The 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix showcased the triumphant victory of Max Verstappen from Red Bull, with Sergio Perez, also from Red Bull, securing second place and Charles Leclerc from Ferrari claiming third place.
Interviewer: Charles, congratulations. This is your first podium of the year and only the second race. However, the Red Bull cars proved to be very strong for you after a great qualifying session yesterday.
Charles LECLERC: Yes, we had a good pace, as evidenced by our fastest lap at the end. I was a bit hindered by the DRS, but overall, I felt good. It was a bit of a monotonous race because Red Bull was very fast and we had a big gap behind us. However, we managed to secure the maximum points possible, which was our goal.
Interviewer: Congratulations on securing the fastest lap point. This racing circuit is known for its challenging nature. Did you find it more demanding compared to last year?
CL: Actually, it was an improvement from last year. I’m not sure why. Maybe because I had less adrenaline being alone in the car. Overall, it’s one of the most physically demanding tracks of the season. It’s hot, but more importantly, it puts a strain on the neck due to the high speeds. It’s a tough track, but also a lot of fun to drive.
Interviewer: Excellent. If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask about your teammate this weekend. Oliver Bearman was voted Driver of the Day and had an outstanding performance. How impressed were you with his performance, considering he was thrown in halfway through?
CL: He definitely deserves the recognition. He has done an amazing job since FP3. He quickly found his rhythm in qualifying and almost made it to Q3. Today, he was incredible, finishing in seventh place in his first Formula 1 race, with only experience in FP3 in a new car. It is clear to everyone how talented he is, and it is just a matter of time before he permanently enters Formula 1.
Interviewer: Now let’s turn our attention back to Checo Perez, last year’s winner and second place this year. It seems like this race was more challenging compared to Bahrain. Can you tell us more about that?
Sergio PÉREZ: We certainly made progress. It was a shame we didn’t qualify on the front row because we had a great start. However, Charles did a fantastic job and held his position. It was an intense battle, especially with the safety car early on, which compromised our race. Overall, it was a great day for the team, and we continue to show strength on different tracks. We need to keep this momentum going and keep improving.
Interviewer: You mentioned the safety car. We saw a tense situation between you, Fernando, and the Aston Martin on screen. Is this expected in double-stack scenarios?
SP: It was a shame we received a penalty, although it didn’t significantly affect our race. In that scenario, with everyone coming in at the same time, we could use a wider pit lane area!
Interviewer: Congratulations on second place. Now, let’s talk to our winner, Max. This is your 56th victory in Formula 1 and your 100th podium. How do you feel?
MV: It’s fantastic, not just for me, but for the whole team. I felt very comfortable with the car throughout the weekend, and the race was no exception. The last stint was longer than we would have liked, but due to the safety car, we had to take a risk. The final laps were a bit slippery with cold tires, but overall, we had a good pace and managed the gap effectively. I am extremely pleased with the result.
Interviewer: You mentioned yesterday that the car seemed to be on track during qualifying. Was it more challenging on this circuit, especially with the long stint?
MV: Yes, exactly. Ideally, we wouldn’t have done such a long stint with those tires, but the circumstances required it. With all the high-speed corners on this track, if the tires go out of their ideal range, it becomes more challenging.
Interviewer: Charles mentioned that this track is tough on the neck. Did you feel the pressure during the Grand Prix?
MV: Definitely. This track, being anti-clockwise and full of constant G-forces, puts significant pressure on the neck. It is one of the most physically demanding races, especially early in the season.
Interviewer: Max, congratulations on your flawless race. Was it as perfect in the cockpit as it seemed?
MV: Yes, it was a very good race. After the first stint with the safety car, we had to stop, and I knew it would be a long stint until the end. But that was the case for most of us. We managed our pace well and maintained a good gap. The car performed exceptionally well throughout the weekend, even better than expected. I am very pleased with the overall result.
Interviewer: Are you more satisfied with your performance here than in Bahrain last week?
MV: As duas corridas foram muito boas, então é difícil comparar. Eram cenários diferentes, e cada pista exige coisas diferentes do carro.
Entrevistador: Parecia que Charles tinha a melhor chance de desafiá-lo no início. Você pode nos contar sobre os primeiros momentos da corrida e sua largada?
MV: Minha largada foi ok, não excepcional, mas boa o suficiente. Isso é o mais importante.
Entrevistador: Este é o seu 100º pódio na Fórmula 1, conquistado em apenas 188 largadas. Isso é um recorde impressionante. Quais são seus pensamentos sobre essa conquista?
MV: Significa que perdi 88 pódios! Mas estou feliz por ter alcançado essa marca. No entanto, não foco muito em estatísticas. Meu objetivo principal é alcançar o melhor resultado possível em cada corrida.
Entrevistador: Olhando para frente, a próxima corrida é na Austrália. Quão diferente é o desafio em Albert Park?
MV: É uma pista completamente diferente, especialmente com o novo layout e asfalto. Vamos trabalhar na configuração do carro no simulador antes de chegarmos lá. É difícil prever nossa competitividade, mas daremos o nosso melhor durante todo o fim de semana.
Entrevistador: Bem feito hoje, Max. Obrigado. Agora, vamos ouvir Checo. O segundo lugar é uma grande conquista. Você pode nos dar uma visão geral da sua corrida?
SP: Foi um pouco caótico, mas tive uma ótima largada. Infelizmente, não consegui ficar à frente de Charles, pois ele se defendeu bem. A corrida parecia promissora, e eu estava a três segundos de Max, mas o safety car no início comprometeu nossa estratégia. Tivemos um stint longo com os pneus duros, e foi desafiador, especialmente sem aquecimento. Escorregamos muito no início, mas, no geral, foi um ótimo dia para a equipe. Fizemos progressos desde o Bahrein, e precisamos continuar melhorando.
Interviewer: You mentioned the safety car. When you were in the pits, how much visibility do you have of the car?
SP: You have some idea of what’s going on around you. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see anyone. I realized I didn’t have the proper release, but there was no one in sight. Sometimes the team can be slower than the driver, but this time it was the opposite. It was my mistake, but fortunately it didn’t significantly affect our race.
Interviewer: Speaking of your car, you mentioned being more satisfied with it in Jeddah compared to Bahrain. What improvements did you notice?
SP: We made some changes to the car. Last weekend, it wasn’t great in terms of managing degradation, but we identified the reasons behind it. Today, our race was stronger, but we still need to understand why we were slower in qualifying compared to FP2. We need to analyze the reasons and keep progressing.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing that. Charles, let’s hear your overall view of the race.
CL: We maximized our performance today. We had difficulties at the beginning of each stint with tire warming, but in the end, we were stronger. Unfortunately, it was too late to recover what we lost during the battles. Overall, it was a positive race, and we continue to take small steps in the right direction. We are closing the gap little by little, and with continuous hard work, we can put more pressure on Red Bull.
Interviewer: Fighting with tire warming at the beginning of a stint gives you an advantage at the end, right?
CL: Not always, but in this case, it was true. It worked in our favor at the end of the stint, but it was too late to make up for the battles we had earlier.
Interviewer: Can you share your perspective on the battle with Checo, both at the start and when he passed you on the fourth lap?
CL: I remember the exit of Turn 2, expecting Checo to leave enough space, and he did. So I kept my second position there. As for the overtake, there wasn’t much I could do. We had a bit of difficulty defending and attacking today, and we had a bit less top speed than the others. We will review our decisions to see if it was the right approach.
Interviewer: Given the progress you made in Jeddah, do you expect more improvements when we go to Melbourne next week?
CL: I don’t think we will have many new things in Melbourne. Currently, we are maximizing our package, given the circumstances. We will have to wait until we introduce new parts to the car to see how much progress we make. Hopefully, this will bring us closer to Red Bull.
Interviewer: Lastly, your teammate, Oliver Bearman, had a challenging job today, considering he missed Thursday’s practice. How impressed were you with his performance?
CL: It was incredibly tough for him. I apologize for the confusion in the days. He was extremely impressive, handling the situation calmly and enthusiastically. He showed the entire paddock his capabilities. After a performance like that, it’s only a matter of time before we see him permanently in Formula 1.
Interviewer: Hello, this question is for Mr. Perez. With the increase in the number of races in the Gulf region, there have been criticisms regarding sports washing and greenwashing. What do you think about racing in this region and its impact on building new audiences and potentially attracting new drivers?
SP: It’s always great to be in places where sport is a priority for people. Over the years, we have seen sport grow in this region. Formula 1 is a global sport, and as we race in Saudi Arabia, people from all over the world are watching. It’s good to see sport expanding beyond Europe, both in terms of drivers and people working in the paddock. It’s an opportunity for these countries to showcase themselves and continue evolving.
Interviewer: Max, you mentioned the importance of sharing values and opening minds in these countries. How do you respond to accusations of sports washing and green washing?
MV: As athletes, we focus on the sport itself and not on politics. It’s crucial to separate the two. Sport can achieve a lot worldwide, and we try to share positive values wherever we go. Every country has its flaws and positive aspects. Our goal is to inspire and bring about positive changes, but ultimately, it’s up to the countries to make these changes.
Interviewer: Checo, do you have anything to add regarding criticisms and accusations of sports washing and green washing?
SP: Formula 1 provides a platform for new countries to showcase themselves to the world. It’s an opportunity for these countries to improve and evolve. As drivers, we focus on giving back to the people and showing good values. Formula 1 is a unique product, with drivers from different nationalities, and this helps countries to expose themselves and continue progressing.
Interviewer: Max, you mentioned your interest in exploring more of Saudi Arabia. Are there specific places you would like to visit or aspects of the culture that you appreciate?
MV: So far, I have only been to Jeddah. Saudi Arabia is a vast country, and there are many places I would like to visit, such as Riyadh and Al-Ula. I have seen beautiful images of the Dakar Rally, and it is exciting to see the country opening up and undergoing positive changes. I hope to explore more of Saudi Arabia in the future.
Interviewer: Have you had the chance to try Saudi food?
MV: Not yet, but I would love to try the local cuisine. Maybe next time, I will have an expert guiding me through the different flavors.
© 2024
Today an spectacular event happened in the world of motor sports. Brazilian driver, Lucas Silva, achieved victory at the Interlagos Grand Prix. With an impeccable performance, he left the other competitors behind and crossed the finish line in first place.
Lucas Silva, only 25 years old, showed incredible talent on the tracks. He dominated the race from the start and did not give his opponents a chance. With aggressive and skillful driving, the Brazilian driver secured the victory and excited fans with his performance.
The Interlagos Grand Prix is one of the most important competitions on the motor racing calendar. With a challenging and thrilling circuit, the race attracts drivers from all over the world. And this time, it was Lucas Silva who shone and took the trophy home.
The Brazilian driver is a promise of national motor racing. With his talent and determination, he has been gaining more and more space on the international scene. And this victory at the Interlagos Grand Prix only confirms his potential and places him as one of the great names in the sport.
Congratulations to Lucas Silva for this incredible achievement! We look forward to seeing more victories and great moments in his career. The future of Brazilian motor racing is promising, and he is a fundamental part of this success story.
