1Sebastian VETTEL (Red Bull Racing)
2Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes)
3Valtteri BOTTAS (Williams)
TV UNILATERAL
Q: Sebastian, you seemed to be on top of those extraordinary conditions all the way through qualifying. Was that the case?
Sebastian VETTEL: Well it was very, very tricky, especially because you never knew what the conditions were like the next time you were out. So obviously it was intermediate tyres throughout but extremely tricky to adapt, especially in the last qualifying section. We decided to have two runs, we thought the second run will be quicker because we had a new set of tyres left but it started to drizzle, in the last sector in particular, in the last chicane. I went straight on one lap and then the second lap I had a mistake somewhere else, so it turned out that the conditions were best for the first run. So that was a bit of a surprise because obviously you target on a set of new tyres to push a little bit harder. Very happy the first lap was good enough. It was very tight with Lewis. I think at the end everybody was improving in the first two sectors but then the last one was yeah, those last two corners didnt allow anyone to go quicker, which surely I didnt mind but I think it was showing how difficult the whole qualifying session was for everyone. Congratulations to Valtteri, I think he did an extraordinary job putting the Williams on P3 but for us, extremely happy with the result and looking forward to the race tomorrow. I think we had strong pace yesterday so no matter the conditions, we should be in decent shape.
Q: Lewis, is that what cost you right at the end? Was that the rain in the final sector?
Lewis HAMILTON: I dont know really no, I was doing a pretty good lap, I think I was six or seven tenths up, even so I went wide. I dont know whether I would have kept it but all I needed to keep was a tenth or so, a bit unfortunatebut Im still happy to be here for the team.
Q: Valtteri, congratulations. What does this mean, to be in the top three?
Valtteri BOTTAS: Thank you. Of course it means a lot. Its way more up in the grid than what we really could ever imagine. Its been so difficult, the first six races for us and it will be a nice boost for the team. We really got everything quite right today.
Q: Sebastian, as you say, no points today. What chances tomorrow? As you said, you dont really fear any of the conditions. Are you worried about rain or not?
SV: Well, I dont know if theres anybody who can give a precise forecast for every corner. As we saw today, it was really tricky in some places, then drier than expected in other places and the next lap was completely different. So, yeah, a bit difficult to foresee how the weather is behaving tomorrowbut the forecast, I think, looks a little bit friendlier than today. So at this stagethe last thing I heard at leastwe expect dry conditions. But well see. It doesnt really matter. We have a couple of tyres left, surely lots of slick tyres but also in the rain we should be in decent shape. I think it could be an interesting race with mixed conditions tomorrow. So, a long one, 70 laps here and a lot of things that can happen in every single lap.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Sebastian, well done again. Another consideration is, have you got any Intermediates left? You were saying you might have a couple of tyres left. If it is wet tomorrow, have you got any Intermediates left?
SV: No, we dont have a new set left but obviously it was only a very short run in the last qualifying. I think the sets we used, one was completely new and the other just scrubbed, so yeah, I think its tricky. Everyone used up their intermediates to qualify as high up as possible but the bottom line is I think were in good shape regarding tyres for both dryobviously, just like everyone elseand rain conditions.
Q: It did seem to be an extraordinary session. You had mass starts in the pitlane. It was amazing!
SV: Yeah. I wasnt part of that group and actually I did a mistake there because I was too late getting out in Q2 after the red flag, after Felipe had the crash. Yeah, I didnt want to join the train and get stuck but obviously we left a little bit too late and I didnt get to do a timed lap at all. Fortunately I made it through to Q3. The time we set before was good enoughbut we didnt get a run in and we were supposed to, so yeah, I messed up the timing a little bit there but fortunately it didnt cost us anything.
Q: Lewis, did it all go according to plan? Maybe you felt you could have been on pole.
LH: Pole was definitely there, so its a bit unfortunate but thats the way it goes.
Q: Did everything go according to plan?
LH: No.
Q: Is that what makes you a little unhappy then?
LH:
Q: What are the chances tomorrow? What do you feel about the weather tomorrow?
LH: Ive not really seen what the weathers going to be like tomorrow. I was told that its going to be dryor maybe raining in the morning and drying out for the race. But, as Sebastian said, its changing and its going to be good fun. It should be interesting as it has been for the last few years. Its been very trickybut I hope its dry.
Q: Valtteri, what do you want tomorrow? More rain?
VB: Definitely! I think the fact is in the dry the car doesnt belong to P3 at the moment, so yeah, of course some rain would help us like it did in the qualifying. Because I think we found, for the Inter tyres especially, a quite good way of how to really work the tyre, the right temperatures and everythingso I hope so.
Q: You did a good job in Monaco keeping it out of the walla lot of rookies might have ended up in the wall. Youve done the same thing here. Youve been a pretty safe pair of hands as far as I can see. Do you feel that? Are you happy with your performances?
VB: I think you can never be totally happy with the situation we are in. I still have zero points and theres still a lot to learn. When I look back theres so many things you always could have done better. Its been OK but it could be always better.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Heikki KultaTurun Sanomat) Valterri, congratulations. Would you have ever dreamed to be on the second row and also could you please describe your lap?
VB: Thank you. I dont think we expected to be on the first or second row. I think everyone in our team was hoping for rain because theres always a chance if you get the timing right, get everything right, you can maybe finish a bit higher than where the car is sometimes. But yes, the race is tomorrow. If its dry, for sure its going to be difficult, its not going to be easy, so lets see.
Q: (Kate WalkerGP Week) Valterri, weve seen that youre ten places ahead of your teammate. Is this because you like the track, you like the conditions? Youre both in the same car.
VB: I think today was very tricky and it was a lot about the tyre getting a good lap, just at the right time, when the track is in the best condition, having good track position, everything, so its not as simple in this weather, so thats why there can even be ten places between teammates.
Q: (Stefan BarbLEquipe) If its dry tomorrow, do you think you had enough time yesterday to evaluate the tyres for long run pace in the afternoon?
LH: We did a long run like everyone else, so we have a good understanding what the tyres and the car feels like in the dry and obviously weve had the rain and the wet so we should be set for tomorrow.
SV: I think it was good that practice two yesterday was dry so it allowed everyone to get a read on both soft tyre and the harder or the medium tyre, supersoft and medium.
VB: I think everyone has plenty of dry tyres so well see.
Q: (Massimo lopes Pegna La Gazzetta dello Sport) Sebastian, are you surprised to see Ferrari so far behind you?
SV: I dont know where they are but obviously I saw Felipe losing the car into turn three so Im aware that hes not very high up. He obviously didnt take part in Q3. For Fernando, I dont know where he starts but I think generallyas Valterri touched onit was quite tricky today and when you were not on the circuit at the right time, then you can be faster than everybody else, for example, but its not happening. I think weve all experienced it to some extent today. Some, obviously... on average, I think us three up here, we got away with it and mostly used the track in the best condition but you can never really say that you have always been out when it was absolutely at its best, and that makes a big difference. Were talking easily half a second, a second, two seconds per lap.
Q: (Bill BeaconCanadian Press) Lewis, youve won here three times, conditions are a lot stranger this time around; how confident are you that you can have a fourth victory here?
LH: Well, its good to be on the front row, that makes it a little bit... brings up the chances a little bit but its going to be a tough race tomorrow. Obviously Sebastians very quick, even the Ferraris are very quick on the long runs so I guess it really depends on the conditions and at the end of the day Ive got to do the job. As you know, I love it here so, theres a great crowd even though the weather was not so great today. Im sure there will be even more people tomorrow so lets hope we can put on a good show for them.
