Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Post Qualifying press conference

Observe Interviews – Performed by Khalil Beschir

Q: Checo, P3 tomorrow, ranging from the third on the grid. How was the lap? Have been you happy from the primary lap? The second lap was a little bit of a shock for everybody.
Sergio Perez: Yeah i did not get a lot of an enchancment on the on the ultimate lap, which I believe is why we missed the entrance row. However general, I believe Max has performed an amazing lap. I believe that was not doable for me at present however I believe being on the entrance row was achievable, however anyway, I believe we’re nonetheless within the combat for tomorrow. Tomorrow, it is a lengthy race, and something can actually occur.

Q: Properly, you understand how to win right here. Long term yesterday, your automobile appeared actually good, very steady. The tyres lasted lengthy. How is your staff tomorrow with the combat with Charles and Max?
SP: Yeah, will probably be fairly fascinating. I believe it will be an extended, enjoyable race. I believe there will likely be loads of motion. The vehicles round us are all very shut, so will probably be a really fascinating battle tomorrow.

Q: Properly, good luck for tomorrow. Charles. Nice final lap. The primary lap, you had an additional lap going out, doing two outlaps. How was it? The second lap was a lot better, however you had two getting ready laps. within the first attempt on Q3?
Charles Leclerc: Yeah, the primary lap in Q3, we tried one thing totally different, doing a preparation lap, however that did not work out effectively for us. Then within the second lap, I put every little thing collectively and that was what was within the automobile at present. So I am actually proud of the lap. A disgrace that we’re a bit additional away than what we hoped in qualifying, however tomorrow is the race and I hope we’ll have a great shock and that we’ll be capable to problem the Crimson Bulls in entrance.

Q: Yesterday on the lengthy runs, on the Smooth, you had excellent tempo matching the Crimson Bulls on the Medium, clearly. However are you extra assured with the automobile? Hopefully you solved the issues from Bahrain. How’s the boldness of the staff going into the race?
CL: For positive, we did a step ahead in comparison with final yr. I felt extra snug within the automobile. I believe the automobile is in a greater place in race runs. So we simply must give attention to ourselves. And clearly, we can not change the automobile now for tomorrow. So we’ll try to optimise every little thing else for the race. After which let’s have a look at what’s doable tomorrow.

Q: You awoke at present with the information of Carlos. You might have a brand new team-mate. How a lot did you go in and assist him to get on? As a result of he did an awesome job, I believe, at present. How was it at present within the staff with Oliver?
CL: I imply, to start with, I hope Carlos will recuperate rapidly. After which on Ollie’s aspect, I imply, he is performed an unbelievable job, clearly, with just one session in FP3. He was straight up to the mark and comfy with the automobile. So it is good. I am glad for him, clearly. It is a very special occasion and the primary race in Ferrari having performed just one session I assume is much more so particular, so I hope that tomorrow we are able to have an awesome race each of us and rating good factors for the staff.

Q: Max , lastly. It has been coming for a couple of years. Your first pole place in Jeddah. Wonderful lap. I believe your first lap was excellent. The second lap was a bit slower. Discuss us by means of this nice pole.
Max Verstappen: Yeah, it was an excellent day, I believe, thus far. We improved the automobile slightly bit in a single day, and that gave me a bit extra confidence to assault the high-speed corners. And round right here, in fact, it relies upon quite a bit in your confidence stage, how a lot you’ll be able to go to the restrict. And I actually assume at present I felt very snug with the automobile. And all through qualifying, it is fairly loopy how briskly you go round right here. I believe, in my first step in Q3, I used to be very proud of… how I did the lap. It felt nearly a bit like, you recognize, the failed ’21 lap. However then, in fact, making the final nook. I had a whole lot of enjoyable and the automobile was behaving rather well.

Q: Properly, I imply, you go into the race… I believe yesterday the automobile was very steady, excellent steadiness. I am fairly positive you might be assured going into the race tomorrow. However it’s an extended race right here. Something can occur with security vehicles. How is the preparation going into tomorrow?
MV: Yeah, as we’ve seen prior to now additionally, you recognize, there have been a whole lot of loopy races round right here. Lots can occur. Usually folks all the time say it is a one-stop, simple to the road, however it’s not like that round right here. A variety of straights as effectively. However I am assured with the race tempo that we’ve that tomorrow the automobile will work rather well too.

Press Convention

Q: Many congratulations to the highest three qualifiers for the FIA Method One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In third place, Sergio Perez. In second place, Charles Leclerc, and taking his first pole place right here in Jeddah, and the 56th of his Method 1 profession, the pole sitter, Max Verstappen. Many congratulations…
MV: 34. It is 55 wins.

Q: Thanks for the correction. Sorry. Perhaps I am pre-empting tomorrow. Look, Max, many congratulations. That appeared like a really tidy session for you. How good have been these quickest laps in Q3 specifically?
MV: Yeah, I believe typically, simply the entire day, I felt a bit extra snug with the automobile. The steadiness was a bit extra collectively. Yeah, I may simply push slightly bit extra. After which qualifying was fairly good. I imply, no actual huge issues, and I may simply observe the observe evolution a bit, so very proud of that. Yeah, my first lap in Q3, I believe, was very good. Perhaps Flip 1, 2, and the final nook, I may have possibly improved a tiny quantity, however general, the automobile was simply performing actually properly. I felt snug. I may push to the restrict. And on a observe like this, when you will have that feeling, I believe it helps to get a great lap day trip of it.

Q: You stated a second in the past that it felt like that ’21 quali lap that wasn’t fairly. Does that make this considered one of your greatest ever pole positions?
MV: It felt very nice, yeah. I imply round right here there are some corners which can be actually like actually tough at excessive velocity, to hit the apexes such as you wish to, and I did really feel that that was the case on that lap with not hitting the wall within the final nook you recognize! So yeah, I used to be more than happy with that.

Q: You have been quickest in each sector. Does the automobile have a weak spot round right here?
MV: I imply, there are all the time specific corners the place I believe, you recognize, we are able to discover slightly bit extra, however it’s about discovering the general compromise, you recognize, to be fast. That is more often than not on each observe the identical.

Q: Properly, let’s throw it ahead to tomorrow’s race now. How is the long term?
MV: Yesterday it felt good, though I believe the set-up we had yesterday was inferior to at present. So I am wanting ahead to tomorrow. Usually, we must always have good race tempo. And truly, in fact, the degradation will not be as excessive as in Bahrain. So, yeah, we’ll must see how shut everybody else is. However from our aspect, I believe the automobile is about up effectively.

Q: You and Charles on the entrance row for the fifth consecutive race now. How do you see the sprint to Flip 1?
MV: Yeah, effectively, we’ll see what occurs, proper? I imply, it isn’t the place you win the race anyway these days. So, in fact, you all the time attempt to have a great begin, however it’s vital to only get by means of lap one and settle in.

Q: All proper. Many congratulations to you. Properly performed, Max. Charles, if we come to you. Your seventh consecutive front-row begin. How happy are you with the efficiency of the Ferrari?
CL: Properly, it is good to be beginning on the entrance row. Nevertheless, at present I did not actually discover the suitable feeling with the automobile. For some motive, with the brand new tyres, we did not have the automobile in the suitable place, which I hope that for tomorrow it would enhance slightly bit. For some motive, we had various oversteer and simply the rear just isn’t fairly prepared. So in Q3, we tried one thing totally different. We went for a prep lap, which did not assist in any respect. After which within the second lap, I put every little thing collectively and I do not assume there was rather more. However at present, the sensation wasn’t nearly as good as what I had, what I used to be anticipating, contemplating yesterday.

Q: Properly, what have been your expectations coming into the session? As a result of some observers thought you’d problem Max for pole very carefully.
CL: I imply, greater than expectations of positions, I had expectations of feeling and steadiness. And that is not what I discovered at present, which for positive we left slightly little bit of efficiency on the desk. Nevertheless, Max did an awesome lap. And at present they have been simply stronger. So we have set to work on that and try to perceive for the long run what occurred for qualifying on that first time lap.

Q: Properly, what in regards to the race? What are the primary challenges of fifty laps right here in Jeddah?
CL: We have been simply talking earlier, I believe bodily it is positively probably the most or probably the most tough races of the season. In order that’s going to be one problem. Then aside from that, as all the time, that you must get the technique proper and we’ll do our homework tonight to take the suitable choices.

Q: Do you assume the Crimson Bulls are beatable?
CL: Sure. I imply, I am all the time optimistic, so we’ll attempt our greatest. Nevertheless, we all know that usually they’ve the higher hand and so they have a bit extra tempo within the race than in qualifying. And looking out on the gaps at present it will be a tough one to get the highest spot tomorrow. However I will do every little thing as all the time.