The 2024 Australian Grand Prix saw Carlos Sainz of Ferrari clinch the top spot on the podium, followed by his teammate Charles Leclerc in second place and Lando Norris of McLaren in third.
Q: Carlos, what an incredible result. This was the best performance we could have hoped for. Firstly, how do you feel after your recent appendicitis? You seem to be in good shape, but please, share.
Carlos SAINZ: Thank you very much. It was a fantastic race. I felt great out there. Physically, I was a bit stiff, but fortunately had a clear track ahead of me, so I could control my pace, manage my tires, and everything else. It wasn’t the most challenging race, but I am extremely happy and proud of the team. It’s great to have a 1-2 result with Charles here. It shows that our hard work pays off. Life can be unpredictable, but I enjoyed the rollercoaster and I’m really happy with the result.
Q: It must have been easier for you to lead the race with your appendicitis and pain. It’s a fantastic feeling.
CS: I think I will recommend all drivers to have their appendix removed this winter!
Q: When you were behind Max at the start of the race, did you notice any signs of difficulty from him when you overtook him? It seemed like you passed him easily as soon as you had the DRS. Did you see anything?
CS: I’m not sure. I felt like I could keep up with him on the first lap and tried to get within the DRS zone to put pressure on him. He lost control of the car at turn 3, and that was my chance to get closer and make the overtake. After that, he seemed to have brake issues, and that was it for him. It’s a shame, because I think we could have had a great battle for the lead today. But I’m happy to win. He has already had many victories. So, I’m happy to be back here.
P: Definitely. You won the race fairly and cleanly. You know that. So, at what point did you realize you had a chance to win?
CS: I think from the second lap, when I was leading, I knew that with the pace I had shown in practice, I could do it, especially with a clear track and the ability to manage my tires. I knew I could make it happen. Of course, there was always the risk of a Safety Car or red flag, but fortunately it was a clean race. I feel sorry for George’s accident at the end. It looked serious. I hope he’s okay. But I managed to finish the race, secure the win, and it’s an incredible feeling.
P: Carlos, I’m sure you will celebrate with the Ferrari team after this 1-2 result. Congratulations once again. Charles, congratulations to you too for your fantastic second place. It must be a great feeling for the whole team and for you personally.
Charles LECLERC: Thank you. It’s really good, especially for the team. It’s been a while since we had a 1-2 result like this, since Bahrain 2022. It’s amazing to achieve this. Carlos had an incredible weekend, coming back strong after his surgery. He had an amazing race. As for me, I struggled a bit more in the second stint with the tires. But overall, it’s a great result for the team.
P: Did you think you could challenge Carlos or was it clear from the start that you couldn’t catch him, but could hold off the McLarens?
CL: Actually, no. In the first stint, we had to defend our position, so we had to stop earlier. From that point on, Carlos was very fast, and I was struggling with my tires. Once we made the first stop, it was clear to me that Carlos was in a better position. He did a great job throughout the weekend, and he definitely deserved the win. I’m happy for him and the team. It’s a good amount of points. We came into this weekend with the goal of maximizing our points, and that’s what we did.
P: Lando, congratulations on your podium. It must be great to be the second best team this weekend. Did you think you could secure P2?
Lando NORRIS: Thank you. It was a fantastic day for us. I am very happy and proud of the team. P3 and P4 are a significant number of points in the championship. We lost to Charles, but I think our pace was better. He got ahead of us in the first stint, so there was a small hope for P2. Our pace was strong enough today. But Ferrari and Carlos did an exceptional job. They were fast throughout the weekend. I felt good and managed the tires well. It’s a nice surprise to be on the podium.
P: You were expected to be on the podium. McLaren showed great potential. Are you confident in the team’s future performance?
LN: Yes, this circuit suited us well. We were able to unlock speed and push harder. However, Ferrari and Red Bull are still ahead of us. We need to catch up to them and close the gap. But today’s result is a positive sign of progress. We are getting closer to our goals, and it’s great to be back on the podium. I hope we can continue with this momentum and achieve many more podiums.
P: Carlos, congratulations on your remarkable victory. Given all the difficulties you faced in the last two weeks, what does this victory mean to you?
CS: Thank you very much. It’s not just about the last two weeks. It’s about the whole year and everything that happened. From the news of not renewing my contract to getting in shape for the season, the podium in Bahrain, the appendicitis surgery, the comeback, and now the victory. It’s been a rollercoaster, but I loved every moment. This victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team. I’m just letting it all sink in and enjoying the moment.
P: How apprehensive were you about your physical form for a full 58-lap race?
CS: I was confident about the first half of the race, because it was similar to the laps I did in practice. The second half was a bit unknown, but once I had a comfortable lead, I could manage everything. I could manage myself, the tires, and the pressure. It became much easier. In the end, I was a bit stiff and tired, but it didn’t slow me down significantly.
P: Carlos, can you share more about the race, especially the early laps and the moment you overtook Max Verstappen for the lead?
CS: I had a decent start from the dirty side of the track, but I couldn’t pressure Max into turn 1. The first lap and a half were strategic for me. I wanted to protect my tires from wear, but also stay within Max’s DRS zone. He made a mistake in turn 3, and I saw an opportunity to get closer and overtake him. After that, I’m not sure when his brake issues started, but passing him was great, problems or not. It’s always tough to overtake Max and Red Bull, but if you can put pressure on them, you have a chance to succeed.
P: Do you think Ferrari reduced the gap to Red Bull this weekend, or was it a matter of maximizing their package?
CS: Our car worked really well this weekend, but it will be challenging to maintain this level at all tracks until we bring updates to reduce the gap we saw in Bahrain and Jeddah. In Australia, from the beginning, I felt we had a car capable of winning the race. Although Red Bull was fast and on pole, their pace was not out of reach for us. We have tracks where we are strong, and this year our race pace seems better, even at tracks where we struggled before. With a good development program, I hope we can challenge Red Bull more often.
P: Carlos, congratulations on your win. Charles, congratulations on second place. This is the first time in almost 20 years that Ferrari has achieved a 1-2 result in Melbourne. How important is this result for the team morale and to confirm that the SF24 is competitive?
CL: It’s incredibly important. We haven’t had the pace to compete with Red Bull for a long time. We knew from the first practice session that pole position and race victory were possible because we had excellent tire degradation and pace. It’s a very encouraging sign. However, in the first three races, Red Bull had the advantage. We still have a lot of work to do, but that’s what we are focused on as a team. Whenever we have the opportunity to win a race, we need to seize it, and that’s what we did this weekend. Carlos did a fantastic job, and I’m happy with my second place and fastest lap. We maximized our results in the first three races, and we need to keep doing that until our car can consistently outperform Red Bull, especially in the race.
P: Charles, you set the fastest lap today. Was there anything else you could have done to challenge Carlos for the win?
CL: I could have been better. I didn’t perform well in qualifying yesterday. In the second stint, I struggled with front tire wear after the Virtual Safety Car. The final stint was better, but it wasn’t enough. Carlos was simply better this weekend. But that’s the nature of our competition. We challenge each other, and sometimes he’s better, and sometimes I’m better. It’s exciting to have such a fast teammate, and he was on top of his game this weekend. Congratulations to Carlos.
P: Lando, congratulations on your 14th career podium. Was this result unexpected for you?
LN: Thank you. It was a great day for us. I’m very happy and proud of the team. P3 and P4 bring in a lot of points in the championship, so it’s a significant achievement. We lost out to Charles, but I believe our pace was better. He got the better of us in the first stint, so there was a slight hope for P2. Our pace was strong today, but Ferrari and Carlos were exceptional. They were fast throughout the weekend. I felt good and managed the tires well. It’s a pleasant surprise to be on the podium.
P: Lando, it was expected that you would be on the podium. McLaren showed great potential. Are you confident in the team’s future performance?
LN: Yes, this circuit suited us well, and we were able to unlock some speed. However, Ferrari and Red Bull are still ahead of us. We need to catch up to them and close the gap. But today’s result is a positive sign of progress. We are getting closer to our goals, and it’s great to be back on the podium. I hope we can continue this momentum and achieve many more podiums.
P: Carlos, congratulations on your incredible victory. Given all the difficulties you faced in the last two weeks, how does this victory impact your future in Formula 1?
CS: Thank you very much. It can only help. It’s definitely a positive result. However, I still don’t have a contract for next year. This victory may improve my situation, but I race for myself, not to prove my worth to others. I race to prove to myself that I can win when I have a competitive car and opportunity. That’s my mindset, and I will continue to focus on my performance for the rest of the year.
P: Carlos, do you sometimes feel like you don’t get the credit you deserve?
CS: I don’t worry about getting credit from people who don’t have a vision of the sport or don’t know much about it. I care about the people who work with me, who have seen my speed, my work ethic, and my dedication. People who know the sport well and understand what I bring to the table. I don’t feel underestimated by them, and that’s what matters to me.
P: Carlos, Charles and Lando, as teammates and friends, do you think Carlos is underestimated?
CL: Carlos is one of the most highly rated drivers in the paddock. Everyone knows his value, and he has consistently shown his strength whenever he’s been in a Formula 1 car. He has proven himself several times, and I don’t think he is underestimated at all.
LN: I agree with Charles. Carlos is very well regarded among those who know him and have worked with him. He is a dedicated and talented driver. People who underestimate him probably don’t have the vision or knowledge of what he is capable of. He has proven himself several times.
CS: I appreciate the kind words from my teammates. It means a lot coming from them. People who know the sport well and have seen my performance and work ethic understand my value. I do not feel underestimated by them.
© 2024
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