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FIA Post-Sprint Press Conference – 2024 United States Grand Prix

DRIVERS

1 – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing), 2 – Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari, 3 – Lando NORRIS (McLaren)

INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP
(Directed by Günther Steiner)

Q: Congratulations, Lando. It seemed like damage limitation. It’s still damage limitation. You started fourth and finished third. But what happened at the beginning of the last lap? That you lost that position?

Lando NORRIS: Yeah, I mean, it was a good race. Honestly, I’m pretty happy with how things turned out. Yes, it was difficult. I thought maybe I could hold on to second position, but Carlos did a good job and my front tires were completely done. So there wasn’t much I could do, whether I stood straight or defended or not, I’m pretty sure I would have lost the position to Carlos. A disappointing finish, but I’m happy with the race results and a good amount of points.

Q: Your start was very good. Can you explain that a little? I mean, you made up two spots, which was pretty cool. I mean, because usually, you know, that’s your…

LN: No, there were some races and the starts were bad, but otherwise they have been good. And today we had a good start and a good first corner again. So yeah, I did the most I could. I don’t think we have the pace of Max or the Ferraris. That’s why I’m happy to finish third.

Q: Congratulations again, Lando. Thank you. Congratulations Carlos. You gave us a lot of entertainment, the first part of the race and the last part. Talk to us, Carlos. It was great to see you fight with Charles and George.

Carlos SAINZ: Yes, and honestly, they were very fun battles. Yes, a good Sprint. I think if Sprints are like that, you always enjoy them, that little bit of extra action. Yes, we had a lot of battles, especially in the first five laps, a lot of things happened. And yes, towards the end, I was starting to have problems with the tyres, but I saw that Lando was also having problems and I thought that if I could get on the RS, I would have a chance to finish in P2. And yes, we made it to Turn 1 and yes, it was fun.

Q: Do you think if you had started from pole, you could have won this race? Because in the end you were becoming very strong. I mean, you must have managed your tires very well.

CS: Yes, well, the reality is that we don’t manage the tires much because we were in so many battles all the time that we couldn’t focus too much on tire management. And even though we did, our pace was still pretty decent, so it’s encouraging to see that maybe tomorrow we’ll have a good chance. I think that, in any case, in qualifying our car is not yet in the best position, but we will try to qualify as far forward as possible.

Q: Thank you very much and congratulations again, Carlos. Max, it seemed like you were in control from the outside. What was the inside of the cabin like?

Max VERSTAPPEN: It wasn’t that bad. Yes, it feels a bit like old times. Yes, I am very happy with today. I think, of course, if you look at the whole race, Ferrari was also very fast. But I think we’re finally competing again. Normally, in a race, we always look back. But now we could make our own career. And yes, we are going at a good pace.

Q: Yes, and you seem to be a sprint racing specialist. You’ve won 11 of 16. Where does that come from?

MV: Probably because I don’t like it!

Q: So what would it be like if you liked it? Do you know how good you’d be there then?

MV: I don’t know. I mean, of course, it’s always a very hectic weekend like this, you know, having the car in the right window. But fortunately, the last few times we had a Sprint, I think the car was in a good window. So, yes, there is a little more pressure to deliver, but fortunately it is working for us.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: Max, very well done. Great race. It’s been a while since you last won. How happy are you with today’s performance?

MV: Yes, I’m happy. Yes, there have of course been quite a few races where it was more like just looking back, never being able to attack. And now, finally, the car definitely had more features. I could push a little harder. So, yes, very, very happy with today. I mean, looking at the whole race, I think Ferrari was very fast too. But for us this was already much, much better.

Q: What is the predominant emotion for you, Max? Is it relief? Is the car back to where it was at the beginning of the season?

MV: Well, I mean, it’s hard to say where I was at the beginning of the season because everyone is improving too. It just feels a little more together. And I think that’s what we’ve been missing. I mean, in one turn, you can hide a lot of problems. But then of course in the race you need a balanced car, which was a bit difficult for us in the last few races. And now, today, it was definitely much better.

Q: And was there stress for you in those 19 laps?

MV: No, it’s just, you know, the track with the new asphalt in some places and compared to last year, your references are a little different. And of course with the Sprint format, you don’t have a lot of information, so it’s like you’re improving throughout the race, I think you also understand what you have to do, and that was basically it. .

Q: Very good. Very well done for you. Thanks for that. Carlos, let’s go see you now. Very daring of you, from fifth place on the grid. First of all, how much did you enjoy that race? You were very busy from start to finish.

CS: I really enjoyed it. Obviously this year we have a car that allows us to advance in the race. Last year was a bit like Max said, looking in the mirrors, in the Sprints, in the races. And this year the car tends to come alive in the race and immediately after the first lap I saw that we had a good pace and I could keep up with the guys in front and we started racing. They were some exciting battles, first with Charles. I remember at one point thinking, ‘Okay, we’re having fun here too,’ because I was passing him on the inside. I was making the switch on the inside of the starts, and it was pretty fun. Then we got to George, and towards the end I thought it was going to be difficult to catch Lando, but we got there with two laps to go and on the last lap I was able to get into Turn 1.

Q: Did you and Charles slow down on those first few laps? Without that, do you think you could have challenged Max Verstappen?

CS: I don’t know, but, you know, it’s impossible to say. We’ll see tomorrow. I knew that obviously in the first few laps I was quite fast and I wanted to get to the front as soon as possible and that was the plan we made, probably what we suffered the most was obviously being in so much battle. Offline, online, tire degradation or tire management was not ideal. But even without that tire management towards the end of the race, we were still quite competitive, so it gives me hope for tomorrow.

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