to do no matter I had deliberate and the win was attainable. In the direction of the top, McLaren and Lando proved that they’re nonetheless quick they usually’re nonetheless very fast and really tough to beat, however I am glad that we bought quickest lap with Charles and a whole lot of factors for the championship.
Q: You and Charles set a ferocious tempo in these early laps when it was Ferrari 1-2. Had been you involved that you just had been pushing too arduous at one level?
CS: I felt prefer it. And that is why on the time within the warmth of the battle and the second, I clearly opened the radio to present my opinion in regards to the state of affairs. And I felt like doubtlessly, particularly after being 1-2, which was a dream situation, and precisely the place we wished to be after Flip 1. It occurred a bit later, however in the long run it occurred. I felt like, yeah, the best was to clearly make it to the goal lap and clearly maintain our tyres alive. So I gave that opinion within the warmth of the battle, however truthfully, I additionally perceive why Charles clearly was there behind and making an attempt to hurry me up, as a result of that is what you do once you’re P2 and once you additionally need to win, so yeah. Racing conditions, warmth of the battles, warmth of the second, however nothing that has by no means occurred earlier than, additionally from my aspect, so I utterly get it.
Q: Now, you advised us in Austin final weekend that you just’d be fast right here in Mexico, so what is going on to occur in Brazil?
CS: It is a good query, and please let me take pleasure in Mexico earlier than I take into consideration Brazil, as a result of I will take pleasure in tonight. And as I mentioned, I need to take pleasure in this one. I need to let it sink in and luxuriate in. I feel any further we will dream and dream in regards to the championship, dream clearly in regards to the constructors and yeah, we will take into consideration Brazil tomorrow. Right this moment’s time to take pleasure in.
Q: Alright, very nicely performed Carlos. Thanks for that. Lando, let’s come to you now. Nice job by you as nicely. It was an vital P2 for you at the moment. Simply how happy are you with at the moment’s end result?
LN: Very, very happy. I am proud of P2. Usually I would not be, however I feel on a day like at the moment, I used to be completely satisfied. Issues regarded like they might go lots worse, particularly the primary a part of the race. So to maintain the automotive in a single piece and to sort of maintain the race alive was vital. And the tempo was extraordinarily sturdy you already know. A disgrace that we misplaced a lot within the first stint with a number of the battles that we had. If I used to be a bit extra in there and within the combine then I feel our alternatives may have been even higher. However Carlos drove the primary stint very nicely and the hole was already 15 seconds, so I had lots to attempt to catch up. However it was a superb race. The automotive was sturdy. Our tempo, particularly within the second stint, not likely the primary, however the second stint was very, excellent and sort of gave me a little bit of hope once more that we had been aggressive evaluating to the Ferraris. Till then… They have been fairly dominant this weekend, you already know, so a superb race. Would have beloved to be on the highest step and it seems to be like a cool podium right here. It was a cool podium, however I am very happy with the P2.
Q: Now, Lando, you mentioned you misplaced a whole lot of time within the first stint. In fact, that got here all the way down to your battle with Max Verstappen on lap 10. Are you able to simply discuss us via the off-track moments at Flip 8 and Flip 4?
LN: I do not assume I have to say a lot. Yeah, I feel it is fairly self-explanatory on what occurred. You realize, I did every part I have been advised when it comes to what the foundations are and the rules and all of these items, but it simply wasn’t to be. And, in fact, he bought some penalties for that. However, you already know, I feel… I all the time, like I mentioned earlier than in a number of the interviews, I am going into each race anticipating a troublesome battle with Max. It is clear that it does not matter if he wins or second, his solely job is to beat me within the race. And he’ll sacrifice himself to do this, like he did at the moment. However I need to have good battles with him. I need to have these robust battles, like I’ve seen him have loads of instances. However honest ones. It is all the time going to be on the road. It is all the time going to be robust with Max. He is by no means going to make anybody’s life straightforward, particularly mine at this level of the yr. However I feel at the moment was simply… It was not honest, clear racing. And due to this fact, I feel he bought what he had coming to him.
Q: Do you assume he was harsher with you at the moment than he was in Austin final week?
LN: Most likely, sure.
Q: do you assume you’ll want to discuss to max about this? do you discuss to Max about it?
LN: I imply, we discuss various things. It’s not my job. it is bought nothing to do with me in a method. Right this moment I felt like I simply needed to keep away from collisions and that is not what you’re feeling such as you need to do in a race. He is in a really highly effective place within the championship. He is a good distance forward. He has nothing to lose. Folks can say it is the opposite method round, like he is bought every part to lose and it is all for me. However it’s not the case, you already know. So it isn’t for me. I am centered on myself. I am doing my very own job, which was a superb job at the moment. And I am proud of all of this and I am proud of my entire weekend. However it’s not my job to regulate him. He is aware of how one can drive. And I am certain he is aware of that at the moment was in all probability a bit over the restrict.
Q: You say he is in a really highly effective place within the championship, however you could have taken 10 factors out of him. How inspired are you by that?
LN: I imply, I am 47 behind nonetheless, so it does not really feel like I am a lot nearer than what I used to be, however each level helps. Charles bought quickest lap on the finish, in order that’s one level they took away from me, however… Yeah, I do not know. I am simply doing my very own factor and focusing. And as a crew, we’re doing our personal factor and specializing in ourselves. Lots of people in opposition to us, however we’ll maintain pushing ahead.
