F1 Qualifying Press Conference - Canadian GP — Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri

[0:00] A very warm welcome to the top three qualifiers for the FIA Formula One Canadian Grand Prix. [0:06] In third place, Lando Norris. In second place, Kimi Antonelli. [0:09] And taking his third consecutive pole here in Canada, our pole sitter, George Russell. [0:16] George, very well done. You saved your best till last there. What a final lap. Just how good was it? [0:22] Yeah, it was incredibly strong. Obviously, the best of the weekend. [0:26] And it was even more the sweeter because it was so challenging before then. [0:31] It's never the easiest, to be honest, coming from a sprint race into qualifying. [0:35] And all the references are different. And as a team, we made some changes. [0:39] And, you know, you saw when we got it in the window, we were really quick. [0:43] And Kimi was really strong at points. And then we were both off the pace at points. [0:47] And I never had it hooked up until that last lap in Q3. [0:51] So it's, yeah, it's just such a special feeling because there are times when you expect to be on pole and every lap you do is the quickest. [1:00] But the times when you are fighting for it and you're never up there and then it comes together on that final lap to be the one, it's the best feeling in the world. [1:10] What happened on run one in Q3? Why did you abandon? [1:13] I just had no grip at the beginning of the lap. I think we were all struggling a bit for tire temperature. [1:18] Everybody was doing the preparation lap, which is quite unusual. It's the first time of the whole season. [1:23] We made some changes to try and improve that. But the car was just out of sync, out of balance. [1:28] I didn't have the confidence. And as I said, it was quite a yo-yo session. [1:33] You saw Isaac was really quick in Q2. I think he was at the top. [1:38] And then I wasn't sure where he ended up in Q3, but his lap time was incredible in Q2. [1:45] So it just goes to show how challenging it was for all of us, and especially on a circuit like this, where you're dancing with the walls. [1:51] It's really difficult to get that flow. You need a huge amount of commitment to find that last couple of tenths. [1:58] Yeah, it really came together. [1:59] And you went out early for that final run. Just how confident were you starting the lap? [2:04] Not massively, to be honest. Yeah, not massively. I knew I needed a big lap. [2:10] And on my preparation lap, I saw Kimi on the TV screen going purple. [2:17] So I was like, right, I need to bring something big here. [2:22] So I never know if that's a good thing or a bad thing when you see the person you're fighting against on a really strong lap. [2:30] But yeah, as I said, just brought it home and strong lap. [2:34] It looks like it's going to be the first wet race of the year tomorrow. [2:38] Just how do you approach that? What does this evening look like? How do you prepare in the morning? [2:44] To be honest, there's not a lot we can do. We had this conversation last week in Miami as well. [2:49] The truth is, the three of us haven't driven in the rain. I do really enjoy the rain. [2:53] It does offer some opportunities and the pace of the guys around us look really strong in the dry this morning. [3:00] And so, yeah, I'm definitely intrigued to see how it's going to pan out in the rain. [3:05] It's not going to be easy. What races at the best of times aren't easy. [3:09] But, you know, the two of us are in the best place to start it. [3:12] So, yeah, looking forward to seeing what comes. [3:15] All right. Good luck with that. Thank you. [3:17] Kimi, let's come to you. Very, very good job by you as well. [3:21] So close. Just talk us through that final lap. [3:24] Yeah, it was, again, 68 milliseconds. I'm going to remember my number for a very long time. [3:31] Yeah, I mean, it was a difficult session. It started off very strong on used tires. [3:38] And then it kind of, like, faded away a little bit throughout the session. [3:43] I had a really bad lap in Q3, really bad first lap. [3:47] And then second lap, I just tried to put things a bit more together. [3:50] It was very difficult to get the tires in the right window, especially for lap one. [3:57] So, of course, it was a pity to miss out by this close. [4:01] But I think it was still a decent session. And, yeah, it's also the great lap. [4:06] You said the performance slipped away mid-session. Do you understand why? [4:11] I think it was just really struggling to get the tires in the right window, [4:17] getting, you know, worked in them properly. [4:19] I think, yeah, that was the main issue for us. [4:24] And then I had a missed downshift in the last lap into turn six, [4:30] which, yeah, threw me off a little bit. [4:33] But the rest, I think, was pretty OK. [4:36] Can we have a quick word on the updates that the team has brought here to Montreal? [4:41] How are they performing? [4:43] Did you make many changes to the car between the sprint and qualifying? [4:47] Not much, to be fair. [4:48] I think it's, yeah, the package has been working, but it has been changing the balance a little bit. [4:58] I think also this weekend is a bit unique because tires are so important to get them in the right window. [5:04] So I think we're not seeing the full benefit of this new package. [5:11] I think, you know, when we go back to when we go in Monaco and Barcelona, [5:15] we will see much better the benefits of of this package because here it's just such a weird condition that it's I think, [5:26] you know, having just by having the tires in the right window, it makes a big difference. [5:29] So tires in the right window in the dry is a challenge. [5:34] What does it look like in the wet? [5:36] Yeah, it's going to be, let's see how much rain, but it's going to be even colder than these two days. [5:44] So obviously when it rains and it's cold, the grip is already very low. [5:48] And then, of course, this track is not it's not an easy track to put temperature into the tires. [5:53] So, yeah, it's going to be all new for everyone tomorrow. [5:56] And whoever can get the most out of tires in terms of temp in the first few laps can make difference. [6:01] But it's going to be very challenging. [6:03] All right. [6:04] Very well done to you, Kimmy. [6:05] Thank you for that. [6:05] And Lando, if we could come to you, it was looking good. [6:10] Lando, it was looking good for you after that first run of Q3. [6:14] Did you think you'd done enough? [6:16] Well, I was looking good because the Mercedes didn't do a lap yet. [6:20] That's the only reason I looked good until then. [6:22] I was pretty happy, actually, until that point. [6:25] My lap, the 12-7, I was reasonably happy with. [6:28] I thought there was a little bit more in it, which I tried to get out on my second lap, [6:32] but didn't really seem to be able to extract. [6:34] So, I was happy. [6:37] I think to be as close as we were to the Mercedes is a good thing. [6:41] To be ahead, I think, would be an amazing surprise and we'd be over the moon. [6:46] But to be this close, I think, still makes us pretty happy. [6:49] So, yeah, it was close. [6:51] Obviously, like they said, the Red Bull and the Ferraris were up there at different points. [6:54] So, it was always going to be tight. [6:57] But, yeah, just, I guess, a shame to miss out by such small margins. [7:02] But that's how it is around here sometimes. [7:03] Like, even last year, I think the pole was insanely close. [7:07] So, yeah, still a good qualifying, happy with it and better than it was yesterday, for sure. [7:13] So, McLaren have brought upgrades to this race. [7:15] Mercedes have as well. [7:17] Coming into the weekend, did you think you'd be this close to them? [7:22] It's just probably not. [7:24] Mainly because it's just Mercedes always performed very, very well here as a standalone event. [7:32] You know, even last year when we were here, we probably quite easily had the best car and Mercedes was still on pole. [7:38] You know, so they've always just done very well on this type of track. [7:42] With them bringing upgrades, of course, we thought it would be tough to beat them. [7:48] And the fact we're not using some of our upgrades, I think we're very surprised to be even this close, you know. [7:55] So, a lot of good signs. [7:57] Like, it's nothing bad. [7:58] It's a lot of positives, considering we've not been able to extract everything out of our upgrades just yet. [8:05] That shows that there's still good things to come once we figure them out. [8:09] So, yeah, plenty of positives. [8:10] But I think to beat the Mercedes around here, considering how strong they've been so far this season, I think is probably a little bit optimistic. [8:19] So, does the wet weather give you more of an opportunity? [8:22] I have no idea. [8:23] Like you said, we've never driven in the rain. [8:27] So, I don't think anyone knows how bad it's going to be tomorrow to drive these cars around here. [8:33] Not bad, just how difficult it's going to be. [8:36] I mean, it is our job. [8:38] So, I think the expectation obviously should be there. [8:40] But I think it can be an insanely tricky race. [8:44] I mean, it's difficult enough to get temperature into a soft tyre, let alone when it's 10 degrees colder tomorrow and we're going to have inches and wets on the car, you know. [8:54] So, yeah, excited. [8:56] Very, very excited to see how it's going to pan out tomorrow. [9:01] Right. [9:01] Lando, thank you for that. [9:02] Well done to you as well. [9:04] Let's open this to the floor. [9:05] Name and publication, please. [9:07] Lauren Sedmanson, ESPN. [9:09] A question to Kimmy and George. [9:10] You both said earlier that you wanted to have another look at the incident from the sprint to kind of see what it looked like from the outside. [9:16] I assume you've had a chance to do that. [9:17] Did it change your opinion on it? [9:19] And are there any lessons taken to the race about what is and isn't allowed between you guys while racing wheel to wheel? [9:25] Well, no, we had a discussion and we clarified and now it's all good. [9:30] So, we've reviewed and so it was obviously also we had a chat with Toto and it's all good now. [9:42] Yeah, as Kimmy said, all good, had a good discussion and, you know, we know what we need to do and how we're going to race each other and nothing's going to change because we've always had that respect for one another. [9:55] We're not going to wave anybody by, it doesn't matter if it's a competitor or a teammate. [10:00] Of course, we know the number one rule is never to crash with your teammate. [10:04] That isn't what happened this morning and we finished first and third. [10:07] And that's what we'll continue to try and do. [10:12] Thank you both. [10:13] All right, next one. [10:16] Simon Kramer from Radio Canada. [10:18] Question for George. [10:20] Is there an added challenge to driving in the wet with the hybrid cars of this year's regulation? [10:28] I'm thinking about the torque sort of distribution coming maybe quicker than a classic engine. [10:35] Well, because there's been no wet races as yet with the FIA, it was decided that they would reduce the power from 350 kilowatts to 250 kilowatts of battery. [10:47] So, it's still, you know, hundreds and hundreds of horsepower under our right foot. [10:55] But I think what everybody's alluding to is just the tires. [10:58] You know, that's going to be the biggest challenge. [11:00] These tires only seem to work when they have temperature within them and with it being only, you know, 12, 13 degrees ambient, Celsius ambient tomorrow. [11:11] It's going to be really challenging to get that rubber softened to give us the grip. [11:17] And, but the truth is it's the same for everyone. [11:20] You know, it's going to be risky. [11:21] It's going to be challenging. [11:23] Probably isn't going to be very pleasant. [11:25] But it's part of the game and, yeah, excited for that challenge. [11:31] Thank you, George. [11:34] Any more? [11:35] Yep. [11:36] Another one. [11:37] Lucas Scott, TSN 690. [11:39] George and Kimmy, what is it about Montreal that brings out the best in you guys? [11:49] Obviously, George, your third consecutive pole. [11:51] Kimmy, your first podium here. [11:53] What in particular about this track brings out the best in your ability? [11:59] Well, I think the team has to take the credit because clearly our car historically takes a step at this circuit. [12:08] As for the last two years, we struggled with the tires getting too hot. [12:15] So when we came to Montreal and it was quite cold, we were in a much nicer window and probably our competitors' tires were too cold. [12:21] As for this year, I think we're doing a really good with the tires and I think the situation has really reversed. [12:31] Hence, maybe so close today. [12:35] Of course, McLaren have brought upgrades and they look really competitive. [12:38] Because our car this year is much better on tires, on cooling as well. [13:01] I think probably it hasn't been as good this weekend because it's been cold and just getting the tire in the right. [13:09] We've been struggling a bit more to get the tires in the right window. [13:11] So I think, of course, the team, you know, this year has been doing an incredible job on giving us such a strong car, such a strong package. [13:21] So I think, you know, today was very close for many reasons. [13:27] But, yeah, I think this year we don't feel as strong. [13:32] At least that's the feeling me and George have. [13:34] You know, last year we fell a bit stronger. [13:39] But it's just, as I said earlier in this interview, it's just so difficult this weekend to get tires in the right window. [13:48] Okay, thanks, boys. [13:49] And Nimo. [13:51] Yep, there's another one. [13:55] Radek Mazal, Tvinov, Czech Republic. [13:57] Question for George. [13:58] George, was it maybe the most important pole position for you in your career? [14:03] Because when we heard the reaction on the team radio, you were celebrating, like, it felt like if you won the race. [14:10] Thank you. [14:11] I had a really good conversation with Toto talking about, like, success and the feeling of victories and pole positions. [14:22] And the feeling in Melbourne when we were quickest in FP3, quickest in Q1, quickest in Q2, quickest in Q3 and going on to pole. [14:34] And how that felt comparing with, for example, Canada last year when we weren't quite in the mix. [14:41] And I gained seven tenths in my last lap to get that pole. [14:44] And straight away I knew I was there. [14:46] And that adrenaline is like nothing else. [14:50] I can imagine it's like scoring a goal in football where, you know, you're building up to it and then you achieve it. [14:56] And all that adrenaline comes out. [14:58] Whereas in Melbourne, as an example, or when you do have the most competitive car, sometimes I wouldn't say the expectation is if you're not on pole, it's a failure, if that makes sense, sometimes. [15:10] So that was the case today. [15:12] You know, it didn't feel like pole was on the cards and it's not important for, you know, a championship or anything. [15:21] It was just such a great feeling because I did a really great lap. [15:25] It all was hooked up together. [15:27] I crossed the line. [15:27] I see my name's gone to the top of the leaderboard and I knew that was pole. [15:30] And that rush of adrenaline within the space of 10 seconds is what we will live for. [15:38] Thank you. [15:38] Next one. [15:40] François from Journal de Montréal. [15:42] A question for George and Kimi. [15:44] Earlier this afternoon, who initiated the discussion after the sprint race? [15:52] Oh, it was together. [15:53] You know, we're both teammates and we have a good bond. [15:59] And, you know, it was obvious that we needed to have a chat, but, you know, when the helmet's on, that's one thing. [16:07] And out of the car, we're both professionals and, you know, it was no real big deal afterwards. [16:16] And, you know, of course, there's always emotions in the cockpit. [16:19] Nothing is personal when it's on track. [16:22] And for us now, it's history and we just look forward. [16:25] And if I may, as a follow-up, George, as the 28 years old, were you able to understand Kimi's frustration after reviewing the sequences? [16:36] No, for sure. [16:37] And, you know, even being 28 years old and if I was in his position and he was in my position, I probably would have reacted the same. [16:44] Because if something doesn't pay off in the moment and you feel like you've been hard done by, you think, you know, the other guy's in the wrong. [16:54] And that's just natural. [16:56] We're racers. [16:56] We're fighters. [16:57] And we're not just going to wear a heart on our sleeve. [17:01] You know, it's just part of race. [17:03] And as we always say as F1 drivers, you put a microphone on the 22 footballers on the field and they get a bad tackle or whatever. [17:11] You know, they're not going to say, thank you very much. [17:13] You know, so, you know, we're just in this tough position that everything we think and we feel is broadcasted to the world. [17:25] I don't, you know, we don't regret anything we say. [17:27] Of course, maybe you wish you said something different. [17:30] But, you know, we're here to fight. [17:32] And it's not, as Sebastian Vettel says, we're not in kindergarten. [17:38] Is that what he says? [17:41] I don't know. [17:42] Is that what he said? [17:43] Yeah. [17:44] George, thank you. [17:45] Thanks to all three of you. [17:46] We will leave.