Half 1: Kevin Magnussen, George Russell and Esteban Ocon.
Esteban, let’s begin with you, and good to see you. Let’s mirror again just some weeks, initially. Sensational end result, each for you and the group at Interlagos. Would you say that’s one in all your greatest races in Formulation 1?Esteban Ocon: Thanks. Yeah, it has been a enjoyable race, undoubtedly. An surprising one, that is for certain. our dry tempo, that is not the place we have been in any respect. However when the rain got here, it undoubtedly opened up alternatives. Yeah, I imply, I felt good in these circumstances. It jogged my memory a bit little bit of 2016, you already know, on the time the place I used to be combating for some extent with the Manor. And yeah, we have been main the race for some time, which felt good, undoubtedly. And yeah, I believe it has been a really good one as a result of it spiced issues up for our finish of season. Now that we could be, you already know, combating close to the opposite groups. groups, you already know, within the Constructors’ Championship. So it will be an enormous struggle, which is much more entertaining for us. And yeah, it brings up, you already know, enjoyable and pleasure for all of the individuals across the manufacturing facility.
It most likely will not be moist right here in Las Vegas this weekend, however will probably be chilly. Does the efficiency in Brazil provide you with some hope coming into the weekend?EO: Effectively, I believe we have to maintain the foot to the bottom. That is going to be crucial. I do not suppose we’re going to have the ability to struggle for podiums and virtually wins like in Brazil. However final yr right here, we completed fourth, which was additionally a really robust race. However yeah, this yr could be way more troublesome with the automobile tempo now we have within the dry. So, yeah, we have to do the very best we will, take all of the alternatives that there’s, and hopefully will probably be a constructive one for us.
Now, you alluded to the battle within the Constructors’ Championship. You are sitting in sixth in the intervening time. The battle for the remainder of the season is partly with the group you are shifting to subsequent yr. What is the temper within the camp? How assured is the group of retaining sixth?EO: I can solely speak for myself right here. I am not very assured, to be honest, in the intervening time. you already know our dry tempo, we have improved not too long ago, getting some updates to the automobile. It has been getting higher, however as I mentioned it might probably flip utterly from one aspect to a different, having a good end result and these races are often when the alternatives arrive. So we should be on prime of that if one thing occurs to have the ability to rating some factors and shut the season that manner.
Esteban, thanks very a lot. Kevin, can I come to you now and begin by speaking about that battle within the Constructors’ Championship? What is the temper at Haas? How assured are you guys?Kevin Magnussen: Effectively, you may’t be assured in any respect. You realize, we weren’t even fascinated with Alpine, actually, in that battle, after which abruptly they’re forward of us. So I believe we really feel like we’re in a great place with the automobile. And not too long ago we have type of constantly been within the run for factors. Now that Aston Martin are struggling, there’s really some factors obtainable at every race. So, it is thrilling. I imply, we’re now three groups for that P6, which, for the groups imply rather a lot. You realize, whether or not you end eighth or sixth, it is a massive factor. And yeah, for a driver, in fact, it isn’t like one thing you place in your CV, but it surely simply means a lot for everybody that it is value combating for.
Can we speak in regards to the efficiency of the automobile? As a result of the improve that the group delivered to Austin appears to have remodeled your season. What’s modified?KM: I simply suppose the upgrades that we have had this yr have been good in all areas. It is simply made the automobile barely sooner over one lap, a bit bit simpler to drive, and higher on the tyres. It is simply type of given the automobile a little bit of a broader window each time we put one thing on. In order that’s been a extremely good job from the group. It has been type of the headline for this yr, I believe. In the event you have a look at what we have improved essentially the most it is how we have been in a position to develop the automobile by way of the season, whereas most different years or principally all different years, we have not been in a position to do this. We have, I believe, had a great automobile to start with as a result of when the entire group is type of obtainable over the winter. They have been doing a great job, however over the season, not a lot. In order that’s actually an enormous step ahead to see the enhancements we have been in a position to make.
You say the automobile is less complicated to drive, however the place has it come alive for you particularly?KM: I believe it is… Clearly you place extra downforce, you go faster, but in addition I believe once you make the automobile extra predictable, that provides a number of lap time too, and particularly on the tyres, it helps rather a lot when, you already know, you are not, it isn’t as simple to overdrive the automobile when the window and, you already know, the stability is extra constant. In order that’s simply been a assist and one thing that is been good to see.
And Kevin, how hungry are you to get again within the automobile this weekend after lacking Interlagos, your second miss in solely 5 races?KM: You make it sound like that is not rather a lot! It is rather a lot. I imply, yeah, it has been unusual to… I’ve watched Formulation 1 on tv an excessive amount of not too long ago, and yeah, it will be good to be again, hopefully, within the race.
Effectively, good luck this weekend. Thanks, Kevin. George, let’s come to you now. Brazil final day out appeared like a missed alternative for you and Mercedes. What classes have been realized?George Russell: Yeah, it undoubtedly felt like a missed alternative. I believe having reviewed the race, you recognise how rapidly issues can change. We made the pit cease, which with the right advantage of hindsight, that was incorrect. However had that Digital Security Automotive stayed for 10 seconds longer or 15 seconds longer, it might have been completely the precise factor to do. So it simply exhibits how rapidly an exterior choice can change your race and the way you could be very fast to adapt to that. And we type of have been a bit bit too targeted on that pit cease and never really seeing {that a} automobile that was beached on the highway was being pushed off and the VSC was ending.
And the way a lot encouragement do you are taking from the tempo of the automobile in Brazil, the front-row begin? I imply, you’ve got had a stack of factors finishes for the reason that summer season break, however how shut are you to having a race-winning automobile once more?GR: Brazil was undoubtedly a little bit of a one-off, I believe. When it rains, it presents alternatives. And for ourself, it was a chance. For everybody at Alpine, it was an enormous alternative, which they capitalised. And I believe we have to look again to the Dash qualifying and the Dash race for a little bit of a fairer image of the place we’re. And that was behind the entrance 4 groups.
George, remaining one. While you have a look at this season as a complete, have a look at the races you’ve got gained, however have a look at additionally the frustrations as nicely. How will you evaluation the season?GR: I believe now we have achieved virtually a full season, we completely perceive why the automobile is so up and down. It has simply such a slim window and once we can set the automobile up in a manner that we exploit that window, now we have a race-winning automobile. However once you go to completely different circuits and it’s a must to change the place you place the set-up, we completely fall exterior of our working window. So It is clearly irritating when you already know the automobile has that potential. However I believe for everybody, you could have these fluctuations in efficiency. We have achieved a great job to capitalise on races that we did, had the pole positions when the automobile was able to pole positions. And finally, we simply have to make a extra constant automobile over the course of 24 races.
Questions From The Flooring
(David Croft – Sky Sports activities F1) George, to you and along with your GPDA hat on, please. In between the final race and this, the FIA have allotted with the providers of Niels Wittich, the Race Director. Is that this one thing that the GPDA have been conscious of earlier than it occurred? Are you involved that there are three races to go and we now have a brand new Race Director, particularly coming in to a road race like Las Vegas, which we noticed final yr, can have a complete load of unexpected issues? GR: Yeah, we undoubtedly weren’t conscious. It was a little bit of a shock, I believe, for everyone. And, you already know, it is a hell of a number of stress now onto the brand new race director. Simply three races left. So I believe for us… Usually as drivers, we most likely really feel like we are the final to seek out out this kind of data. And when it includes us type of straight, it might be good to be stored within the loop and simply have an understanding of what choices are being made. So, yeah, time will inform. I am certain the brand new man will deal with the place simply effective, however undoubtedly not a simple race for a brand new race director.
(Nelson Valkenburg – Viaplay) Additionally for George, however I would love for you each to chime in as nicely. Final week, a pointed assertion from the GPDA in the direction of the FIA and particularly in the direction of the President. The tone appeared stronger than I anticipated. Does that mirror the temper within the subject of drivers as nicely?GR: I imply, speaking as a fellow driver versus kind of my function with the GPDA, I believe all people felt with sure issues which have occurred over the course of this yr that we needed to kind of stand united. On the finish of the day, we simply wish to be clear with the FIA and have this dialogue that’s occurring, and I believe the departure of Niels can also be a major instance of not being part of these conversations. And finally, we solely we wish to work with the FIA to make the very best for the game that all of us love. So, I believe it is type of us now placing the stress again on them to work with us and work with everybody, together with F1 as nicely, simply to maximise this chance, which Formulation 1 is in in the intervening time, which is, you already know, a tremendous time to be part of.
(Roldan Rodriguez – DAZN Spain) A query to Kevin. This yr is arriving to the top and most likely you are not going to be subsequent season in Formulation 1. Are you having particular emotions at this second of the yr?KM: No, I do not suppose so. I imply, for myself, I have been on this scenario twice earlier than, so it is type of the third time that I really feel like that is going to be the final race. So I simply know that you simply by no means know. So, it is type of effective in a manner. I do not actually give it some thought. Subsequent yr I am not going to be in Formulation 1, that is fairly clear, however I’ve realized over time and with my experiences from one that each race you do, you simply must get pleasure from it. And, you already know, yeah, nicely, so long as it lasts, get pleasure from it. In order that’s my plan.
Kevin, you and the group have been quoted as saying, you already know what you wish to occur for 2025. Are you able to shed any gentle on what you is perhaps doing on the subject of Haas?KM: I do not know. I am unable to keep in mind saying precisely that, however I believe now we have been clear that we wish to work collectively in some capability and I believe that is… We’re speaking about how we might do this, in fact. A bit of bit it is come from Ayao and I am open to listen to what he’s pondering and see if I could be useful in any manner.
