PART ONE – Franco COLAPINTO (Alpine), Kimi ANTONELLI (Mercedes), Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin)
Q: Fernando, welcome to Monza. It is a spot, in fact, that you already know very properly. How hopeful are you coming into this race? As a result of the final two races in Hungary and Zandvoort, the automobile has been performing very properly. Do you assume it’s going to translate to the lengthy straights right here on the Autodromo?
Fernando ALONSO: Let’s see. I feel we come to Monza a bit of bit extra cautious about our efficiency. Final effectivity circuit was Spa, and we weren’t that quick in Spa. So yeah, we’ll see. We made some modifications after Spa on the set-up of the automobile and the way we strategy the weekends. So hopefully we is usually a little bit higher. However I feel, you already know, on paper, it’s not the identical monitor, Monza, because the final two races.
Q: We’re two-thirds of the best way by this championship now. You discuss modifications to the set-up, however can we give attention to the positives? How a lot better is the automobile now in comparison with the place it was firstly of the season, and in what areas?
FA: I feel it’s a lot higher than firstly of the season. I feel my first level within the championship got here in race eight or race 9. So yeah, at first we didn’t have a automobile to be within the prime 10 on Sundays. And now evidently we’re in a position to battle within the midfield and to attain factors frequently. Within the final 9 races, I feel I’ve been seven instances in Q3, within the prime 10. So undoubtedly there’s a very completely different automobile now. It’s higher on the aero platform. We didn’t change a lot mechanically on the set-up. Sure, we’re working a bit of bit weekend to weekend, however I feel aerodynamically the automobile is much more steady, quite a bit simpler to drive, and we are able to put the laps collectively.
Q: And if you have a look at the remaining 9 races of this championship, the place do you see your finest alternatives?
FA: I feel we have now a few locations that we expect are extra just like Budapest and Zandvoort. Possibly Singapore will be a type of, perhaps Brazil. However, you already know, we’ve been shocked a bit of bit — typically negatively shocked, typically positively — so we’re not actually placing all of the hopes in a single or two races. We are going to go each weekend to provide our most, like this one in Monza, even when it appears tough. And yeah, we’ll see in Abu Dhabi what number of factors and which constructor place we have now on the finish.
Q: Alright. Fernando, better of luck this weekend. Thanks for that. Kimi, let’s come to you now. Again at Monza, scene of the announcement final yr if you had been confirmed as a Mercedes Formulation 1 driver. It has been fairly a 12 months since then. Can we begin simply by reflecting on every thing that is occurred since Monza final yr?
Kimi ANTONELLI: Yeah, it occurred loads of issues. I’ve good recollections, but in addition actually dangerous recollections right here. However yeah, I imply, it’s a extremely particular place, and I feel it’s going to be a particular weekend as a result of it’s not simply my second house race, however clearly, as you mentioned, that is the place it began with the announcement. In order that’s why it’s going to be a really particular one. However, you already know, it’s been very intense ever since. And yeah, to this point, it’s gone fairly okay.
Q: And if you have a look at automobile efficiency, the place do you count on to be popping out this weekend?
KA: It’s all the time robust to say as a result of the automobiles now are getting nearer and nearer. However final yr, wanting on the consequence, particularly in qualifying, they had been up there. So this yr, it’s been a little bit of the development that the automobile the place it’s been good final yr was additionally fairly good this yr. So hopefully it’s going to be the identical, however we by no means know.
Q: And if you’re on the simulator, are there similarities between right here and Montreal? After all, Montreal was an incredible race for the staff.
KA: Effectively, I imply, to start with, it’s quite a bit decrease downforce right here, however the first two chicanes are actually excessive braking after which going right into a sluggish nook, just like Melbourne. But in addition right here you’ve obtained some fast corners such because the Lesmos, Ascari and Parabolica. So ultimately, it’s just like Montreal when it comes to traits, however the second half of the lap is a bit completely different. However hopefully — clearly we’re again on the outdated suspension, which has given us extra confidence — so hopefully we’ll be capable to have good tempo.
Q: One factor — you talked about this being your second house race. You had been fairly open after Imola saying that perhaps if you happen to’d had that race weekend once more, you may need achieved issues in another way. There have been loads of calls for in your time there. Are you approaching Monza a bit of in another way?
KA: For positive. I will likely be rather more ready, and I undoubtedly know a lot better what to anticipate. I do know a lot better how I want to maneuver round, how I have to behave in the course of the race week so as to have the ability to be 100% each time I am going within the automobile.
Q: Alright. Kimi, better of luck. Thanks very a lot for that. Franco, welcome to the press convention. So again on the scene of your Grand Prix debut final yr — simply how completely different does it really feel coming again to a racetrack for the second time as a Formulation 1 driver?
Franco COLAPINTO: Yeah, it’s the primary monitor I really raced in final yr. So any more, we’ve obtained one other 9 races that I do know — races that I’ve already been in — which is all the time very useful. However simply very good recollections. Being again right here in Monza after a yr of my debut, it does convey loads of flashbacks and recollections again, which is all the time very good. To win that shock name final yr, that I used to be leaping on this weekend, was a dream coming true, and loads of issues occurred from there. So yeah, it’s very nice to be again right here in Monza. It’s a monitor that I all the time like and I actually take pleasure in driving in. It’s stuffed with Tifosi, very passionate individuals and followers that help us, and it’s an incredible monitor to race. So yeah, can’t await it.
Q: And do you come right here with loads of confidence? As a result of final weekend, you completed very near the factors. Do you’re feeling you are making progress with this automobile now?
FC: Yeah. I really feel rather more in management, beginning to be simply extra assured with the automobile, and I’m gaining that feeling that I had final yr in a short time. I didn’t have it this yr so early on, and I feel now the staff, my engineers, actually helped me to win that again a bit of bit. We’re nonetheless engaged on it actually laborious as a result of it’s not the place we need to be. We’re doing loads of progress with the automobile, however I feel usually it’s been a lot better. The final two races have been extra aggressive. We confirmed that we’re very near the factors. So nonetheless loads of work to be achieved. This monitor, it may be fairly laborious for us with the lengthy straights, however I feel if we do properly and we take all of the alternatives obtainable, we are able to have a superb weekend.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Tom Slafer – DAZN Spain) Query for Fernando. You had been mentioning how a lot better the automobile is now in comparison with the start of the season. Apart from the nice outcomes that the staff is getting recently, it feels just like the staff has discovered its method within the improvement race with the brand new flooring in Imola and Silverstone, and perhaps notably with the brand new entrance wing. Does this make you’re feeling much more optimistic going in the direction of 2026?
FA: Yeah. Yeah, undoubtedly. I feel to belief the instruments that we have now within the manufacturing unit and produce issues to the monitor that truly ship what was anticipated from them is clearly an excellent factor. We didn’t have that in 2023 and in 2024. So yeah, it’s good to return to a extra regular factory-track type of correlation and develop the 2026 automobile subsequent winter figuring out that the instruments are right.
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Italia) A query to Kimi. Kimi, you informed us final week how a lot you wanted a contemporary weekend. How do you do away with dangerous ideas like Zandvoort or Monza final yr? What’s the best way?
KA: Simply specializing in myself, simply specializing in what I’ve to do. It’s very easy to get misplaced and focus an excessive amount of on the ultimate consequence. As an alternative, I feel it’s a lot better — and this I haven’t been doing tremendous properly — however simply specializing in the issues I’ve to do: driving properly, placing issues collectively, and serving to the staff one of the best ways to seek out the perfect stability as properly. So I feel that’s the primary factor — simply making an attempt to give attention to myself and making an attempt to get each element proper.
Q: (Moritz Steidl – Servus TV) Query to Fernando. It’s a twenty second time in Monza driving. Take us perhaps by the years — how a lot did it change to drive a automobile on this Temple of Velocity?
FA: Yeah, undoubtedly, it did change quite a bit. I feel I drove even completely different configurations of Monza, not solely the present one. However yeah, the best way the automobiles modified makes Monza a bit of bit completely different than prior to now. The way in which the downforce behaves now could be a bit of bit safer. I bear in mind the primary couple of years in Monza, driving with no rear wing mainly, made the automobile really feel prefer it was floating on the straights, and it appeared like you weren’t completely answerable for it. Now I’d not say that it’s straightforward, however the automobiles are in management on a regular basis. Clearly, now we have now completely different units which might be making this place safer. That’s for me the most important distinction. Up to now, after we used to return to Monza, you felt the hazard, you felt the velocity, you felt the adrenaline. Now it’s a bit of bit tougher to really feel that factor. We have now the Halo, we have now the HANS machine, we have now various things that I didn’t have the primary time I drove right here. Everyone seems to be doing exams earlier than coming to F1 in Monza, or a minimum of with very low downforce. Again within the 2000s, there weren’t these sorts of privileges.
Q: (Craig Slater – Sky Sports activities) A query to all three. F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has talked about perhaps younger followers having shorter consideration spans, and perhaps we’d like extra Sprints or perhaps even Grand Prix ought to be decreased in size. What do you consider that? Who’d like to start out? Go on, Kimi.
KA: It’s a troublesome one. I feel personally, Dash weekends are enjoyable as a result of you’ve got loads of exercise. It’s important to be on level immediately as a result of you’ve got one observe, then qualifying, and you then go right into a Dash race. However I feel shorter races — I don’t assume it could actually work, as a result of already now with lengthy races, we do one-stop technique with the tyres we have now. They must implement so many extra guidelines for a shorter race when it comes to pit stops and so forth, as a result of I don’t assume it could change a lot. I feel additionally with the longer race, in all probability you’ve got extra time to construct your race. However yeah, I don’t actually know. I can’t actually give a transparent reply on this, however that’s my thought. However Dash weekends are enjoyable, in order that wouldn’t be dangerous — having extra of them.
FC: Yeah, I feel they’re simply doing an incredible job. Stefano did an incredible job in bringing the game to the place it’s now. He’s an incredible chief, and I actually respect the trouble that everybody is doing to attempt to make it higher for the followers, for everybody right here. It’s getting larger and greater, Formulation 1. If it’s from somebody, it’s due to them and the trouble. I can’t remark an excessive amount of on that — there are loads of new issues occurring within the sport and they’re bringing loads of new individuals to it. I feel we’re all very grateful for the trouble they’ve been doing prior to now to make the game higher and to convey it to the place it’s now. I simply take pleasure in driving. So if we hold driving and hold doing loads of laps, I’m proud of that. It doesn’t actually matter what session it’s.
FA: Yeah, I don’t know. I imply, I will likely be on the opposite facet — I will likely be in entrance of the TV when that occurs. So I don’t know. I don’t assume it’s an issue with the game. So in all probability it’s not wanted to alter, however Stefano is aware of higher than anybody. So if he thinks that it’s wanted, we’re in good palms with him in this sort of resolution. However I don’t know. Additionally, soccer matches are a bit of bit lengthy. After I sit in entrance of the TV, I’m not watching the 90 minutes totally concentrated. I am going to the kitchen, come again — there’s all the time some moments of distraction, and nobody is speaking about having 60-minute soccer matches or one thing like that. So it’s an issue of society and the children, however not the game. So in all probability it’s not wanted, the change.
Q: And Fernando, if you happen to did shorten the Grand Prix — with all of your expertise — what would we lose, if something?
FA: I feel, as Kimi mentioned, in all probability you might want to do your individual race and you might want to discover your method into the race to return to your pure place on the finish of the race if you happen to execute it properly. If it’s too quick, like in a number of the Dash races, if you happen to begin with a foul qualifying or no matter, there may be not time to execute something. It’s tough to comply with — all of the automobiles have the identical tyre age, there’s no chance to get well locations. So the longer race offers you that chance, that freedom on the technique. However yeah, as I mentioned, it’s a tough matter. In all probability refuelling could be the perfect factor — I’ve mentioned many instances. I do know that is completely the other way of the way it’s going. However when you’ll be able to select your gasoline load and have completely different methods, that modifications utterly the best way the race unfolds and that creates an unimaginable, enticing technique and races.
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports activities F1) Sadly there wasn’t a lot overtaking within the refuelling days however we are able to discuss that one other time. Query to Kimi. If a rookie yr is all about studying, what did you study from Imola that you’ve modified for this — in order that if you say you’re higher ready for this, your second race, you may do in another way?
KA: Effectively, undoubtedly once I mentioned I’ll be extra ready — clearly, it was my first house race and there was quite a bit occurring, particularly outdoors the monitor. I feel additionally on my facet, I didn’t handle power one of the best ways, and simply going again within the automobile and never feeling 100%, additionally focus-wise. So I really feel like on that facet I’ll know a lot better the best way to react and the best way to behave. I feel that’s going to be the primary studying — additionally making an attempt to handle the power one of the best ways potential throughout the entire weekend. As a result of, clearly, you begin the weekend after which as you go, as you arrive to Sunday, in fact you’ve got a bit much less power general. However a very powerful is that you just arrive with essentially the most quantity of power. I bear in mind being in Imola and already from the Saturday I used to be fairly drained. So yeah, undoubtedly that was a superb studying and I don’t need that to occur once more.
Q: (Panagiotis Seitanidis – Antenna TV Greece) A query for Kimi. Clearly, you’re the house hero and entire Italy cheers for you. However if you had been in Santorini this summer time, all people was sending me footage — “Oh, Kimi’s right here, Kimi’s there.” How do you deal with this sudden stardom of F1 even in locations the place there isn’t any race and also you don’t have your staff package? And secondly, what did you want about our nation?
KA: Effectively, to start with, I really like Greece. I went already a few instances and I feel it’s a extremely excellent spot to spend summer time — whether or not with household, with a girlfriend, or with buddies. I feel it’s very nice, the place, to start with, as a result of it lets you disconnect and to calm down. And the opposite query — you type of count on it a bit of bit, particularly if you’re racing on the peak of the game. But it surely’s clearly tremendous good to see that there are already loads of followers supporting you. I simply attempt to embrace this as properly — getting the constructive power from them. After all, typically you might want to perhaps say no, however in that event, on vacation, I used to be proud of that. I used to be simply making an attempt to get the constructive power from them, and it’s all the time good to have these sorts of issues.
Q: (Ian Parkes – RacingNews365.com) Query for you, Fernando. You have been concerned in lots of an incredible title tussle over time — some you have gained, some you have misplaced. While you’re within the place that Lando and Oscar are in proper now, what is the best mindset to take, notably when you already know, on condition that it is strictly between these two, that any mistake or any incident — as Lando sadly suffered on Sunday — can show extremely pricey?
FA: Yeah. I imply, nothing you are able to do on the exterior components. You simply have to ship the job each weekend as they do. They’re doing extremely properly. They’ve a really robust automobile, however they hold delivering all the time, even on the tough weekends. Lando was unfortunate in Zandvoort, however nonetheless many races to go. So that you simply give attention to successful each weekend if you happen to can. And if you happen to try this, you can be champion. And accepting that typically you can be second or third, and attempt to hold the subsequent one alive.
Q: (Silvia Arias – Parabrisas) Franco, after one yr in Formulation 1, that are the facets wherein you’re feeling extra comfy? And that are those the place you continue to need to strive laborious?
FC: Yeah, I feel that one yr in the past every thing was new, and every thing was difficult to get used to it so rapidly. Now I’ve obtained much more expertise, much more time. I feel that step of abruptly having to work with 20 engineers, or 30 engineers, within the manufacturing unit — and in F2 you solely had one individual actually to speak to and get all that data out. Right here, it’s a actually large staff. It’s lots of people placing loads of effort to make that automobile go fast. It is greater than a thousand individuals within the manufacturing unit making that automobile to place it out on monitor. And I feel that’s the perfect factor I’ve realized — to work properly with everybody and with the staff, and to grasp that for it to go properly, it must be actually robust from the bottom. And I feel working with the staff always actually brings an enormous assist to make the automobile go fast and do what you need it to do. That’s actually vital.
Q: (Ludo van Denderen – GPBlog.com) Fernando, along with your firm, you signed René Ramos final week as one in every of your drivers to be managed. What do you count on from him, and do you see a future for him in Formulation 1?
FA: Effectively, I imply, at that age, you by no means know what the long run will convey. Each driver that we soak up aged 14 — clearly, we attempt to assist as a lot as we are able to to comply with their desires. However in the end, I feel you need to be an expert driver. If you end up in karting and in junior formulation, you usually have to speculate cash, and every thing is pricey. It is advisable to hold deciding which programme you do the next yr relying a bit of bit on the price range as properly. So if we are able to handle to have drivers which might be skilled and receives a commission to carry out the job sooner or later, that is already the primary objective. To get to F1, clearly, that’s the dream of all of the younger drivers. And the issue in Formulation 1 is that there are solely 22 [seats]. That’s the one filter that you might want to undergo finally. However he has the expertise. He has been extraordinarily quick in karting, attracted the eye of many Formulation 4 groups, and he’s doing very properly in single-seaters. So for positive, he’s one of the crucial promising drivers we have now within the academy.
Q: (Leonid Kliuev – GrandePremio.com.br) Query for all three. In Zandvoort, Carlos was fairly vocal concerning the stewards’ resolution on the collision with Liam. Did you guys discuss it within the drivers’ WhatsApp group? And are you now uncertain what’s allowed and what’s not?
KA: I imply, probably not. I used to be already busy with my stuff and with what I did. So I didn’t actually have to have a look at it.
FC: No. I don’t actually know. I feel he mentioned he needed a gathering with the stewards after, so we should always ask him. We’re not in that assembly, so I don’t know.
FA: Yeah, similar. No. I didn’t know something additional.
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) A query for Franco, please. Franco, you mentioned after Zandvoort that your staff didn’t perhaps maximise the probabilities to get you into the factors. I feel it was about you and PS switching positions. Did you get clarification after the race on that incident? Are you proud of the way it was dealt with on reflection?
FC: Yeah. I feel it was a extremely good weekend. Normally, I used to be actually proud of the way it went. We did discover loads of efficiency, and within the race I feel we did a superb job on the technique. The staff did a superb job as properly. I feel every thing was very clear. We did swap positions and every thing was good on that. We had been simply very near the factors, and it was a little bit of a pity we didn’t rating, however I’m positive it should come quickly.
Q: A query for Kimi. After what occurred in Zandvoort, do you assume it’s finest for you that there’s one other race immediately, even when that comes with the additional stress of being on house soil?
KA: Yeah. For positive. I feel within the race I used to be having good momentum. The tempo was robust, and particularly on that onerous tire I felt fairly properly. I used to be in a position to catch, lap by lap, the group in entrance. After which in fact, the contact occurred, which clearly was not best. Within the second I felt like going for it, additionally as a result of it was in all probability my solely probability. So yeah, only a disgrace — clearly it wasn’t me. However in fact it’s all the time good to have a back-to-back race as a result of, regardless of what occurred, I can nonetheless carry this momentum into this race weekend, particularly after seeing that the tempo general was higher. So hopefully we are able to hold working, hold bettering, after which ship an incredible consequence this weekend.
Q: (Carlo Platella – FormulaPassion.it) Query for Franco and Kimi. Concerning the potential enhance within the variety of dash races — do you assume that it’ll make life for rookies tougher, contemplating they may have much less time in observe to study and experiment?
KA: I feel yeah. I imply, it clearly will depend on the monitor. If it’s a brand new monitor, it’s a bit more durable for rookies as a result of they need to stand up to hurry — like we needed to do in a few events this yr, reminiscent of China, Miami, and Austin as properly with Dash. So typically it’s robust. However when you have the boldness, you’re in a position to construct up into the session and discover your rhythm fairly fast. In comparison with extra skilled drivers, it may be a little bit of a drawback since you don’t know the element of the monitor, the place you may make more often than not and the place you’ll be able to lose essentially the most. However general, if you happen to’re in a position to stand up to hurry rapidly, and particularly when you have the boldness, you’ll be able to nonetheless ship a superb consequence even with one observe.
FC: I feel we’re used to 2 weekends — it is very quick, very small quantity of laps earlier than quali — and you might want to be very fast on prime of it. It’s all the time difficult if you don’t know the monitor. I had that final yr. I feel Austin and Qatar had been Sprints. I didn’t know the monitor, so it’s difficult, however I nonetheless had a superb consequence there in Dash Quali in Austin. So it’s not — I feel if you happen to prep properly these days, the simulator additionally helps quite a bit. So yeah, if you happen to will be on prime of it and do a superb prep, it actually helps. We’re used to not having loads of laps in observe, so it’s not too dangerous, I feel.
