PART TWO – Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin), George RUSSELL (Mercedes), Yuki TSUNODA (Crimson Bull Racing)
Q: Fernando, let’s begin with you. You had an amazing reception on the fan discussion board final evening. You have got a few wins, seven podiums right here. Simply what makes this one totally different for you?
Fernando ALONSO: Properly, dwelling Grand Prix. So, it is totally different to all drivers while you race in entrance of your private home crowd and, you recognize. Associates, household are usually within the grandstands or within the paddock. And, yeah, you wish to ship one thing all the time additional at your private home place. And we all know Barcelona very nicely. It isn’t solely in my case. I feel all Method 1 drivers, we did a whole lot of laps right here, a whole lot of testing. So, yeah, it is a circuit that we all know very nicely, and we push the boundaries from FP1 to the race.
Q: So, what do you assume will occur this weekend from an Aston Martin perspective? Let’s give attention to the positives from the final two races because you launched the improve. How a lot of a efficiency step ahead is it?
FA: Let’s examine. I feel Barcelona will inform us a bit bit extra concerning the new package deal. Imola was a step ahead for certain, but additionally, I feel we ran the Medium tyres and that helped us in qualifying. After which Monaco is such a particular place and Saturday is clearly a key a part of the weekend, and we put some good laps on Saturday as nicely. So, Barcelona, with a extra regular weekend, we are going to uncover the place we’re when it comes to efficiency. However, yeah, I feel everybody will carry additionally some upgrades right here, particularly with the brand new regulation with the entrance wing, and let’s have a look at how a lot it impacts everybody on the grid.
Q: Fernando, you referenced Monaco there. I did wish to ask you what it was wish to work trackside with Adrian Newey. Did it dwell as much as expectations?
FA: Yeah, it was unbelievable. I feel the way in which he sees issues on the automotive, even statically within the pit lane or on the grid, additionally within the storage, recognizing some issues that we may have completed higher or do higher sooner or later. But additionally, sure, his presence within the assembly room is all the time particular. And I feel, not intimidating, however the stage of the group was larger due to his presence as a result of everybody was extra centered, extra into the small print of the automotive. Folks that have been speaking within the assembly knew that they might not say something too removed from the reality as a result of he’ll spot it. So, I feel that was nice to witness, and I hope subsequent 12 months with extra races that he’ll come, we are going to continue learning from him and getting higher as a group.
Q: Fernando, thanks for that. I’m certain there’ll be extra questions for you in a minute. George, let’s come to you now. It’s been a troublesome couple of races for Mercedes. What have you ever realized within the debrief since Monaco?
George RUSSELL: I imply, finally, our weekend was over from Saturday. We all know Monaco is a qualifying race, and I feel there have been hopes or expectations that with the two-stop, issues can be spiced up a bit bit. And I feel we’re all grateful for the trial of the two-stop, however clearly, it didn’t change issues as individuals predicted. And it was an actual disgrace as a result of we’d misplaced our approach barely in the course of the weekend in Monaco, however we went again to a identified set-up in Q1 and we have been proper again within the groove, proper again inside the highest 4, which is the place we’ve been all the time on Saturday afternoons this 12 months. In order that was an actual disgrace.
Q: How essential is it for you and the group to have a clear weekend right here in Spain?
GR: Yeah. It’s clearly been two poor races. We’ve been inside the highest 5 each single session up till Imola. So we’re hoping to get again into our normal kind and have a clear weekend. As Fernando stated, with the modifications to the entrance wings which have been made, there’s a little bit of relearning the entire groups should take, however I don’t anticipate it to shake the order up an excessive amount of.
Q: You guys have been fast right here final 12 months, third and fourth within the last consequence. Do you assume you would possibly be capable of replicate that when you have a clear weekend?
GR: Yeah, I don’t see any purpose why not. As I stated, up till Imola, we’ve been inside the highest 5 each single quali and race. And, after all, Imola was a foul race, after which in Monaco issues have been barely outdoors of our management. So I don’t see any purpose why we wouldn’t be again in that combat for the highest 5, hopefully preventing for the rostrum. However we do know our race tempo, particularly in sizzling races, is a step behind McLaren, and this weekend goes to be very popular. The observe goes to be over 50 levels for almost all of the weekend. The one distinction being right here is we’re on the toughest compound of tyres, whereas in Imola and in Jeddah, the place we struggled essentially the most this season, it was on the softest compound of tyres. In order that’s yet another change.
Q: Thanks for that. Yuki, let’s come to you now. It was a irritating race for you in Monaco. So let’s take a look at the larger image. It’s now been six races because you joined Crimson Bull Racing. First, how comfy are you within the automotive now?
Yuki TSUNODA: Yeah. I’m nonetheless constructing the progress when it comes to confidence and every part. I imply, understanding concerning the automotive is getting there. Simply, you recognize, the previous couple of tenths, few milliseconds, particularly while you need the observe evolution, you wish to naturally really feel it, proper? And people issues—while you generally change set-up, you wish to know what sort of stability you’re going to get. And clearly, with a brand new automotive, it’s simply onerous to know precisely how the automotive goes to behave. In these issues it comes right down to expertise. And clearly, final 4 years with VCARB, I knew precisely what’s going to occur, so I didn’t actually need to even take into consideration these issues. I’d naturally react and drive quick. So I feel these issues will come. I feel the Imola factor simply made me re-recognise (sic) the quantity of understanding I presently have. I used to be in all probability barely underestimating how essential it’s to know these areas particularly. So it’s not that I’ve misplaced confidence or no matter, however simply slowly build up and we’ll be there sooner or later.
Q: How a lot confidence does the group have coming into Barcelona? Max Verstappen goes for his fourth consecutive win right here. Are you anticipating to be far more aggressive than you have been on the slower tracks this 12 months?
YT: I imply, to be sincere, Monaco was fairly good till qualifying. Yeah, crimson flag and plenty of issues didn’t go to plan. Clearly, it’s all the time onerous to be on the plan and there was undoubtedly a lap that I may have completed barely higher. So in that sense, yeah, qualifying was very robust for us, robust for me particularly. However not less than till FP2, FP3, I used to be preventing fairly shut, and to be sincere, the tempo was in all probability greatest ever. So, it’s getting there. And Barcelona – yeah, I imply, I didn’t see a lot historical past concerning the Crimson Bull successful right here, however you stated 4 occasions he’s gained, that’s excellent news. However I simply preserve specializing in myself fairly than Max.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Tom Slafer – DAZN Spain) Query for Fernando. Fernando, you’ve got talked about many occasions that your hopes are centered on 2026. In fact, Adrian Newey was in Monaco, however he is centered on 2026. Though the group has introduced new components this weekend, they introduced new components in Imola. I perceive that there is new components coming in Silverstone. What’s the give attention to the group between 2025 and 2026? Is it not absolutely centered on subsequent 12 months nonetheless?
FA: I feel the main target is on 2026. However so as to be assured and robust in ’26, it’s important to construct the momentum additionally in ’25, and it’s important to ship some components on observe which might be making the automotive sooner as nicely in ’25. And that can, I feel, give some confidence to the group as nicely, again in Silverstone and likewise in our instruments to make it possible for every part that we’re growing in ’26, it is sensible, as a result of we go on observe and it delivers the expectations. So, yeah, I feel there’s a little bit of labor nonetheless on ’25, however the principle focus or the hopes are in ’26. We perceive the state of affairs. We perceive the place we’re in 2025, and no matter we carry to the observe will simply be a minimal change when it comes to positions and ending order. I feel the largest step in that regard can solely occur in ’26, the place all of the hopes are.
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports activities F1) Fernando, on that subject—one factor Adrian did say when he was talking in Monaco was that there was a correlation problem between your new sim again on the expertise campus and what you are now seeing on the observe, and it would take two years to repair. So how a lot of a hindrance is that going to be, particularly to your self as a driver? And what are the group doing to place issues proper and to offer you a greater correlation between now and the 2 years that it would take to repair it absolutely?
FA: Properly, I feel all of the simulators may have some type of correlation points to the true automotive. And I do not assume that any group has an ideal simulator that you could belief 100%, as a result of the automotive on the true observe and in actual life could be very dynamic and it retains altering, all the time, nook to nook and session to session. There will not be two laps on the weekend which might be precisely the identical, due to the wind, due to the temperature, due to the site visitors in entrance—all these sorts of issues. So while you attempt to replicate that on a simulator, in a constant and ideal atmosphere, I feel it’s extremely totally different. However I feel it’ll take lower than two years to repair our simulator. It isn’t new. Perhaps it is the primary time that Adrian stated it in Monaco within the interview. However relaxation assured that drivers, we talked about it a few occasions already.
Q: (Laurent Dupin – Canal+) Query to Fernando as a result of George and Yuki might not keep in mind. In 2001, you have been driving the Monaco Grand Prix…
FA: I do not keep in mind…
Q: (Laurent Dupin – Canal+)… that poor man, David Coulthard needed to begin from the again. He spent 40 laps behind [Enrique] Bernoldi within the Arrows, who was 4 seconds slower in qualifying. Now we have got all of the pack in a single second. Does that imply that folks anticipate too
a lot from the Monaco Grand Prix on the Sunday?
FA: In fact. Monaco has been Monaco all the time. However now I feel there may be a whole lot of expectations and there’s a lot of media—you aren’t the one in charge—however there may be a whole lot of information generated each single day. And there are a whole lot of issues on the web, social media. There are a whole lot of issues generated for Method 1. So, we wish to see the present. We wish to see the overtaking. We wish to enhance the game from our sofa at dwelling. Everybody has concepts. And, yeah, I am all the time a bit bit stunned concerning the unfavourable feedback from Monaco on Monday. However don’t fret, as a result of subsequent 12 months we are going to go to Monaco. And on Wednesday we will likely be so excited. Then on Friday we are going to say that it is the greatest weekend on observe of the season, and all of us wish to win in Monaco. After which on Saturday we’re all tremendous excited, and the adrenaline that you simply get on these laps might be distinctive within the championship. After which for no matter purpose, on Sunday we will likely be all disillusioned as soon as once more. However I feel it is what it’s. You play all of your playing cards on Saturday. Typically it is good, generally not. However there are another circuits which might be additionally like that. And it is the character of Method 1, even with how aggressive the sector is now. Just a few years in the past, two or three years in the past, I feel Max and Crimson Bull gained almost all of the races. And it occurred additionally with McLaren again within the nineties. And that is Method 1. It has occurred and it’ll occur additionally sooner or later. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless the primary sport and we nonetheless embrace how it’s.
Q: (Alessa Naujoks – RTL Germany) George, you have been speaking about spicing up the Monaco Grand Prix. You probably did that along with your transfer. Is that additionally a part of the brand new George Russell—the group chief, the one who takes extra dangers?
GR: I used to be simply getting bored with staring behind a Williams rear wing for 50 laps, to be sincere. I imply, it was a bit ironic as a result of I completed larger up the order by doing that transfer than I’d have completed if I simply caught behind Alex. I pulled a complete pit cease within the area of three laps, after which I used to be free to do my very own race. However for us, the weekend was gone so early. We weren’t preventing for something. You get the identical factors for P11 as you do for P20. And as I stated, I simply wished to take pleasure in Monaco. I did not get the prospect on Saturday. Like Fernando stated, it is essentially the most adrenaline you get in a complete season, and I did not have that likelihood due to what occurred. I not less than loved the final 25 laps of the race. So, it isn’t a part of the brand new George Russell being a insurgent, chopping the observe, it was simply getting bored with seeing Alex driving like a grandma.
Q: Was it an costly restaurant on Sunday evening?
GR: Not costly sufficient! So, the invoice is unquestionably not even simply but.
Q: (Leonid Kliuev – GrandePremio.com.br) Form of following up on that subject. Query for everybody. What’s your perspective on doable penalties for intentional violations of guidelines?
GR: As I stated, I knew I used to be going get a penalty, and I stated I used to be joyful to take the penalty. And it was a deserved penalty. I feel that ought to by no means be allowed. And as I stated, if I used to be within the factors and if I used to be racing Alex, I’d by no means have completed that. He had already completed two pit stops. I hadn’t even completed one single pit cease. He was solely driving so sluggish to profit his team-mate. It wasn’t to profit him in opposition to me, it was to profit him in opposition to the drivers round him. So, as I stated, I wasn’t doing it for a sporting achieve. I used to be simply doing it for my very own enjoyment as a result of it was a bit garbage. However the penalty I obtained, on another circuit, in another circumstance, was greater than honest.
Q: (Vincent Sondermeijer – NRC Netherlands) A query for Fernando. We have seen in latest weeks the official announcement of the brand new Spanish Grand Prix venue in Madrid, even some first impressions of the observe. And we additionally know that this nearly definitely implies that this observe will likely be gone from the calendar after subsequent 12 months. So, what do you, as a Spaniard, take into consideration the truth that we’re going to in all probability lose such a historic observe in change for, nicely, let’s put it bluntly, one other avenue observe?
FA: Properly, I don’t assume that we are going to lose Barcelona. In order that’s my opinion and my want as nicely. I feel it is good to have new venues. It’s good to have new nations as nicely that Method 1 has moved to within the final decade. However on the identical time, we have to preserve some conventional circuits the place the historical past of Method 1 has been written and made. And I feel Method 1 and Barcelona are very linked. We have been testing right here for many years. I feel all of the groups select Barcelona once they have to decide on one check observe. We come again subsequent 12 months right here in winter as a result of now we have new laws, new vehicles, and once more, as soon as once more, the groups selected Barcelona as a result of it is the Method 1 observe in a approach. And I feel the circuit has made some modifications to make it as much as Method 1 requirements. So within the final two or three years, all of the paddock amenities, the grandstands, every part has taken a brand new stage. And Barcelona has been right here for the final two or three many years, and Barcelona will likely be right here for the subsequent 10, 20, 30, 40 years. And a number of the venues will likely be simply momentarily on the calendar after which in all probability they may disappear once more. So, we can not lose Barcelona.
Q: (John Noble – The Race) George, final weekend’s type of shenanigans confirmed that it doesn’t matter what you do, the technique, till overtaking is feasible at Monaco, the race isn’t notably going to work. What’s the reply? Do you assume subsequent 12 months’s laws and handbook override, for instance, can change the overtaking dynamic and provides it an opportunity, or is it going to want some modifications like Alex Wurz has instructed?
GR: Yeah. I feel like Fernando stated, Monaco has all the time been the identical. I’ve seen a number of the proposed observe modifications that undoubtedly won’t make it worse, as a result of… The small drawback you may have in Monaco is the one overtaking alternative, which is out of the tunnel. The pure racing line is—you are going from a left, braking via the center of the observe and you then pull over to the proper. So, it’s extremely straightforward for a driver to place his automotive. However truthfully, proper now, I haven’t got the reply. Perhaps the handbook override can be an answer and, you recognize, you’ve bought to do all of this administration via the race. And should you’ve bought much more energy simply to move anyone in an unconventional area, it isn’t going to make the present worse. However a part of me simply thinks we have to settle for Monaco for what it’s. Method 1 is best by having Monaco on the calendar. It’s the most exhilarating qualifying of the season. And the race is all the time fairly boring, nevertheless it additionally makes us admire the opposite races as nicely. So I don’t know, to be sincere. Sorry for the lengthy one.
Q: (Jaime Vigara – TheBestF1.es) Fernando. Welcome to Barcelona. You ran in Indianapolis a number of years in the past. So what do you concentrate on Alex Palou’s latest victory?
FA: Yeah. I imply, nice for Spain, initially. Nice for him to have the Indy 500 now after successful the collection and the IndyCar for a number of consecutive seasons and now main the championship as nicely. So, he’s doing nice there. I do know that many of the drivers dream a few Method 1 seat and having a profession right here. However he had the chance in IndyCar and he maximised each single day there. He is a legend in IndyCar and he will likely be a legend all the time in IndyCar. So I feel he isn’t lacking Method 1, and I am very joyful for him as a result of he is a really, very gifted driver. And yeah, we’re simply following him from right here with a whole lot of respect and as a fan, as a result of I used to be watching on Sunday the race and simply hoping that he would lastly make it—and he did it. So, joyful for him.
Q: (Víctor Abad – Revista Fium) Query for Fernando. A lot has been spoken concerning the Monaco Grand Prix when it comes to overtaking, when it comes to the observe format, however not a lot of the scale of the vehicles. You clearly have pushed a whole lot of totally different Method 1 vehicles with totally different sizes—you’ve seen all of the evolution.
FA: I by no means overtook any automotive!
Q: (Víctor Abad – Revista Fium) Properly, in 2010 we noticed some nice overtaking…
FA: Properly, additionally, yeah, additionally Lance overtook Nico within the final lap. You already know? You see one overtake each ten years. So nice, you recognize? I imply, this has been the Monaco nature. I feel Max spoke about this since you requested Max about Monaco, as a result of the very last thing that Max has in his head now’s simply the Monaco race. However there may be this fixed discuss how dangerous is one thing as a substitute of how good is one thing. And that is Monaco. And I don’t assume… You already know, perhaps there are a few concepts that, between all involving the game, drivers, FIA, groups, we will take into consideration Monaco, however I don’t assume that there’s any must assume one thing. It’s solely as a result of, as I stated, there may be a whole lot of content material now to be created, and drivers, we’re too good. So, we reply to each query. As a result of if 40 years in the past, you ask, I’m certain, Senna and Prost, and they’re preventing for the championship or no matter—about Monaco after one week, they might be much less well mannered than we at the moment are.
Q: (Víctor Abad – Revista Fium) Simply since you drove a whole lot of totally different Method 1 vehicles, which is your very best dimension {that a} Method 1 automotive ought to have, in any Grand Prix, any season?
FA: Sufficient to suit Yuki and myself. And after that, it’s George’s drawback. That’s out of the—I imply, there are different sports activities like basketball and different issues that you could attempt. However no, I imply, I all the time stated that the early 2000s, for me, have been one of the best vehicles that I drove. However perhaps you’re a bit bit romantic about this reply as a result of it was my first days in Method 1, and success got here additionally in these years. However I feel the V10 engines, the small vehicles—I’ve nice, nice recollections from that point. And the vehicles have been good to drive and enjoyable to drive. However nonetheless—no overtaking in Monaco.
Q: (Giuseppe Marino – Motorionline.com) Fernando, the 2026 automotive be a decisive think about your determination about staying in Method 1?
FA: It will likely be an important one, sure. Not the ultimate one. I feel I must see how subsequent 12 months begins and the way motivated I’m. Yearly, there’s a totally different temper into the season. There’s a totally different feeling on the way you carry out, how aggressive you’re feeling your self, how motivated you’re to maintain your health on the excessive stage—private state of affairs, household state of affairs—all this stuff play a task in some essential choices in life. I do know that an important determination in life will come for me within the close to future after I cease racing. I did my first race in go-kart on the age of three. I’m 43. So, for 40 years, I’ve had a steering wheel in my fingers, and I do know that in the future I should cease. And that’s an essential determination that I’ll consider carefully. I did cease Method 1 already as soon as in 2018, and I got here again as a result of I wanted it. So, the subsequent one which I take, it needs to be 100% certain.
Q: (Carlos Miguel – Diario Marca) Fernando, it’s concerning the engine. Have you learnt the explanation of the failure and if that engine can be utilized in different races? And do you assume that it might—we don’t need them to repeat that drawback. It’s a query of reliability, a query of the group?
FA: From what I do know, it was one thing on the spark plug after which it broken one cylinder. After which after that cylinder was broken, I used to be racing with 5 cylinders for 20 laps. After which the engine stopped utterly, and that engine can’t be used once more. It’s gone. So, yeah, that’s the information that I’ve. I don’t assume there was something actually mistaken with it or any process that was totally different than another race. It was simply the top of the lifetime of that engine. It occurred on the mistaken second on the mistaken time. However yeah, nothing in all probability we may have completed otherwise. And for this race, there may be nothing actually totally different to be made, and we needs to be okay, as a result of we by no means had that drawback and we don’t assume that that drawback will likely be repeated.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Fernando, selecting up on what you stated there about motivation and every part—you spoke lately how this feels very totally different than while you have been at McLaren. Clearly, the outcomes weren’t there. It’s been a troublesome begin to the season, however the starvation you’ve bought, the motivation you’ve nonetheless bought—is a whole lot of that pinned on 2026 and the venture being constructed at Aston Martin? And is F1 nonetheless giving you a similar pleasure that it all the time has?
FA: Sure. Sure. I feel Method 1 is in a fantastic second now, and we’re all having fun with the brand new followers, the brand new growth in Method 1. However, yeah, on the identical time, you’ll want to really feel it when it’s time. And I don’t really feel it but. I leap within the automotive tomorrow and on Sunday, and I’m on the grid—and I’m simply so joyful to be there and motivated and performing nicely. As a result of I feel on the finish of the day, the stopwatch will inform me additionally when I’ve to cease. Or I’ve a bodily situation that’s dangerous, or I’ve ache driving or no matter, that might occur as nicely. Typically you get a bit bit injured, you get some dangerous races. But when we preserve it wholesome and in good situations, the stopwatch additionally will inform me in the future that I don’t really feel quick sufficient or I don’t really feel that I can put the lap collectively. However thus far, I’m proud of that. I’m joyful after I’m on the grid. Once I end the race on Sunday, even when the outcomes will not be good for the time being, I’m so motivated to go to the subsequent race and attempt to overcome the dangerous race and have a greater one. So all these type of issues are very alive now, however there is no such thing as a assure that this will likely be endlessly.
