DRIVERS
1 – Kimi ANTONELLI (Mercedes)
2 – Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari)
3 – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by Heikki Kovalainen)
Q: Kimi, congratulations. That was an incredible win for you and you had a really intense and close battle with George, and it’s a real shame what happened to him at the beginning of the race. Talk us through what was going on from your point of view.
Kimi ANTONELLI: Yeah, first of all, thank you everyone for coming this weekend. It was a really fun battle, to be fair, with George. We were pretty much on the limit and it was not easy today with the wind, very gusty. Turn 10 was very difficult. I think one lap he locked up, then I went in front, and then I locked up, so it was very close. It was a shame for him to have the failure because it would have been a very cool battle but, yeah, we’ll take it. Another win and I’m very happy, and a massive thanks of course to the team.
Q: And after the exit of George, were you able to manage things or was it still a battle to keep those guys behind you?
KA: Well, when I was on my own I was trying to really manage the tyres because I started to have some graining. Some graining started to appear on the front left. It was just a weird feeling, the tyre was not really biting but, yeah, at the end we had a good pace once the temperature was coming in and, yeah, now looking forward to the next one.
Q: Lewis, it’s really good to see you, man. It’s really good to see you. Congratulations. You’ve had a strong weekend all the way through, a strong P2 in the race. Is there anything more you could have done or do you think you got everything out of the car today?
Lewis HAMILTON: Yeah, well, firstly I have to say a huge thank you to my team here. Grazie. These guys have welcomed me with open arms, and it’s been pretty tough over the past year and a bit, so to finally find our sweet spot and have a good weekend has really been an amazing feeling, to be back up here, especially with these guys being so quick, and I actually got to have a race with Max, which is great. And we’ve got an amazing crowd here, so that’s super cool. I’m so happy. I love this track. I can’t wait to come back.
Q: You’ve always been strong at this track, but this result, is it really encouraging for the rest of the season, if you look at the races ahead?
LH: I think it’s definitely encouraging, given that this weekend, if you look, Mercedes brought a big upgrade. A lot of people brought upgrades here. We brought our big one in Miami and the team are working really hard back at the factory. We’ve got hopefully some other bits coming along the way and considering this is a real straight-line-speed circuit and we just managed to hold on and get this result, that definitely gives me high hopes for what’s ahead, but we’ve got to keep pushing and keep trying to extract more.
Q: Max, another podium. It looked like the best of the rest behind the Mercedes and the Ferraris today. Obviously, McLaren in trouble today. Are you satisfied with the result?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, I think so. I had some cool battles out there. Racing back up front is always better, right? And for us to have our first podium, of course, is really positive. Very happy with that. Cool battle with Lewis as well at the end. So, yeah, we just kept pushing to the line and on a weekend where it’s not that easy to get things right, for us to be on the podium here is extremely positive. So, naturally, very happy with that.
Q: What is it that you need to do and the team need to do in order to catch those Mercedes cars and perhaps the Ferraris as well in front?
MV: Keep working and improving better than our competition. That’s the target. But we’ll see over the coming races what we can do.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Kimi, your tremendous run continues. Very well done. Just how satisfying was this one?
Kimi ANTONELLI: Yeah, of course, it was nice to end the weekend well. Of course, it was not really the way I wanted to win, because it was a close fight with George and I think would have gone all the way until the end. But of course we’ll take it and this time it went well for me and bad for him, and it might be another occasion where it goes bad for me and well for him. So, yeah, we’ve just got to keep maximising and take every opportunity that presents. And, yeah, now we’ll move forward.
Q: Strategically, how do you think it would have played out? Would you have pitted first? Would George have pitted first? What do you think was going to happen?
KA: Well, I mean, I think at the end of the stint I had a little bit the upper hand because I had a little bit more pace. I think he had a bit more pace initially but then he deg’d a little bit more, but it would have been very close. And of course it was not good to see him having the failure because, as I said, it would have been a very intense fight all the way until the end. It would have been interesting to see how it would have ended up but, yeah, definitely it was difficult to say.
Q: Tell us more about the fight. He’s already said that he “loved it”. What did you make of it?
KA: Yeah, it was a tough fight. I think a couple of times was maybe a little bit on the edge, but we were going at each other. We were both pushing and we both wanted to win. And it was, I think, for everyone watching, pretty entertaining. So definitely I think the stint was a lot of fun because we were both pushing on the limit and going for it.
Q: Now, in terms of performance, Mercedes have brought a big upgrade here to Canada. What conclusions have you drawn about its pace?
KA: Yeah, to be fair, we’re not really clear on the package, if I’m being honest, because this weekend was very weird in terms of tyres. It was very difficult to put them in the right window and so I think that was playing a big factor. Just by having the tyre in the right window was helping a lot. So I think we will have a better picture of the package in the next few races.
Q: Early days, of course, but the gap is now 43 points, which is bigger than it ever was between Lando and Oscar last year. Do you think you’ve got a bit of breathing space now?
KA: Yeah, but to be fair, I’m not thinking about championship. I’m just focusing on race by race. I think it’s still very early to talk about that. And of course, now I have this gap but that doesn’t mean that I can relax and just take it easier. Instead, I need to keep levelling up and keep raising the bar because it’s not going to be easy and competitors are getting closer, and also George is super quick. So definitely I’m just going to try to focus on myself and enjoy the driving and trying to really drive as fast as possible.
Q: Alright. Enjoy the win. Very well done to you. Thank you, Kimi. Lewis, let’s come to you now. Your 11th podium here in Montreal. You seem really thrilled by this one. Just how much fun did you have out there?
Lewis HAMILTON: Yeah, had so much fun out there all weekend. Every single lap, I felt like we started on the right foot, came with the right attitude and the car really generally felt great. And so, to come to Montreal, a track that I do love, and get to enjoy a Sprint weekend here, which is the first that we’ve had [here], was awesome. And this is my first second place with the team. It’s something I’ve been working so hard, I can’t even begin to explain how deep I’ve had to dig to be able to get to this point, and the work and moving mountains in the background to enable this sort of performance. But I’m really grateful to the team for continuing to hold me up high and support me weekend in, weekend out. And it’s a really lovely feeling to see them so happy, because they truly deserve it with all the hard work they put in.
Q: Tell us about the pace of the car. You seem much happier here than you were in Miami last time out. What made the difference?
LH: The prep before. I chose a different set-up this weekend through just ciphering through the data, working really well with my engineer. He’s absolutely awesome and I’m really loving working with him. And my number two did a fantastic job this weekend and helped me really pull more performance out of the car, getting into a much sweeter place. And I was able to attack all the corners finally. And as I said, there’s a lot of changes that I’ve had to ask for, and Fred’s been super supportive and again also moving mountains in order to make me comfortable. And it’s finally starting to show in my performance. So, thank you to the team.
Q: And your mom seems to bring you a lot of luck when you come to races too, right?
LH: Yeah, it’s been a really cool weekend. I get an apartment here and so my mom stayed with me. So, every night we’d have dinner together and we’d watch a movie or just sit up talking. It’s been awesome. And we’re going on a little bit of a trip for a couple of days, so I’m really excited about that. And to go on a positive result as well is awesome. So, I definitely need to, now she has to come, she’s clearly my lucky omen, my lucky charm, have her come every weekend.
Q: Final one from me, Lewis. The battle with Max, it was spectacular to watch. What was it like?
LH: It was awesome. Absolutely awesome to fight with one of the greats. It was massively challenging. I think our cars are relatively close, I would say. You see him in qualifying, we were relatively close. And I think whilst we’re probably a little bit quicker through the corners, everything you gain in the corner, they gain on the straight. And very challenging behind him. Obviously, I lost a bit of time, he was quicker at the beginning of the race and then once he got into the Medium, I was able to hunt him down. And I love that hunt. That’s my whole life has been about that since a kid, since I had a really old go-kart, I was just always hunting. So, it was amazing to be back in that position and hunting down a champion up ahead. And unbelievably difficult and have to be so strategic when you have less power as well than others around. Even if we have the overtake, even in overtake they still have more power in the straights. So, finding a way, I was just having to do these calculations, trying to figure out how to maximise the amount of power on my battery bar each straight and make sure that I have enough at that particular point. And, yeah, thank God I managed to pull it off. And it’s a great feeling when you overtake as well. So, these cars are awesome to be able to follow.
Q: Very well done. Thank you, Lewis. And Max, perhaps we could just start with the battle with Lewis. He’s just described it as “awesome”. How was it for you?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, it was very good. I enjoyed it a lot. I think also when you are within a second at this track, we are very energy poor around here, and of course when you are within a second, you’re allowed to spend a bit more energy, so then on the straights of course you gain a bit of speed and around here that is very efficient actually. So, yeah, the last few laps I tried to get back, but it was good. I mean, we’re pushing flat out and, yeah, was just very nice for me. Also, I think it’s my first race where I basically had a normal race, nothing crazy happened, so that’s also nice.
Q: A normal race. Tell us about the pace of the car throughout the race and maybe your reflections on the weekend as a whole as well.
MV: Yeah, I think, well, to be honest, I was feeling better in Miami with the car, so I’m a little bit surprised with being on the podium here. But you also have to look at it with George retiring, McLarens making a mess of the strategy. So, for me to be here, of course I’m very happy. I think on the Softs we’re a little bit more competitive and then on the Medium I never really felt like I could switch on the tyre, so the tyre was just not in the right window for us, and that stint was then a little bit more difficult to feel any kind of grip. But we still did a good job. I think for us to have our first podium is just very positive and, of course, very pleased with that in quite tricky conditions, I would say.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Frédéric Ferret – L’Équipe) Question to Lewis. We heard you complaining about the lack of power during that race. We are coming to Monaco next week. Do you think that it could be the chance for a Ferrari to win and beat the Mercedes?
LH: I mean, that’s the one track that power is not king. I think that’s definitely car performance. I think our car could be really strong there. I’m really going to focus on making sure I arrive with the same energy as I had this weekend, really study hard with the engineers to make sure we position the car in the right place from Practice 1. And, yeah, if you take away the power deficit, we’re in the fight with these guys. But unfortunately that’s not the way it is today. And I think in the moment I’m like, “I need more power somehow,” because I’m able to hold on or keep up with them through the corners and I can’t push the pedal any further. And you see them just eking out the straight and you catch them back in the brakes, they eke it out in the straight. It’s really hard. Even when you get the overtake, you get within a second, they still pull away. So that’s how much grunt that they have, and we’re massively down. But I really hope with this new rule that enables us to try to improve some performance, so we can get back in the fight with them. But Monaco should be fun.
Q: (Filip Cleeren – Motorsport.com) For all three. There’s a lot of discussion about rules and power units, but it seems like all the three of you had a really enjoyable afternoon with a lot of wheel-to-wheel racing. So, when you come to a power-sensitive circuit like this one, are you starting to get around to what you need to do on a power unit, and can you find some enjoyment in the tactics and things that you can do behind the wheel? Is it becoming more second nature?
LH: I mean, it’s definitely not second nature, that’s for sure. I think it still continues to be a weird feeling. You go down the power, you open up the SM, and then the power dies like halfway down the straight and the RPM starts dropping. It doesn’t feel what motorsport should be. The engine should be ringing its neck off right to the end of the straight and just pulling and pulling. That’s what they used to do in the V8 times or the V10 times. They would just pull and pull. It’s another element of racing that was never there before, and maybe that’s why it’s… I mean, I think ultimately the car is fundamentally a better design, so we can race and get close and follow each other closely, and I think that’s the best part of it. The power part, I think, is less exciting. But, I mean, the guys that have got the best power, you guys talk about it. Maybe you guys can give some pointers on it.
Q: Kimi, your thoughts on the power unit, is the use of it, the deployment of it, becoming second nature now?
KA: I mean, yeah, but still sometimes it triggers you a little bit how the system works. But definitely also with the changes that were made, also the FIA giving teams a bit more allowance on system, definitely has helped quite a bit to make things a bit easier. I think that the cars, to follow at least for now, is much better than last year. You can actually follow a lot closer and that definitely creates more racing. But on the power unit side, definitely I cannot complain about my power unit because the team did an incredible job, but also they did great, of course, on the chassis side. But I feel like, yeah, with the PU obviously there’s still work to do and it will be interesting to see what’s going to happen in the next couple of years, if the regulation is going to change, if they’re going to give a bit more power to the combustion, a bit less to the electric, how it’s going to play out and if it’s going to happen. But I think that will be a further step in the right direction. But I think already now it’s a lot. I mean, also system-wise it’s better than the start of the season and definitely also for me it’s becoming more natural compared to what it was in Melbourne, for example.
MV: I mean, for me, even this season, of course, I’ve been racing also different kind of cars and especially last week, that reminds me how pure motorsport can be and how great the racing can be. So, yeah, when I come back into Formula 1, the thing is of course here, especially most of the drivers, we’re the best in the world. So even if you would give us a rental car, we’ll give you a good show and we’ll race each other very hard and well. So it has nothing to do in that sense with the rules. But for me, while driving, yeah, it’s all a bit confusing. It’s not what Formula 1 should be about. It’s way too complex, all of this. Most of the rules, the fans don’t even know what we are dealing with while driving, what is allowed when you’re behind or when you’re the car ahead, what we have to do on a formation lap or what we have to do in an out-lap, or how much battery that we’re allowed to charge. All these things are just such a shame that we have to deal with all these things. And, yeah, for me F1 just needs to be more pure and I really hope that what they try to do next year will go through because I think that is necessary, the minimum necessary, to make it a bit more natural and a bit more back to normal, or at least a bit more pure racing. But like I said, as drivers, give us any kind of car, we’ll always race and give a good entertainment or a good show. Doesn’t matter, people say, “Oh, but look now, the show is great, the cars were fighting,” but it has nothing to do with the car. It just needs to be more pure.
Q: (Stu Cowan – Montreal Gazette) Question for Lewis. You mentioned your mother earlier. I’m just wondering what her first impressions were of the city of Montreal and what makes the city and this race special for you?
LH: She has been here before, so it’s not her first race here, but she didn’t really get to see much of the city. We go through the traffic, get to the hotel, and I think last night she went out for a walk and it was manic on the street, so many people out enjoying themselves. Montreal just never ceases to deliver every year. The city is just pumping of energy. People seem to have such a great time. It’s got great restaurants. The people are so nice in Canada. I mean, I’ve got so many Canadian friends in my life. I don’t know how they pop up. I don’t know how I ended up with so many Canadian friends in my life, but some of my best friends are Canadian and they’re just good, decent people. And I think with the weather and the track, this little island that we get to come to, it’s probably my favourite, apart from my British Grand Prix, of course, home Grand Prix. But this is probably my favourite of the year. And it’s a little bit too short, but it’s really great to have had two races here this weekend.
Q: (François-David Rouleau – Journal de Montreal) Question for Lewis again. Where are you going in Canada in the next few days, and also are you going back in the simulator again this season?
LH: I can’t tell you where I’m going to go, obviously. That wouldn’t be great security-wise. And then, yeah, hopefully I’m going to see a moose somewhere. And I will be watching the game tomorrow, which should be my first game to watch. And the simulator, I mean, I’m sure I would drive it at some point. I think what could be good is, for example, going back and doing correlation to this weekend so we can find out where it’s missing. Because the test driver will be on there saying it’s all… they will only know what they know because they don’t get to drive. It’s only Charles and I get to drive the car. So, the positive of something like being able to drive the real car, go back and say, “This is actually what it feels like. These are the things that we’re missing,” and so that we can improve it. So, I’m always there to help the team move forward and develop it. Now, whether or not I use it to prepare for another race? Probably not. There are just too many risks. If you look at the two best races I’ve had, I didn’t use a simulator. And that’s honestly how it was. Pretty much all the championships before, except for probably 2008, I didn’t use the sim. So it’s not a necessity. It’s a tool that can be powerful. But for me, I’m old school. I’m probably better without it.
Q: (Filip Cleeren – Motorsport.com) For all three, can you talk through the start, how sketchy were the conditions trying to get the fronts to work, and what was your reaction when you saw the McLarens were going to start on inters?
KA: Yeah, I mean, it was so difficult. It was not easy situation because it started to drizzle a little bit harder. You could see it was starting to get a little bit wet but we knew, at least we were quite confident that it wouldn’t have lasted that long and that you could survive. So obviously went for slicks. And of course I was surprised to see the McLarens on inters, especially because I think they were the only ones. So, of course, it was a massive gamble and of course if it would have started raining it was very good for them, but it didn’t. So, yeah, of course it was not the best. But the start was not easy, especially very easy to lock up, kerbs were a little bit sketchy in the first, at least first couple of laps. So it was not easy condition but then once the car started running, the track was fully dry after a few laps and was fine to race.
Q: Filip, sorry, in the interest of time, can we have one more on the strategy call at the start?
MV: You bet. That was a great call. I was like, “Thank you.”
Q: (Daniel Valente – The Score) Question for Lewis and Max. You guys know first-hand how intense and how tough a title fight can be, whether it’s your first one or you’re up against your team-mate. Is there anything you would go back and tell yourself in that moment that maybe Kimi can use for guidance or advice?
LH: I think you forget that we’re competitors. He’s already doing a great job. I’m not going to give him any more pointers! I mean, I think just for me personally, 2007 was the one I was fighting for. It was a lot. I was a little bit older than you, I was 22. I think things were different back then. It feels like it was just different back then. I don’t think I had the same support system that he has, for example, today in a place that I worked at and worked in. Toto did a great job of surrounding you with the right support, and I definitely didn’t feel that. The team were nice and everything but there wasn’t the right elements around to support you, to help you stay stable and guide you. And it was pretty intense, especially in my first year. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
MV: I mean, he’s clearly doing a great job. And of course a championship is long and they’re won by just being consistent, not making mistakes. But he knows that, so every weekend you just need to try and maximize, try and be better than your teammate, and then I’m sure that he has a good chance. But long way to go. But what he’s doing right now is working really well.
ENDS
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