PART TWO – Gabriel BORTOLETO (Kick Sauber), Max VERSTAPPEN (Purple Bull Racing), Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari)
Q: Lewis, can we begin with you? I can see the headlines now: Ferrari driver on a prancing horse. Inform us what you’ve got been as much as in the course of the build-up. I imagine he was referred to as Jack?
Lewis HAMILTON: Good afternoon, everybody. I used to be on the manufacturing facility after which headed out right here, had some work in LA, after which I got here right here. Yesterday, I rode a horse for the primary time, so it was an unbelievable expertise. After I was youthful, there was once a horse in a discipline close by—only a shire horse. It was this stunning horse. It was at all times by itself on daily basis, so I would go and cease, and it will come over to me, and I would spend time with it. However then I would begin strolling residence and see my allergy symptoms begin kicking off, and I would battle to breathe. I’d actually battle, and I didn’t know I had bronchial asthma. It wasn’t till I used to be round one other horse one other time and had an bronchial asthma assault—it was a extremely scary expertise as a result of I didn’t have an inhaler or something. So, I stayed away from horses since that day, once I was in all probability 14 or one thing. I went by a desensitisation program as a result of my allergy symptoms had been loopy, significantly for hay fever within the UK, had been loopy. I hadn’t considered it a lot since. Then I did a shoot in the beginning of this 12 months with a horse for the Time 100 journal. I took remedy, antihistamines, and I used to be capable of be across the horse—no issues. So yesterday, I did the shoot with a horse for Plus 44, and I used to be like, “Can I journey it?” I received on, and it was simply… wow. It was a tremendous expertise. Then the horse began transferring, began to gallop, and I used to be like ‘God!’ I didn’t know what to do. So I panicked slightly bit, nevertheless it was stunning. I’m actually enthusiastic about this subsequent sort of section of my life, the place I’m going to be round horses extra and actually get into using. That’s my subsequent factor.
Q: What about on observe then? Ferrari had a fantastic race right here final 12 months. You could have a fantastic report right here with 5 wins. What are the expectations coming into the weekend?
LH: Expectations—naturally, I by no means have expectations besides that we give it our all and we proceed to enhance. There are many positives to take from each weekend, and many areas we will enhance on. We hung out after the final race going by areas we will enhance on, and I actually suppose this weekend we will take a step ahead in extracting extra from the automotive that now we have. We have not moved the automotive forwards by way of efficiency, however there may be extra efficiency within the automotive. If we execute slightly higher, I feel we will extract extra. In order that’s the purpose.
Q: Max, if we will come to you now. Good to see you. You have taken 41 factors out of Oscar Piastri for the reason that summer season break. The RB21 seems to be prefer it’s aggressive in every single place. Simply give us your ideas coming into this weekend. You are going for the win, clearly.
Max VERSTAPPEN: We’ll strive, yeah, for positive. The final three weekends have been very good—some higher than others. I nonetheless suppose in Singapore we did not maximise the potential of the automotive, however once more, you analyse all the pieces and attempt to do higher. That’s what we’ll attempt to do once more right here. It’s a fantastic observe to drive. Dash weekend—at all times a bit hectic—however I’m curious to see what we will do.
Q: You talked about Singapore. It jogs my memory of one thing Lando Norris was requested within the press convention how he rated your possibilities of profitable the world championship this 12 months, and he mentioned 10%. George Russell mentioned 100%. What is the actuality? I assume it’s someplace between that. What are your ideas? Give us a share likelihood.
MV: Fifty-fifty. You both win it otherwise you don’t.
Q: However do you suppose the automotive might be fast in every single place in these final six races?
MV: Unsure. This automotive is a bit completely different to the earlier one, so it’s not a assure that it really works in every single place. I choose to simply take a look at it race by race. We’ll attempt to do our greatest right here after which transfer on and see what we get.
Q: Gabby, belated joyful birthday to you. First time you’ve got raced right here in Austin. What are your expectations for the way the automotive’s going to really feel as you drive round this racetrack?
Gabriel BORTOLETO: Nicely, thanks. Yeah, it’s my first time right here. I went for a observe stroll this morning simply to take a look. It seems to be very enjoyable and satisfying, particularly Sector one—filled with excessive velocity. It’s a really bumpy observe, so let’s see how our automotive behaves. We all know that’s not usually the very best for us, however we’ve been making an attempt various things not too long ago, and hopefully it may be a very good weekend.
Q: You say you’ve got been making an attempt various things. The place is the competitiveness of the automotive in the meanwhile? You haven’t been within the factors for just a few races—has it dropped off a bit or is it nearly maximising from race to race?
GB: I feel the races the place we had been within the factors, we had excellent laps that put us in Q3 and in a very good beginning place, after which we maintained roughly the place we had been. In Singapore, I feel I used to be slightly unfortunate with the yellow flag there and I used to be out in Q1, however I feel the automotive had good potential to perhaps put it in Q3 with an excellent lap. Whenever you begin on the again, it’s powerful to overhaul. Perhaps I might have stored it in there. It was a tricky weekend. We didn’t have a lot race tempo. Different groups have additionally stepped up—not solely us doing a very good job. Lots of groups are nonetheless bringing developments to the automotive. It’s a bit harder than just a few races in the past, however I nonetheless suppose we’re on it to attain factors on this final stretch of the season.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports activities Italy) A query to Max. Wanting on the drivers’ standings, I used to be occupied with your work in Japan. You mentioned with the McLaren automotive, you’d arrive in Tokyo. My query is: with the McLaren automotive, the place would you be within the drivers’ standings?
MV: Wait—I might arrive in Tokyo?
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports activities Italy) Sure, you mentioned that.
MV: I mentioned that, actually? Okay. I like Tokyo. It’s a very good place. I do know I used to be joking. I don’t know—it’s not possible to know. I feel it’s not likely price going into that an excessive amount of.
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports activities F1) A query for Lewis. There are tales about Christian Horner and Ferrari having exploratory talks. I’m not asking if it’s a good suggestion or a foul concept, however does it point out one thing essentially not proper behind the scenes at Ferrari, and what are you doing with the workforce to assist put issues proper?
LH: I don’t know the place the rumours have come from, so I can’t actually shed a lot gentle on that. It’s slightly distracting for us as a workforce. The workforce have made it clear the place they stand by way of re-signing Fred. Fred, I, and the entire workforce are working actually laborious on the longer term. These items aren’t useful. Everybody again within the manufacturing facility is working extremely laborious, centered, and these types of rumours can generally be distracting. So for me, it’s about protecting the concentrate on the purpose in entrance of us and constructing on subsequent 12 months’s automotive—persevering with to construct a basis so we will have higher execution and higher efficiency subsequent 12 months. As I mentioned again in Spa—simply having a number of conferences, ensuring we’re crusing in the correct path.
Q: (Thiago Fagnani – TV Bandeirantes Brazil) A query for Gabriel. To start with, joyful birthday. How necessary is the simulator for a driver at a brand new observe, and what number of hours did you spend within the sim for this race in Austin?
GB: Thanks for the birthday needs. For me, sim is a crucial factor. I’ve at all times completed it. Getting ready for these occasions—new observe, very technical—I spent a variety of hours with the workforce and at residence on my new sim. I don’t know precisely what number of hours, nevertheless it was so much. Lots of laps—perhaps greater than I needed to—nevertheless it was sufficient. I really feel ready, I’ve completed my homework, and now it’s about hitting the observe tomorrow, getting used to it in just one FP session, and going for the Dash Quali.
Q: (Margot Lafitte – Canal+) Query for Lewis. Speaking in regards to the final six races of the 12 months, nonetheless three sprints—are you able to discuss us by your method, perhaps the questions you continue to have, solutions you need to have, and the wants within the workforce to greatest put together for 2026?
LH: Yeah. I’m actually trying on the subsequent six races as, in the end, check weekends by way of persevering with to be taught and enhance on our processes. As I mentioned within the final races, there’s been a few gems by the weekend that we didn’t capitalise on. So it’s about taking these good bits and persevering with to take what works and alter what doesn’t. That’s what we’re making an attempt to do transferring ahead—persevering with to construct on the relationships, proceed to construct on communication. Everybody again on the manufacturing facility actually deserves a very good consequence, and that’s the only real focus—to get good outcomes, attempt to maximise, squeeze completely each level we will out of our performances on the weekends. And I actually imagine we will do this. So we simply keep centered.
Q: (Léonid Kliuev – Grand Premio Brazil) Query for Gabby. On one hand, you clearly need to be world champion. On the opposite, like we noticed with Lewis and Max in 2021, you might need fierce competitors with somebody. Are you prepared for one thing like 2021 in your profession?
GB: Sure. I imply, I don’t know for positive, however no matter occurs, occurs. It’s good to be prepared. I feel everybody must suppose the identical in Method 1. If you happen to don’t suppose like that, I don’t know why you’re right here. That season was very lengthy for each of them. It was really satisfying to observe from the skin once I was watching it—very tense. Hopefully, in some unspecified time in the future, I can get a season like that: very aggressive and satisfying proper into the final race of the 12 months.
Q: (Nigel Chiu – Sky Sports activities) Query for Max. Simply how completely different does the automotive really feel by way of driving in the previous couple of races in comparison with earlier than the summer season break, when the automotive seemed prefer it was third or fourth quickest? And is that this probably the most you’ve believed within the title, despite the fact that there are solely six rounds left, in comparison with earlier within the season once you received races in Japan and Milan however had a spot after?
MV: The automotive is only a bit extra balanced now. It doesn’t oversteer dramatically or understeer dramatically. However each weekend, you’re fine-tuning issues as a result of it’s by no means excellent. Fortunately, these days, the automotive, it’s been a bit extra collectively. After which on the similar time, it’s not about believing within the championship or not—you simply should be reasonable. We’ve had some good outcomes these days, and I do know when the automotive is able to being fast and preventing for prime locations, I could be there. It’s so simple as that.
Q: (Ian Parkes – Racing Information 365) Query for Max. Given your ‘50-50’ shot on the title, how completely different is it being within the function of hunter this 12 months in comparison with being hunted over the previous three years once you dominated? And in that hunter function, what are you continue to in search of from the automotive that might enable you to chase down Oscar and Lando?
MV: I don’t actually give it some thought an excessive amount of—easy as that. I come to the race weekend, attempt to do all the pieces I can within the automotive. It doesn’t matter if I’m behind or in entrance. Naturally, after all, it’s nicer to be in entrance as a result of it means you’re main the championship. However I see each race weekend as a possibility to attempt to win. If we don’t, we don’t. Life goes on—it’s not dramatic. It doesn’t put any strain. I assume it helps that I’ve already received. As a workforce, we’re nonetheless making an attempt to know the automotive a bit extra, be taught extra for subsequent 12 months as properly. It’s not such as you fully begin over subsequent 12 months.
Q: (Jack Smith – Motorsport Monday) A query for Max. Laurent Mekies not too long ago mentioned that a variety of Purple Bull’s latest resurgence is all the way down to how you’ve got been pushing the workforce. You have additionally talked a couple of barely completely different philosophy there now. Have elements like that reaffirmed your choice to decide to the workforce long-term?
MV: Yeah, however on the finish of the day, it’s a complete workforce effort. I get pleasure from working with everybody—it’s a very good environment. We’re on a great way, proper? We’ve had some good outcomes, and I feel that helps everybody. Confidence is excessive, and that makes it very nice to come back to a race weekend. It looks as if we’re understanding way more what the automotive can do and the way it must be pushed.
Q: (Sahil Kapur – NBC) A query for Max. You’ve spent many races this season behind the McLarens, and others forward. After the latest enhancements you’ve got made to the Purple Bull, which areas do you suppose your automotive is stronger, and which areas are McLaren nonetheless forward?
MV: I feel, typically, they’re nonetheless fairly sturdy within the medium-speed corners. That’s positively a energy of their automotive. The remainder relies upon a bit on the observe structure and situations—it’s a bit tough to say. However medium-speed corners, in all probability nonetheless the place they’re excellent.
Q: (Andrew Benson – BBC Sport) Lewis, are you aware if there’s any fact within the report that Ferrari are speaking to Christian Horner? And do you suppose it’s a good suggestion if he turned workforce principal?
LH: I don’t, and I’m not going to entertain rumours.
Q: (Adam Cooper – Adam Cooper F1) A query for Lewis. Are you able to discuss us by the previous couple of laps in Singapore? How laborious was it to deliver the automotive residence safely, and was the penalty inevitable? Do you know you’d get one?
LH: Yeah, the previous couple of laps had been positively nerve-wracking. I’ve completed races earlier than with three tyres, and now I’ve completed one with three brakes. Not one thing I need to expertise once more. I might cease the automotive, however in these situations, the pedal simply went straight to the ground. So I had no selection however to go onto these exit roads—I wouldn’t have made the nook in any other case. The FIA penalty was effective. Doesn’t actually make an enormous distinction to me anyway.
Q: (Alan Baldwin – Reuters) Lewis, altering the topic barely—after Singapore, your Instagram had a video of Victor Meldrew saying, “I don’t imagine it.” Have you ever had a chat with Fernando about that, and had amusing, as ex-teammates?
LH: I don’t imagine it! No, I haven’t seen Fernando—I haven’t seen him since then. However yeah, it was only a little bit of enjoyable. It jogged my memory of that present—I hadn’t seen it in 20-plus years. I assumed it was humorous, so I posted it. What’s life when you can’t have slightly enjoyable?
Q: (Rodrigo França – Automobile Journal Brazil) Query to all three of you. You all have sturdy help out of your fathers for the reason that starting. What are your greatest recollections along with your father on the trail to Method 1?
GB: I feel my championships in F3 and F2. My father sadly was working so much, he has not been at so many races throughout my profession however in the principle ones, preventing for the titles, the primary individual I went to hug after my title was him. It was such a particular second with him. These two years, ‘23 and ’24, had been very particular for me to see him once I was standing within the automotive celebrating and to stroll straight to him was very particular. And once I was youthful, clearly, when he introduced me to the observe for the primary time.
MV: For me, what’s the most spectacular is how he was as a racing driver. Naturally, I feel with a bit extra luck, he would have had a significantly better profession in Method 1. However probably the most spectacular factor is simply his information of racing, tuning, organising automobiles, go-karts. What he taught me from a really younger age—that sort of information—you’ll be able to’t actually describe it. It positively made me the individual I’m immediately, but in addition not solely simply driving quick in a automotive, it’s simply, once more, the information of the automotive. He could be, I feel, a extremely, actually good workforce boss, despite the fact that I don’t suppose he needs to be, however he would positively be an excellent workforce boss or a pacesetter in a workforce. His technical understanding of the automotive, the elements on the automotive, and how one can make issues go quicker. I nonetheless talk about so many issues with him—about this stuff for him in his rally automotive, for me within the F1 automotive as properly, and on the similar time additionally for my GT3 workforce, what we will do. So yeah, it is extremely spectacular to have somebody like that—as my dad—explaining all of it and supplying you with all that information. That, for me, is probably the most spectacular. And on the similar time, the years that he sacrificed once I began racing all the way in which to Method 1, mainly sort of pausing his profession in no matter he needed to do or might do outdoors of Method 1, and mainly giving 100—no, I might say 110%—as a result of I’ve by no means seen somebody that dedicated to giving the very best alternatives to his son. Not solely in offering the very best materials however really tuning the fabric himself.
LH: Yeah. For me, I feel greatest recollections could be sitting watching F1 collectively once I was like 5. Alongside the journey could be, , the additional jobs that he had—placing ‘on the market’ indicators up. I’d go round and assist him put these “on the market” indicators up once I was youthful. Sitting, watching him work on my go-kart when he got here residence from work. And the second that I might begin the race within the early days in go-karts, we had a handshake. And understanding that I had him by my facet, I knew that I might be secure once I got here again from being on observe. After which, alongside the way in which, seeing him on the backside of the rostrum once I received my first race in F1—simply understanding all of the background of all of the laborious work and actual sacrifice and blood, sweat, and tears that our household put into it. I feel that was the true spotlight on the finish.
Q: (Julianne Cerasoli – UOL.com.br) Max, we had the affirmation of the Mercedes line-up for subsequent 12 months. Do you’ve got any curiosity about understanding the main points of those offers or another offers for subsequent 12 months, or do you suppose you’re able through which they don’t actually matter?
MV: Yeah. I don’t must know. It’s all okay.
Q: (Ian Parkes – RacingNews365) Max, simply following up on these great feedback from you about your dad again then—you talked about him being a possible workforce boss. Have you ever had discussions round that topic, and what has stopped him from doing so? And at what degree had been you speaking about him probably being a workforce boss?
MV: I feel on the finish of the day it has to do with household as properly. You understand, doing so many races when you needed to be a workforce boss… To start with, I’m very pleased with the workforce boss that I’ve. However he positively may very well be a very good one on any degree, from go-karting all the way in which to the highest. Nevertheless it’s effective. Like I mentioned, we talk about a variety of issues, and he’s there within the background. He advises me. He helps me with sure issues if I must determine stuff out—for F1 or GTs. And that’s simply tremendous useful to have. He has so many contacts as properly all over the world. I feel it’s simply tremendous cool. We’re each simply tremendous enthusiastic about racing in any sort of type.
Q: Does he nonetheless provide you with driving recommendation?
MV: In all probability if I might go in a rally automotive. However apart from that, no. We simply talk about issues. It’s not like he tells me the place to brake or the place to show in. However we nonetheless speak about all the pieces all through a race weekend and what I do with the automotive or not.
Q: (John Massengale – Velocity Metropolis) This query is for Lewis. Lewis, welcome again to my hometown. You’ve been right here for the reason that starting. I noticed you and different F1 drivers in Downtown Austin again in 2012 strolling unapproached. What do you consider what’s occurred to the game, to our metropolis, to our Circuit of The Americas—all the pieces that’s occurred round since then?
LH: I feel it’s been superb to see the expansion and the curiosity from individuals right here within the States. And I feel this observe is, for me, the very best observe right here within the States. It’s considered one of my favorite tracks on the entire calendar. However I really like that we’ve been capable of faucet into the sporting neighborhood right here. I do know you’ve got an enormous faculty soccer workforce right here, they usually’re massively enthusiastic about sports activities. So it’s nice that we had been capable of sort of faucet into that lastly. I feel the primary time we got here right here, it was all sort of like, “F1? What’s F1?” However the progress—the journey that we’ve been on—from Netflix being out, to then the most important sports activities film of all time, the F1 film that we did this 12 months, has been superb. And never solely that—bringing individuals from all ages to the race. There’s an enormous turnout each time we come right here, and that is considered one of my favorite weekends of the 12 months since you get to go into city, get some nice meals, and it’s only a actually nice environment. So I’m actually grateful to the individuals of Austin and to Bobby for internet hosting us each time. The circuit’s enhancing each time we come. Nonetheless slightly bit bumpy, however I feel that’s as a result of the underground is transferring slightly bit. They’ve simply added a theme park, so it’s turning into a extremely unbelievable occasion.
Q: (Julian Linden – Herald Solar) Max, from the place you’re sitting, do you suppose McLaren are favouring Lando over Oscar? And if that’s the case, does that enable you to?
MV: Completely! Somebody… I don’t know, I heard one thing… Does it assist me? I don’t know. I imply, I actually don’t know. I don’t care additionally, as a result of it has nothing to do with me—what they resolve, after all, inside the workforce—how they function as a workforce. I imply, they do no matter they suppose is correct, they usually’re doing an excellent job at it—being this fast and what they’ve completed over the previous couple of years. For me, what’s necessary is that after we get to the racetrack, we simply maximise our potential. And so long as we will do this, then it’s in our management. In fact, when you take a look at the entire season, we didn’t have a fantastic begin to it. However I simply method each race weekend making an attempt to maximise all the pieces we will, attempt to win races, and that’s the one factor we will do till the top.
