Horner: Understanding of Verstappen
“His frustration is totally understandable,” says the Red Bull team boss and explains: “It was a very, very disappointing result not to finish the race.” Even he might not say what exactly the problem was.
“But I don’t think it has anything to do with the engine. It might have been the petrol, but we need the car back,” he explains. In any case, Ferrari was “in a league of its own” today.
Regarding his own problems, he says: “I’d rather fix a fast car than make a reliable one fast.” Because the speed of the RB18 is currently significantly better than the reliability.
First “Grand Slam” for Leclerc
The Monegasque got his first “Grand Slam” today, i.e. fastest lap, pole and victory, in which he led every single race lap. No Ferrari driver has managed that since Alonso in Singapore in 2010!
“Of course I did a good job all weekend. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the car. We were extremely strong this weekend, especially in terms of race pace,” he says thankfully.
“We managed the tires extremely well from the first to the last lap. I’m just very happy,” said Leclerc.
The most important thing for Sunday…
… you can of course find it once more today in our own photo series. Click through!
Verstappen: “Frustrating and unacceptable”
“Another bad Sunday,” says the Dutchman on “Sky” and makes it clear: “Such things shouldn’t happen if you want to fight for the world title.” But we still don’t know what exactly broke.
“You have to get the car back to start the investigation,” explains Verstappen, who clarifies: “I don’t want to think regarding the world championship at the moment. It’s more important to finish races.”
“I didn’t really have the pace, managed my tires and tried to make it to the finish. I mightn’t fight Charles,” he admits, adding: “But we didn’t even finish the race.”
“It’s pretty frustrating and unacceptable,” he says.
Sainz takes responsibility for mistakes
The Spaniard had to change the steering wheel just before the start. Because this was set incorrectly, the start went awry. “And then I really wanted to get up front and made a mistake in the rush,” he admits.
The problems he had earlier at the weekend would have put him “under pressure” and put him in this position. But he doesn’t look for an excuse. “I shouldn’t have been pushing so hard. I should have been patient,” he says.
Russell: Podium was a bit lucky
“Of course we were lucky today,” says the Mercedes driver. On the one hand he benefited from the Verstappen failure in Melbourne, on the other hand from the safety car, which put him ahead of Hamilton, among other things. But he’s happy to take it with him.
You just have to be on the spot and use the mistakes of the competition. He did that today. “We have to keep fighting. We were far behind our opponents this weekend. But now we’re on the podium,” he said happily.
It will still take “some time” before you can fight at the front. But he is confident that one day it will be possible. And until then you just have to continue to use the mistakes of others.
First point for Williams
Congratulations also to Williams: Albon got P10 and thus the first championship point this year! Aston Martin is now the only team without a point following three races. Stroll finished 12th, one position ahead of Schumacher.