PART ONE – Isack HADJAR (Red Bull), Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren), Pierre GASLY (Alpine)

Q: Pierre, you’ve got your P3 trophy from Monaco. How sweet does that feel?
Pierre GASLY: Yeah, very happy.
 
Q: Anything more you want to add? Just tell us how you got it.
PG: Looks good in my home. It looks good in the cabinet. No, obviously, you know, happy to get it back. It’s been a long story, bit of a wait, not much celebration, so if you have any suggestion of celebrations for the summer, more than welcome. No, yeah, very happy about it.
 
Q: Okay. Isack, can we bring you in on this? Get your thoughts on giving up the trophy?
Isack HADJAR: I mean, it’s been three weeks now, so yeah… I’m happy that I have to give it to Pierre, at least to give it to my friend and not someone else. So at least that’s the good part, let’s say.
 
Q: And Oscar, you were pretty strong on the whole thing in Barcelona. Anything more you want to add on the topic?
Oscar PIASTRI: Not really. I’ve kind of said what I wanted to say and obviously we’re appealing. I think, you know, it’s nothing against Pierre or Alpine. It’s more just that, you know, if we had known that certain things had played out the way they did, we would have made different decisions in the race, which we don’t really think is correct. So yeah, we’ll see what happens out of it, but I don’t have anything more to add.
 
Q: Alright. Well Oscar, let’s stay with you and can we talk about the McLaren? You didn’t look too comfortable last time out in Barcelona. Do you have reasons to be bullish about the car here, a track at which McLaren has got a pretty good record?
OP: I think on a personal level, yes, I’ve got a good understanding. We’ve done a lot of homework as to why the race in Barcelona was such a struggle for me. I think we’ve got a good idea why and a good plan on how to not repeat that. I think for us as a team here, you know, Ferrari took a good step forward in Barcelona, Mercedes is still the benchmark as well, and I’m hearing along the grapevine that Red Bull have got some big things as well. So, it’s not going to be easy for us. Yes, it has been a good track for us in the past, but there’s no illusion for us that we’re suddenly going to be amazing here and the team to beat. We’re definitely not going to be. So yeah, hopefully we can get close and kind of be in the position that we have been in at certain points, where we can capitalise on dramas for others. But yeah, I think to be able to do it on merit or pure pace is going to be a bit of stretch. But I’d like to be happily surprised.
 
Q: Alright Oscar, thank you for that. Pierre, let’s come back to you. This is the best start to a season you’ve ever had. Just how much potential does this car have?
PG: Well, yeah, I must say that the team so far has done a good job in terms of reliability. They’ve really been faultless so far. I think the car performance, we’ve seen from the start of the year, we seem to be able to fight in the points pretty much consistently every weekend. The midfield is kind of swinging one way or another depending on the weekend, depending on the track. Sometimes we’re slightly closer to the top four. At the start of the year, now we kind of dropped slightly. The last few weekends have been slightly more complicated but we’re still there and we’ve been very consistent. So yeah, happy on one side. On the other side, I’d like to see us catching the train ahead of us a little bit more, and hopefully that’s what we’ll be able to do in the coming weekends.
 
Q: Alright, thank you for that. And Isack, back to you. Oscar has alluded to the upgrades that you’re running on the RB22 here. What are your hopes for the weekend?
IH: Well, I mean, clearly we’ve been the fourth strongest team so far and on pure pace being on the podium would be, I think, a really good step forward.
 
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
 
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) It’s a question to all three of you. Pierre, it’s great to see you with the trophy on Monday, but it’s not the end of the story. As Oscar alluded, McLaren, Red Bull, they are appealing the results of your appeal. Setting aside your own personal interest here, what would you like to see for the good of the sport come out of the results of the Red Bull and McLaren appeal so that learnings can be taken forward for the future, so we don’t have a situation like we had in Monaco again? 
PG: I don’t know how much time we’ve got here, but it was difficult to be... Well, I don’t want to be too long. I think for the good of the sport, we don’t want to see what happened again in the future. There was a mistake done during that weekend and I think it’s important we all learn from it. At the same time, I think that’s what I’ve said the other time: if a mistake was done and can be corrected, because it’s been unfairly given for no wrongdoing, so in that case, in our situation, if you have a chance to correct it, I think it’s the right thing as a sport to do it. I must say I was very pleased by the actions and the outcome of the decision post-race. But obviously from McLaren, Oscar, I think George’s situation, I completely understand that for their own performance, I’ve got nothing to do with their results, but they probably feel some sort of injustice from what’s been done to them. But that has nothing to do with Alpine or our own race and I think that’s something they need to sort out on their side. But I do think if you can correct a mistake which was done, it’s the right way of approaching it, to come back on it, and that’s what I’d like to see in the future. Obviously, we don’t want to see this situation, but if eventually a mistake is done, I think it’s the right way to correct it.
OP: I think the most obvious one is make sure the pit lane is measured correctly. That’s a good starting point, obviously. Yeah, I think what is difficult in that situation is, you know, Alpine questioned the penalty. I think everybody questioned the penalties. I’ve never seen a race like that where there are so many pit lane speeding penalties. In my case specifically, I knew I wasn’t speeding either, but the approach is always, “Well, you have the penalty, you can’t really argue with it,” in a lot of cases, which I think in 99 percent of things is a good thing. I think the risk that we have now is anytime a team or a driver feels that a penalty is potentially wrong or they have a chance of changing it, you go through this whole saga where we still don’t officially know the results of the race a month later, which I think is the biggest thing. I kind of agree with Pierre’s point that if there’s something that can be corrected, then I can definitely see why it can be. But it also sets a bit of a tricky precedent because you could just end up with everybody not serving their penalties and then arguing about it for weeks after, which is not what anyone wants to see. So yeah, a difficult situation with two sides to it, I guess, or probably even more.
IH: Yep, nothing to add.
 
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports Italy) Oscar, you were talking about the difficulties of Barcelona, but how do you feel about your first part of the season in terms of results and feeling with your car?
OP: Very up and down, clearly. I think probably a bit more down than it has been up, unfortunately. I think there have been glimpses of good pace. I think there’s been races where we’ve taken advantage of the situations around us and maximised things. There’s definitely been situations where we haven’t, whether it be through mistakes from drivers, whether it be reliability issues, whatever it might be. Yeah, there’s also been plenty of those moments. I think for us as a team, we know that we’re lacking performance, and I think Canada in the race and especially Monaco kind of highlighted where some of our struggles lie, which we’re trying to fix. But we have a bit of a deficit everywhere. We don’t really have any clear strengths where we’re really strong, but we’re not terribly bad anywhere either. So in some ways that’s good, in some ways that’s bad. But yeah, to catch Mercedes and we’ll see whether Ferrari maintain their form as well, we need to put some new bits on the car, we need to make it faster, and we need to do it quicker than everyone else, because at this point in the year and this point of the regs, everybody’s coming with upgrades quickly. So we know we need to improve.
 
Q: On a personal level, are you still paying the price for not doing those opening two races?
OP: No, I don’t think so. I think Japan, to come back out and finish second there, was a really good result. I think there’s been some different struggles in the last couple of races. And Barcelona in particular, I think I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I would do differently if I was to have that race again, but I don’t think it’s really paying the price anymore for lack of experience. Things are quite different to last year in a number of different ways, but yeah, it’s up to me to be able to adapt to that. I think in certain situations I have adapted very quickly. In others, I haven’t adapted as quickly as I need to. So, still plenty of learning.
 
Q: (Andreas Gröbl – ServusTV) I have a question to Pierre, who we all know is an avid football fan, a part-owner of a football club, and we saw you celebrating the Champions League win of PSG. As we all know, tomorrow there’s a big game on for France at the World Cup, nine o’clock. Question is, is that in your daily schedule? Are you going to be able to watch it and, if so, do you have an idea what kind of game we can expect from Les Bleus?
PG: Yes, it is in my schedule once I’ve obviously finished and figured out what I want to do with my car. But yeah, definitely going to watch the game. I love football. I think we have an incredible team, incredible players, and yeah, I watch a lot of football, obviously support my team. Isack, you’re welcome to come in the hospitality if you want to watch as well. And yeah, I mean, they are just insane, the players we’ve got, the quality. It’s just a 90-minute show every time, and I enjoy a lot in front of the TV.
 
Q: Isack, will you take up Pierre’s offer?
IH: Is it at 9 pm? I’ll think about it. Yeah, why not?
 
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
 
Q: (Leonid Kliuev – Grand Premio) The first question to all three. It’s going to be a very hot weekend. Several drivers said today that the most challenging part is just sitting on the grid right before the start. What’s the most difficult part for you and how much time have you spent in saunas preparing? 
IH: Yeah, it’s not nice. I think the moments where you have zero kph in the car, they are definitely the worst. To be fair, when driving, it’s not too bad. We’ve got good AC with our open cockpit, so it’s fine. I think it’s more going to be tough on the car, on the tyres, than anything else. So yeah.
OP: Yeah, I would agree. When you’ve got no air coming in, that’s when it’s the worst. I haven’t spent any time in a sauna, no. But I’ve got a few portable heaters and a small bathroom and an exercise bike. So yeah, you can cause yourself a lot of discomfort, a lot of pain by doing that. So, I do that for the benefit of my performance. Not for pleasure, that’s for sure.
PG: Yeah, I mean, I’ve prepped for it, not like last week or this. I think it’s consistent work. So yeah, running in Milan last week in 36 degrees was definitely a good preparation for it and didn’t feel too nice. But overall, I think we know what to expect and we prepared for this year.
 
Q: (David Ryborz – Austria Presse Agentur) I have a question for Isack, also about the football World Cup. Algeria will play against Austria on Saturday night. I guess you won’t be watching live at 4am, but how excited are you in general for the game and for the World Cup? And who do you think will win the game and why?
IH: I mean, definitely Algeria is not doing amazing. I mean, they won their last game, but I think we would have the edge on Austria and qualify for the rest. But yeah, it’s going to be pretty tough.
 
Q: Isack, just staying with you, can we talk about starts? Because your race at Barcelona was compromised big time by what happened getting away from the grid. Do you understand what happened there and are you confident it won’t happen again here?
IH: I think we had so far this year probably one good start, was in the Sprint race in Canada, first race start in Monaco, and that was it. I think every other start I lost places.
 
Q: What’s causing the fluctuation from one race to the next?
IH: Well, that’s what we are trying to figure out. It’s complicated. To make it clear, it’s not human error on my side, that’s for sure. I think the procedure is simple and I know how to achieve it. It’s just deeper issues. I told the guys it’s the main point to focus on the last week since Barcelona. It’s not the only thing, but they’ve been focusing very hard on it. Let’s see from FP1 how I feel, but in Barcelona the whole weekend, every time I dropped the clutch, it was going nowhere and it was like that the whole time. So let’s see how we did the last couple of days to try and understand and see if we apply it.
 
Q: (Rodrigo França – Car Magazine Brazil) Oscar, McLaren did well in Miami. It was a very hot race. Do you think maybe in Austria and the other races that we have more than 30 degrees, McLaren can beat Ferrari and Mercedes?
OP: I think it will be tough. I think Ferrari obviously brought quite a few upgrades in Barcelona. I think Mercedes as well are still the benchmark, maybe not as far ahead in those conditions, but still the benchmark. Things are changing so quickly. Everyone is learning about their cars a lot every time we drive. Everyone’s changing their cars a lot. So difficult to say. I think maybe we can get close again, but again, we’re kind of relying at the moment on the others getting it a bit wrong or having things go our way rather than being the ones on the front foot and able to set the pace.
 
Q: (Laurine Slingerland – NU.nl) Question for Pierre. Last year, Max was not a very big fan of the cooling vest. What are your thoughts about it and will you use it this weekend?
IH: I really don’t like it because there’s just too many tubes, too many things happening in the cockpit and not very comfortable. It works really well though for like 10 minutes and then it’s warm again. So, I’m okay. Honestly, I’ve never been to a point where I really needed that vest. If I need it, that means the car as well can’t handle it and we can’t drive. So, I think the car will give up before I do, in any case.
 
Q: Oscar, are you going to wear the cooling jacket?
OP: I think probably yes. I used it a couple of times last year. I mean, there’s obviously the risk if it goes wrong and if it fails, then yeah, it’s worse than not wearing it. But I think if you get the system working well, then it can help a bit. It’s not a complete game changer but when I used it last year, it was okay. There are definitely some things that are not perfect with it, but at the end of the day it’s personal preference. We have to add the weight in the car anyway, so if you can get it to work and it cools you down a little bit, then sure.
 
IH: For how long?
OP: Depends on the system, depends how good you make it.
 
IH: Well, that’s why I’m asking. I want to know!
PG: Better than 10 minutes, 
OP: Not the whole race. But yeah, we’re working on it. 
PG: I’ll try it out in practice.
 
Q: (Diletta Colombo – AutoMoto.it) A question for Oscar. You mentioned your reliability issues before. There have been some quick fixes to improve the situation integration-wise, but do you think you’re closer to finding a solution for the long haul?
OP: Yes and no. I think a lot of the issues have been different every time. Some of them have been on our side, some of them have been with HPP and the integration into the car. But I think what is clear for us is, to have a McLaren not finishing a race is not one person’s problem or another, it’s everyone’s problem in the collaboration. We want to get on top of it as quickly as we can. So yeah, just trying to identify the issues. There’s always going to be issues at the start of a new regulation with new engines and different cars and different dimensions. But some of the issues haven’t just been for us. They’ve been for the factory team as well, they’ve been with Williams, been with Alpine. They’re kind of spread across the board a bit. So I think everybody’s working on it as best as they can. But yeah, some of the problems, you don’t know how to fix them until you see them, because they’re not always obvious.
 
Q: Oscar, sticking with you, the team says it’s going to test an experimental rear wing this weekend. Is it going to be you or Lando and is there any chance you’ll race it?
OP: No, we won’t race it. I believe it’s on Lando’s car tomorrow. Yeah, it’s to test out. It’s not ready to race at the moment. Obviously we’ve seen some of the creative solutions and they don’t come without their challenges, clearly. So yeah, it won’t be raced, but useful to try it out.
 
Q: (Nigel Chiu – Sky Sports) Question for Oscar. Oscar, you said there’s been an up-and-down season so far. Realistically, to be in championship potential later this season, are you going to need a race-winning car by the start of summer break, next few races, or is it already looking like it’s going to be unlikely this season?
OP: I mean, yeah, the odds are definitely stacked against us for sure. But I think last year was a pretty good showcase of how quickly things can change. We’ve still got a long way to go in the season. Yes, we’re very conscious that we need to improve things and for things to change for us, but I don’t think we should count ourselves out. Yes, we’ve got to do a lot of hard work. Yes, we’ll need a few things to go our way. But we’ve seen reliability issues for everybody across the board and things can change very quickly. But I think the clear part in all of that is if the performance of our car and the competitive order doesn’t change, then yes, we’re not going to win. But if we can improve things dramatically like we have done in the last few seasons, then I think anything is still possible.
 
Q: Pierre, coming to you now. Flavio Briatore did an interview recently in which he was asked to put a timeline on getting Alpine back into championship contention. He refused to put a timeline on it. What is your reaction to that and what sort of timeline do you as a driver want?
PG: I think the timeline is the same for all of us in the team: as soon as possible. What does that mean exactly? Realistically, we’ve got to look at what we can improve right now in the short term and know our strengths, weaknesses as a team, and how much time we have to put all the pieces together. I think Flavio has been here long enough to know that it doesn’t happen overnight. We all wish it could, but the reality is very different. I think the target was definitely to sort of be top of the midfield and slowly getting closer to the cars ahead, and that’s what we’ve got to focus on in the short term. But yeah, I fully believe in Flavio’s sort of master plan and what we’ve got to put in place. I think a lot of steps in the right direction have been taken since last year, and there’s still a long way to go until we achieve what we want to achieve in Formula 1 with Alpine. But I think eventually, I really hope we can achieve that.
 
Q: He also said that you were, and I’m quoting him, “one of the top six drivers on the grid”. What’s your reaction to that?
PG: I think I am. It’s nice to hear it from Flavio, but I’ve been here long enough to know that I’ve got to focus on my own business. I try to be the best I can every single time I’m in the car and sometimes the best I can do is a 15th place last year. It doesn’t mean that I’m a bad driver. Sometimes you get a car that allows you to finish in the top five, win or top 10, and you’ve just got to extract the best you can. I think I’m performing well. Can I get even better? Yes, I can, and that’s what I work for every day. I still think I can deliver even stronger performances than I’m doing, and that’s what I’ve got to work on. Yeah, it’s nice from Flavio and we’re working very well together, so I’m happy with the dynamic we have as a team and just want us to be able to perform even better than we’re doing.

PART TWO – Nico HÜLKENBERG (Audi), George RUSSELL (Mercedes), Sergio PÉREZ (Cadillac)

Q: George, if we could perhaps start with you. Toto referred to the recent Spanish Grand Prix as a reality check for Mercedes. Even with your pole position, what’s your view on that race weekend and the performance of the car?
George RUSSELL: Yeah, I definitely think it’s a reality check because Ferrari have clearly had a great chassis this whole season. Their power unit has been a bit behind us, quite a bit behind us, but suddenly in Barcelona they seem to have made a step forward. So, they were much closer to us in terms of their straight-line speed and, you know, they’re bringing a lot of upgrades, which has been quite surprising for us. You know, we’ve brought one upgrade this season so far. We’ve got some in the pipeline, but Ferrari and McLaren, every couple of races, are bringing bits to the car. So, you know, we need to keep on pushing and I think every time a team is bringing a new bit to the car, they’re making big steps forward.
 
Q: Are you saying you’d like to see Mercedes bringing more than they currently are?
GR: Well, it’s very challenging these days with the cost cap and you could always decide to pull the trigger and start bringing an upgrade in a couple of races’ time, but you also need to be strategic of when is the optimal point in the season and if you can afford to bring more upgrades or not within the cost cap. Maybe they’ve got a slightly different approach and they’re saving money elsewhere and spending more on the upgrades. It’s a compromise and, you know, at the end of the day, we’re still the team to beat. So this will be another good weekend to see if Ferrari are still on that good form or if that was a one-off.
 
Q: What about you and the car? Of course, you closed the points gap to Kimi Antonelli in Spain, but crucially are you happier in the car now?
GR: Spain was a weekend I was very happy about on Friday and Saturday because, you know, it’s been a real tough run of form for me, both with things outside of my control but also things within my control. It hadn’t been good enough and I went in with a more simple mindset into Barcelona. Really quick in qualifying and over the course of the whole weekend. Unfortunately, we had an issue with the front wing in the race, which compromised quite a lot, and Ferrari capitalised. So, you know, I need to keep on making some small evolutions with this new car, with the setup, with the tyres, to get the most out of it. But I’m feeling good, I’m feeling confident and excited to have four races in five weeks.
 
Q: Okay, George, thank you very much for that. Nico, can we come to you now? Amid all the frustration of what happened in Monaco and Barcelona, what positives can you take from those races?
Nico HULKENBERG: I think just all in all, we’re making progress. The performance, you know, is there. We are competitive in the midfield and, you know, I feel both in Monaco and Barcelona, we were able to put it into the top 10 on merit. But yeah, both race weekends had circumstances that denied results on Sunday. I think, you know, I feel also on Sunday in Barcelona, we made life slightly difficult and hard for ourselves, but there are definitely positive signs. The car, if I compare it now to how it felt the first two, three races to where we are now, there’s definitely some good progress there. I think it’s just a matter of time and a matter of us putting it together and staying clean and staying focused.
 
Q: So even though there are not the points on the board that you want, do you feel the team is building some momentum?
NH: Yes.
 
Q: Okay. Now, look, what about this point in the season? Because last year it was now that you started to enjoy a wave of really good results, including of course the podium at Silverstone. It’s now a very different team to then, so what can you expect in these coming races?
NH: I don’t know what to expect. It’s not about what we expect, it’s about what we put on the road. It’s about how we perform. We’re obviously in the European leg now, some races and circuits coming up that I do enjoy. It’s obviously the summer season, most of the races are going to be hot, Silverstone around the corner next weekend, which is one of my favourite tracks. And yeah, we’ll obviously give it our best shot and then try to finally take something home on Sundays.
 
Q: But how different does the team feel now compared to a year ago?
NH: Yeah, of course it’s different. You know, being a factory team now, being Audi, it’s certainly, there has been a change and a shift in the team, all positive. Like I said, I think the first five, six races were obviously tough for us, challenging in many areas, but I feel we’ve battled through it, you know, and really dug ourselves out, but we haven’t gotten the reward yet. So yeah, we keep working and pushing for that, that we will force it to come.
 
Q: Alright, Nico, thank you for that. Checo, coming to you. Big weekend for the team here. You’ve got a substantial upgrade package. What are your hopes?
Sergio PÉREZ: Yeah, we definitely want to make good progress. You know, we can see that we are getting closer towards the midfield, especially over a lap. I think still we are lacking quite a bit on the degradation side with the tyres. We are bringing an upgrade here that hopefully can get us even closer. Once we are there, you know, it’s all coming down to the little details. I think operationally the team has been improving quite a lot, making really big steps so far. So yeah, hopefully this upgrade can put us a lot closer.
 
Q: You talk about the steps that the team has made. What has been the biggest lesson that Cadillac has learned so far in 2026?
SP: I think the importance of maximising everything, you know, in terms of operational side, the strategy. It’s irrelevant where you are on the grid. You know, Formula 1 is very competitive all across. Even if you’re fighting for P18, it’s still at a very competitive level. You know, you’re fighting great teams like Aston and great drivers. So, it’s about maximising every single detail out there.
 
Q: On a personal level, Checo, you’ve now got a decent number of races under your belt this year. When you look back at the year out last year, how long did it take you to get up to speed? Do you think it cost you anything in those early races?
SP: I think it was really good for me. You know, the way it worked out, having a year off is not easy to come back to the sport. I was actually surprised, you know, when I did the test in the middle of last year with Ferrari, with the ’23 car, how quickly I got up to speed. I didn’t want to drive anything else, any other series, until I knew what I was going to do in my future, and I didn’t drive anything other than, and when I jumped in the Ferrari, within a couple of laps, a couple of runs, I was already up to speed, up to the pace. So that gave me a lot of confidence and I knew that starting this year everyone was going to start from zero with these new regulations, so I think pretty much straightforward. Once I’ve done it for so long, it didn’t take me too long to get up to speed.
 
Q: But there’s something new for you this weekend. It’s a heat hazard here at the Austrian Grand Prix. Do you think you’re going to use the cooling jacket?
SP: I don’t want to use it, you know, but anyway, you pay the penalty on the weight. I don’t think... I mean, I’m Mexican, so for me this is not too warm. It makes me laugh that all the Europeans are concerned about this level of heat, but for me it’s pretty average, you know. But I will wear it just to keep myself a little bit cooler.
 
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
 
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) You’re the only one wearing shorts on there, Sergio, to be fair. George and Nico looking very cool in trousers. George, if I can turn to you. Lewis said in the press conference in Barcelona, “I’m back to doing what I do best” after his win. So, with that in mind, is he a bigger title contender to you or is Kimi Antonelli still the one you’ve got to beat?
GR: Yeah, I mean, at first, it’s great to see Lewis back doing what he does best. I think that’s also just such an example of how challenging Formula 1 is, because the cars are so complex, the tyres are so complex, the power units are complex. Everything needs to click and if one thing isn’t clicking, you can’t get the most out of yourself. You know, people were writing him off last year or even the year we were teammates in ’24. You know, “Is he too old? Is he this? Is he that?” And then he goes and he’s been smashing it for the last four or five races. It just shows that you don’t forget how to drive overnight. You need yourself, your team, the set-up, the understanding of the tyres, everything just to click. And when it clicks, you fly. As you said, it’s beautiful. So that’s where he is at the moment and for sure he is a big threat. Ferrari are a huge threat. Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really incredibly and consistently. But yeah, Ferrari feel like they’re coming and Lewis is at the forefront of that.
 
Q: What makes you more nervous, the intra-team battle with Kimi or battling with someone from another team?
GR: Neither makes me nervous. It makes me excited, to be honest, because the more people you’re going head-to-head with, it’s less competition. And that is how it was for all of us when we were go-karting. You know, you were never racing one competitor. There were three, four, five drivers who were all competing for wins. That’s how Formula 1 should be and that’s what excites us. So yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
 
Q: (Roldán Rodríguez – DAZN Spain) A question to George. Both drivers in Mercedes are fighting a lot on the track. I would like to know your opinion about team orders in Mercedes. The team should consider it sometimes or just fight?
GR: I think it’s clear the win for the team is the priority. It doesn’t matter which driver. You saw in Canada, Kimi and I fought really hard, but we were pulling away from everybody else, so the win for the team was not under threat. But then you look in Barcelona and suddenly you have another driver who’s in the fight. And okay, Lewis had the Safety Car, this helped a lot. Without the Safety Car, you know, Kimi and I were losing time together and it would have given the opportunity to Ferrari to win. And that is when, you know, we need to be smart as teammates and it’s very clear, you know, the team wants to win the race. It doesn’t matter if it’s myself or Kimi.
 
Q: (Moritz Steidl – ServusTV) Question to George. George, there were a lot of reliability issues from Mercedes power units this season. It happened also to you last time around, to Kimi. Is there something that is in your mind when you’re entering the cockpit? And also, like in a debrief, how much into detail can you go? Did you find a solution yet?
GR: It’s very much a priority for everybody at Mercedes to get on top of. It’s often the case at the beginning of a new regulation that you’re pushing the boundaries of performance and it’s difficult to know that balance with regards to reliability. So it’s not something I’m thinking about at all, to be honest, when I drive. But as a team, it’s the highest priority for Mercedes and all of the other Mercedes customer teams.
 
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports Italy) A question to George. Is there a plan to control battery alarm and how big is it for you and the team?
GR: So, with the reliability, you mean? Well, it hasn’t been straightforward to analyse the problems. You know, my battery from Canada is still in this sea freight because we were not allowed to fly with it. But we have seen these issues back at the factory. We’ve seen the issues on McLaren and the Williams car. Kimi had the same issue in Barcelona. So as I said, it’s the highest priority at the moment. To be honest, I’m focusing on the performance and focusing where I can make my improvements, and leaving those details. I’m not allowing myself to get too stressed over something I cannot control.
 
Q: (Nqobile Khwezi Mahlambi – SuperSport Africa) First off, the soccer World Cup is on at the moment. Mexico is already into the 32, so is Germany. So, guys, have you been watching some of the games? And George, do you think England can finally bring it home? Nico, let’s start with you. Big game for Germany tonight.
NH: Yeah, exactly. No, it’s a convenient time in Europe, 10pm usually, from bath, once the little one is in bed. I’ve been following a bit casually and it’s a good going-to-bed programme.
SP: Yeah, for us it has been very exciting. You know, having the World Cup in Mexico has been great and the national team is playing really well. So we are excited now to see what comes next in the next couple of rounds.
 
Q: How sad are you to be missing the games in Guadalajara?
SP: Super sad. I was trying to go, but then it was quite hard to figure it out. But I think if we go through the next game, I’m definitely going because it will be in Mexico again. So yeah, I will have to go.
GR: Yeah, I mean, the three of us were just briefly talking about it. I’ve been following it. 
SP: It might be against England actually. It’s one of the of the options I think.
GR: Maybe we go together. I’ll jump on your plane. I’ll come with you. Yeah, I’ve been following a lot of the games, obviously following every minute of England and really, really behind them. I think we’ve got an amazing chance. Obviously, the result wasn’t perfect in the last game, but clearly the performance was great and they look very solid.
 
Q: (Diletta Colombo – AutoMoto.it) A question for George. You mentioned before that you’d want to concentrate just on what’s in your control, but do you think that reliability can be the decisive factor in assigning this World Championship?
GR: I hope not. It has been in the past. You know, look at 2016. But I generally feel these things even themselves out over the course of a season. The seasons are long enough now to give you that chance, even if you have one race of bad luck or two races, to try and overcome that. But as I said, I hope not. But I’m not going to lose sleep over it, because that isn’t what I can control. And as I said, I can only focus on driving as fast as possible every single second I’m in the car, and that’s my goal.

ENDS