Austrian Grand Prix: Post Race press conference

In the present day’s post-race press convention with George Russell, Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz.

Monitor Interviews – Carried out by David Coulthard.

Carlos Sainz, welcome. One other podium in your profession and what was a reasonably quiet weekend by way of general efficiency however it all got here alive on the finish there. Did you see the motion forward or have been you simply very a lot targeted on bringing your automobile dwelling?
Carlos Sainz: Yeah, fairly an eventful race up entrance. For us it was all about making an attempt to maintain up with George. we knew the Mercedes right this moment may need a little bit of a bonus on race tempo however we tried every little thing to maintain up with him and Oscar, on the finish, was coming actually, actually fast and in the long run P3 which is I feel outcome. I feel we may be fairly pleased fairly happy with that as a result of this weekend hasn’t been simple for us and to return away with 15 factors and a P3 is an effective outcome.

We’re in the midst of this triple header. We have come off the again of your private home Grand Prix. We have now Silverstone in every week’s time. Can we anticipate a step ahead in efficiency there? As a result of it did not actually look that with out the incident between Lando and Max that you’d have been right here on the rostrum right this moment.
CS: Yeah, pleased days for System 1 that there is a little bit of motion up entrance and we’re attending to see some good battles. Sadly for us, we’re nonetheless coming off the again of a tricky couple of races the place we’re not fairly there to struggle for the win but, however we’re making an attempt to do every little thing we will as a crew to be again on kind in Silverstone and within the upcoming races, to ensure subsequent time we’re up there to capitalise. And if not, podiums like these are all the time excellent news, and we are going to maintain pushing flat out to remain within the struggle.

Okay, effectively, we look ahead to seeing that massive push. Properly executed on the rostrum.
CS: Thanks.

As we transfer on to our second place finisher, who should be pondering, what may have been? All of it turned undone even earlier than you began the race with that qualifying penalty for observe limits?
Oscar Piastri: Yeah, there’s numerous what-ifs and maybes. Yeah, clearly ranging from yesterday, however yeah. I do know it is solely my fourth podium in F1, however, yeah, so near a win, it hurts a little bit bit, however actually good factors, clearly. I feel the second half of the race we have been approaching fairly robust, and proud of one other podium. Simply when it is that shut, you may’t assist however damage a little bit bit.

Properly, you may carry that momentum, hopefully, onto your [McLaren’s] dwelling Grand Prix in every week’s time at Silverstone.
OP: Yeah, not my dwelling Grand Prix, however McLaren’s dwelling Grand Prix. Yeah, clearly it was a spot of excellent recollections from final yr, and hopefully we may be up the entrance once more. Clearly, I have never seen what occurred with Lando and Max, however clearly it was fairly even up the entrance, and yeah, I feel we’re effectively and really within the combine. Silverstone’s a observe I all the time get pleasure from. Staff’s dwelling race, so excited for what’s to return.

Okay, effectively, good factors right this moment. Congratulations.
OP: Thanks very a lot.

And women and gents, our Grand Prix winner, celebrating his second Grand Prix win, George Russell.
George Russell: Yeah, unbelievable. It was a tricky struggle on the market in the beginning of the race, simply to carry on to that P3, and I noticed on the TV that Max and Lando have been going fairly arduous. I knew Lando would need to attempt to get that race win, however, , the crew have executed a tremendous job to get us on this struggle. You have to be there on the finish to choose up the items, and that is the place we have been.

Superb. So that you have been watching the large screens, minding your individual enterprise and your individual Grand Prix, whereas watching that battle out entrance, prepared to occur what really occurred.
GR: Yeah, they have been going for it. And I could not imagine really how shut we have been to Lando and Max. I feel we have been solely about 12, 13 seconds behind. I knew it was a risk. You are all the time dreaming, however as I mentioned, simply so proud to be again on the highest step. The crew have labored so arduous. We have made so many strides for the reason that begin of the season. So, yeah, the final three races have been unbelievable, so extra to return.

Now, look, you’ve got executed every little thing to be sure you have been in that place. The opposite two regarded like that they had the general tempo right this moment had they not had the contact. However all you are able to do is drive your automobile and put your self within the place that you need to then capitalise. So that you should be actually proud with this, your second Grand Prix victory.
GR: Yeah, completely. I feel it is no secret Purple Bull with Max and McLaren with Lando are nonetheless a little bit bit out in entrance, however we’re all the time placing ourselves in that third place place the final couple of races. And clearly, if something occurs up entrance, we’re there to choose it up. However, , simply actually happy with everyone. And, , what an thrilling time for us.

And, George, we’re one week away from the British Grand Prix. That might be good to hold this momentum in direction of one other podium there.
GR: Yeah, completely. I feel we’re driving a little bit of a wave in the mean time. These final three races have been unbelievable. I feel realistically we in all probability may have gained the race in Canada, so this in all probability makes up for one too many errors on my facet there, and simply actually proud to be again on the highest step.

Press Convention

George, very effectively executed to you. What a second. It was maybe surprising, however what does this win imply to you?
GR: Yeah, it feels actually nice to be trustworthy. These final three races as a crew, we have actually turned it up. I really feel that Montreal was in all probability a victory that we missed out on and we ended up ending P3. In the present day was a deserving P3 and we received the victory. So it is humorous how this sport turns round and simply credit score to all of the crew for all of the arduous work they’ve executed. Such large progress for the reason that begin of the yr.

That is additionally a racetrack that brings out one of the best in you. You are the primary driver to win right here in GP3, System 2 and now System 1.
GR: Yeah, there we go. Yeah, it is a observe I get pleasure from. The final couple of years have been very tough for us as a crew. And we did not have excessive expectations going into this weekend. However we ended up qualifying P3 yesterday. And we have been in that blend. And as I mentioned, we have been preventing for the rostrum. I feel realistically, we nonetheless in all probability have the third quickest automobile behind Purple Bull and McLaren. However the final three races, Lewis and I’ve been in that P3 spot. So, , we’re actually getting probably the most out of it. And generally, racing, it goes your manner.

Properly, can we delve into the race now and maybe begin earlier than the lights had even gone out? Going to the grid, you have been expressing some issues over the radio. How was the automobile, initially?
GR: It was very windy on the market, and I feel the automobile was feeling a little bit bit unusual. On my laps to grid, we checked every little thing, and every little thing was advantageous. However the tempo felt robust. I had Lewis assault me early within the race, however then as soon as I received again previous him, I received a little bit of a niche to Carlos. I knew Oscar was going to be fast, and he kind of got here a little bit bit out of nowhere in direction of the tip of the race on these Laborious tyres. For me it was fairly tough. After which all of a sudden I had Toto screaming in my ear, ‘you may win this’. And I virtually crashed when he screamed into my ears. It was that loud. However I feel it simply goes to point out the eagerness that all of us share. And it is clearly been a tricky couple of years for us. It feels nice to be again on the highest step.

You have been barely offset strategically. You ran the medium tyre in the midst of the race. How a lot did that enable you to within the closing battle with Oscar to be on the arduous tyre?
GR: I do not suppose it helped in any respect, to be trustworthy. I feel it is tough. I feel we break up the methods with Lewis simply to strive one thing. You by no means understand how the race goes to pan out. And VSC, Security Automobiles have a giant issue. That VSC on the finish was fairly helpful for me. It allowed me to chill my tyres down after which my tempo towards Oscar. The final 5 laps was the identical when he had the medium. So, , the automobile’s been feeling actually good. We all know we have a little bit bit of labor nonetheless to do if we need to constantly be in that struggle for the rostrum. However trying on the steps we have made versus Ferrari, versus Aston Martin, it has been fairly large since Bahrain.

And by way of execution, was this one of the best weekend that you just and the crew have had thus far this yr?
GR: Yeah, doubtless. I feel we actually executed every little thing rather well. I feel each session we maximised, certified as excessive as we expect was really potential. Race begins have been good. P4 within the race yesterday was the utmost. P3 realistically was the utmost and the deserving outcome right this moment. , the crew did a terrific job. So it is good once you get a reward for all that arduous work.

And what a outcome to take into your private home race at Silverstone subsequent weekend. Do you dare to dream a couple of repeat on dwelling soil?
GR: You all the time dare to dream for positive. Something can occur. I feel Purple Bull have been actually fast this weekend within the high-speed corners. So they’ll look fairly robust subsequent week in Silverstone. However we have a couple of days between every now and then. I will be on the simulator on Tuesday again on the manufacturing facility. So I am actually excited for that one.

Alright, George, very effectively executed to you. Thanks very a lot. Oscar, let’s come to you now. P7 to P2 is an amazing outcome for you. How happy are you with the drive you set in right this moment?
OP: Yeah, I feel principally pleased. I feel the primary stint did not make fairly as a lot progress as I might have preferred. Clearly had a little bit of an incident in Flip 1. After which, yeah, simply overheated the tyres a little bit bit. And with the soiled air, it was so arduous to get inside a second. So, yeah, did not make a lot progress there. However then the following two stints, it actually began to return alive. Went a bit longer on each the pit stops and turns. Yeah, simply form of felt like we would have liked some extra laps in direction of the tip, sadly. However no, after beginning seventh, clearly turnaround. Yeah, fairly pleased.

Take a look at our Sunday gallery from the Purple Bull Ring here.