PART TWO – Nico HÜLKENBERG (Haas), Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes), Charles LECLERC (Ferrari)
Q: Charles, why don’t I start with you? So, two podiums in a row for you. Things seem to be going well. Just how much confidence do you have coming into the team’s home race?
Charles LECLERC: I mean, I don’t let the last two races change our expectations. We are in a difficult moment for the team. We are struggling a little bit with pace at the moment. I think we understood quite a few things since Zandvoort, especially on what happened on Saturday, where our performance was quite far from ideal. But on the Sunday, it was a good race. In Spa it was good as well. Here, it should be a bit more in the direction of Spa, so hopefully we’ll be a bit more in the fight for the podium. However, for the win, I don’t think we quite have that yet.
Q: Well, you have some upgrades here, and as you say, the car was good at Spa, so are you hopeful about it in low downforce trim?
CL: I think we are in a better position than on a higher downforce track. So it should be a bit better. How much better, it’s still to be seen. We’ll also have some upgrades on the car which should go in the right direction. So hopefully when we put everything together, we are closer than where we were in the last few races.
Q: Charles, that’s the key, isn’t it? Putting everything together. I mean, from these upgrades, is there one thing that you need? Is it just better consistency?
CL: Let’s say that there were very specific characteristics of the car that we had to improve. I’m not going to go too much into details, and this where those upgrades should help us. Then we’ll see, because I don’t think Monza is the best track to judge those upgrades. Probably Baku or Singapore will be more of a test for us, but it should go in the right direction anyway. But by how much, I don’t know yet.
Q: Alright, Charles, final one from me. We’re at Monza, Ferrari’s home race. You’re sitting next to Lewis Hamilton, your team-mate in 2025. So I think this might be the perfect opportunity for you to just give him some advice about what it’s like being a Ferrari driver. What can he expect?
CL: I don’t think Lewis needs any kind of advice, but it’s definitely very, very special to be, driving for Ferrari in Monza and in Italy. There’s something that is iconic and it’s such a special feeling, the amount of support we have. We obviously have it everywhere in the world, but whenever we are in Italy, it’s extra special. It’s difficult to get in and out of the hotel every morning and every evening but it’s a very special feeling and we have so much support so it’s motivating us at the maximum. But Lewis will be experiencing that next year and we’ll experience that together and I’m sure it will be a special year. but until then we’ve got to maximise and hopefully put the car a bit higher up in the standings.
Q: And Lewis, coming to you, just given what’s happening next year, does it feel different for you being in Monza this year?
Lewis HAMILTON: Hi, everyone. I’m not going to lie it definitely does feel a little bit different. I mean it always feels special when you come here. We’re coming here at a decent time in terms of the weather’s incredible today obviously the huge changes that made to the track. But as Charles was saying there’s always such incredible passion with throughout Italy just in the culture in general but particularly about racing and It’s always exciting just to see the fans that we’re going to see throughout the weekend. The passion here and the excitement that they really bring to this race is really not particularly matched in too many places.
Q: Well, let’s talk about you and performance now. The team has had six consecutive podiums prior to last weekend. How much of a shock was the performance of the car at Zandvoort?
LH: It wasn’t that it was a shock. We just struggled to get the balance in the perfect window. And I think you could see with these cars today, I mean, particularly with our car, but I think many teams experience it. It’s kind of on a knife edge and can easily go one way or the other. In hindsight, we look back on some things and we would have done things slightly differently. Actual pace wise? I would think I was the third fastest on average through the race. Our race pace wasn’t terrible and the results didn’t show the true performance in the race but qualifying needed to be a bit better.
Q: Given your pace at Spa what are your hopes for here?
LH: I’m definitely more hopeful coming into this weekend that the car will be nicer to drive again. But you’ve got others that are bringing upgrades this weekend. So you have to expect Ferrari going to be quick with their upgrade. You have to expect that McLaren, with the advantage in the last lap that he was able to pull out in the last race, they’re going to be rapid this weekend. So I’m just hopeful that we’re there or thereabouts.
Q: Final one from me about Kimi Antonelli, who’s doing FP1 for the team on Friday. He’s only just turned 18. Just what kind of a talent is he?
LH: Well, I mean, I said a long time ago that I think that’s who the team should choose moving forwards. And time will tell what they end up deciding to do. No, he’s one of those young, super-talented kids that’s come through. I mean, he’s a young adult now. But, yeah, he’s only 18. So I think… I think it’d be good for people just to remember he is just turning 18, and he’s got a bright future ahead of him. And yeah, I’m really excited to see and watch his progress. I saw a picture earlier on of us, back in, I think, 2018, and he was one of the grid kids! And I’m like shaking his hand at the front of the grid! So it obviously reminds you how old you are when you have those experiences. But yeah, looking forward to seeing his growth and his journey through into Formula 1.
Q: Lewis, thank you for that. Nico, thank you for waiting. After the highs of Austria and Silverstone, the last few races have been a bit harder, a bit more challenging for the team. Are you confident that the layout of Monza will play more to the strengths of the car?
Nico HÜLKENBERG: Frankly, not super confident. Last year was a struggle here. This year, me and the car has been much, much better on a whole, on all type of circuits. But yeah, like you say, the last three races have been challenging. I think we didn’t quite maximise our weekends on top of that in Spa. In particular, we weren’t competitive enough here. So it’s difficult to judge. I’d rather, you know, do some laps tomorrow and see how the package feels here.
Q: Well, what about the new asphalt, the new kerbs? Does that make it more of an opportunity for someone?
NH: Yeah, it’s all real. It happens. There is new asphalt, there’s new kerbs. So we go out there and learn about them tomorrow and see, you know, how the tyres cope with it, how that might change, you know, some little details. Overall, obviously, the layout is the same, but yeah, all these other small things have been tweaked, but overall Monza, you know, one of my favourite events. It’s an amazing atmosphere here. The D4Z, the energy is incredible. Yeah, look forward to the weekend ahead.
Q: And, Nico, your new boss, Mattia Bonotto, is going to be in attendance this weekend.
NH: Not just yet. You’re a bit ahead of yourself!
Q: But he’s going to be in attendance this weekend. Audi are in in less than 18 months now. I just wanted your thoughts on what you think job number one for Mattia is at the team.
NH: Well, obviously it’s early days for him. He’s just arrived at the team. So obviously he needs to make himself aware of the situation, get a picture of what’s going on, understand all the departments, the people. And then I’m sure he has some ideas how to optimize it and take it a step further. So I guess that’s the process that he’s in now and he’ll start working.
Q: And one of the few seats that’s still up for grabs for next year is in the second Sauber. Would you like youth or experience alongside you?
NH: to be honest, open subject. It’s a subject and a thing that’s not in my power. I have no say, nothing to do with it. To be honest I’m open. I’d like to the best and strongest team-mate possible because I think you know you need two strong drivers. It’s incredibly competitive in Formula 1, so it’s important to have the best duo possible.
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) Lewis, if I could go back to you on the subject of Kimi Antonelli. What has he got that made you think a long time ago, ‘yeah, he’s the guy that Mercedes should be taking for the future’? What is it about his racing? What is it about him that made him or makes him a suitable candidate in your eyes?
LH: I think it’s… We’ve been watching him through the through the different formulas and naturally he’s a Mercedes driver. I just think we are starting to see a lot younger drivers coming through and I think we’re just in that time, where there’s only 20 seats and I think it’s time. We’re starting to see this new wave come through. In terms of taking on a another driver that’s had many, many years of experience as opposed to giving an opportunity to a youngster. That’s what McLaren did for me and it worked out well. In my opinion, it’s just an opportunity for him to grow. He’s going to get to work… He would get to work with the best in class, learn from people that I’ve worked with for so many, many years. But it is a lot of weight on someone’s shoulders. But as I said, it’s a great environment that I think they would just be able to nurture him and carry him through it. But there are other really good options. So you’d have to ask Toto which one he’s leaning towards.
Q: (Roldán Rodriguez – DAZN Spain) A question to Charles. Ferrari here in Monza is the most successful team in history, but as well in the last years, it looks like Ferrari always performs here properly. You as a team, as Ferrari, is this a race where you feel like you must do better than anyone else?
CL: I wouldn’t say the feeling is that we must do better. However, there’s definitely a huge motivation because it’s not only a normal weekend that starts from the Thursday to the Sunday, but it starts already from Monday in Maranello where we have so many tifosi and that obviously motivates everybody. It seems and it looks like we’ve had a pretty strong car with a very low-downforce package even in the last few years where performance was not as good. So that’s positive because it’s our home race and as much as it’s giving exactly the same amount of points as other races, emotionally speaking and for the whole team it’s definitely a special one. So it’s really important for everybody to do well. However, we are not doing anything different to perform better at this track. It just happened that our low downforce package in the last few years was pretty good. And whenever we came here, we were on the good side of our performances.
Q: (Olli Zwartyes – Sky Germany) Charles, can you describe the myth of Monza, especially as a Ferrari driver?
CL: Again, it’s crazy. It’s such a special feeling because you can really see and feel the passion of the tifosi and all the people that are traveling to Monza for Ferrari, how much it means for them to actually be here, see us dressed in red. Not this weekend because I’m in black this weekend! But however, even to see the mechanics or engineers the tifosi are so happy and they are not only supporting the drivers but obviously they are supporting Ferrari as a whole and every team members. It’s a special experience for everybody within the team. so it’s a very, very special weekend. It’s a tiring week and that’s where it’s important to keep your energy for the Sunday but let’s say it’s positive energy and you get a lot of support. And yeah, as I said, from the Monday to the Sunday, it’s just a very special week.
Q: (Panagiotis Seitanidis – Ant1 TV Greece) A question for all three. Now that we have a calendar with 24 races, how important do you think breaks like the summer break are for the whole team, both for you, but also for the common members, the mechanics and every member of the team to have this time off and have full batteries?
NH: Yeah, I think it’s very important, these breaks. It’s a demanding schedule, 24 races more than ever. We have triple headers, which are very tough on a lot of the team members that work long hours and are flat out pretty much for three weeks. summer break is important. We have another long break or longer break after Singapore. And personally, I feel this year, the schedule is a bit more balanced with more breaks. And I’m sure for team members involved that have the hardest jobs, that’s really appreciated and it’s positive.
CL: Yeah, I think as drivers, we cannot really complain. We travel in the best in the best possible way. We stay in great hotels and we also have a programme that is fitted for an athlete. So we try and go to sleep relatively early and sleep as much as possible. And everything is done for our well-being. However, for the mechanics, for the engineers, sometimes there’s a lot of work. They get to the track much earlier, they leave the track much later. And so it’s a lot more difficult. And also to just have a normal life outside of racing, it’s very difficult. So it’s definitely needed. But as a driver, I can’t complain. But I will say that 24 races is probably the maximum or at least the sweet spot. More than that will be too much.
Q (Nicolò Severini – Sky Sports Italy) : A question to Lewis. What kind of welcome do you expect this year? It may be different from the past.
LH: I mean, I don’t know what to expect. If I’m honest, the last couple of years, I mean, over the last few years, I’ve had a really warm welcome every time I’ve come, to be honest. There was one time when we were really fighting against Ferrari. I can’t remember what year that was, but even then, people were positive. There was never any negativity. I think over the past few years, I’ve heard ‘viene Ferrari’? How do you say come to Ferrari?
CL: Viene in Ferrari?
LH: Viene in Ferrari. Yeah. So I heard that quite a lot. And so it’ll be interesting to see how that is this year. But already in Imola, for example, I got a really warm reception. And there was this amazing picture of me, you, and Fred. Did you see it?
CL: As saints. Yeah, I saw that one.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Dan Lawrence – Motorsport Monday) You were saying how these cars are on a knife edge trying to get the setup correct and fine tune them to get them into the right window. Does having Kimi in the car tomorrow, a rookie with that fresh mindset, could that be beneficial in trying to unlock performance? Because he might have insights or ideas that you and George, who obviously have preconceptions of the car, might not think of. Thank you.
LH: I mean, we’ll find out tomorrow. It’s definitely always good having more input. Yeah, I think for Kimi tomorrow, I think it’s just about enjoying yourself and having fun. This is going to be an amazing experience for him tomorrow. He’s obviously already tested the old car, but tomorrow is going to be the first time he’s, I believe, tested the new car, which is so much nicer than the 2022 car. So he’s going to be all smiles tomorrow for sure. It’s a drastic difference. And yeah, the more information and the more input we get, the better. So I don’t know what to expect, what he’s going to come back with, but we’ll definitely take it in.
Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) Question to Lewis and also to Charles, please. Just following up, Lewis, what you mentioned earlier about the big changes that have been made to this track for this year, quite a lot of chat about that already and I appreciate you haven’t driven it yet, but Daniel Ricciardo saying this morning, you know, changing a lot of the kerbs have changed the characteristic of the track. I just wondered, he said it was disappointing. Do you agree with that and what do you guys think about, you know, how they have changed Monza for this year?
LH: I don’t want to judge it before I’ve driven it. Maybe we’ll get in and it’ll be the greatest thing and greatest changes ever. So I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot with that. Ultimately, we loved it before. For years, it’s been super bumpy in so many places and That’s been a huge part of the character of what this track is. The kerbs as well. that have been pretty much the same for definitely over 20 years, I would imagine. So it is a big, big change. But ultimately, it’s still the same track. But yeah, we won’t know until tomorrow. It’s going to be a lot smoother, it looks, and probably quite a bit quicker.
CL: Yeah, I agree. It’s difficult to judge for now. The tarmac, ultimately, you get at one point where you’ve got to renew the tarmac. So it’s not like there’s the choice of just keeping the same tarmac for years and years and years. Because at one point, you just get too bumpy. And especially with our Formula 1 cars and the way they are run so low, the tracks have to renew that. So on that, I’m fine. On the kerbs, it’s true that some tracks have the historic kerbs. And even if they renew it, I think in Canada it was done this year where they keep exactly the same shape, which this is nice. But I haven’t tried yet the new kerbs. So maybe they feel even better compared to the old ones. But this I’ll be able to tell you on each more.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Lewis, a question for you again about the tifosi and the connection with them. I know that fan connection with Team LH throughout your career has meant a huge amount, so how excited are you to now build a fresh connection with tifosi and really strengthen that over the coming years?
LH: Honestly, I’m super excited. Every year having coming here and when you’re on the podium and seeing the tifosi all the way down to Turn 1. And throughout the world, to be honest, it’s definitely, again, I don’t know really what to expect, but I’m really looking forward to connecting with that community and being on the journey with them as we work towards taking the team forwards.
Q: (Rodrigo Franca – Car Magazine Brazil) Question to Lewis Hamilton. Lewis, since you signed to Ferrari, do you have a curious or funny story with the Tifosi, like somebody asking you to sign a Ferrari cap, or just saying some Italian words, and you are still learning Italian? How is your Italian, actually?
LH: My Italian is definitely not very good. It’s probably the same as it was when I was in karting, which was pretty bad. I’ve had some people that have asked me to sign Ferrari caps and I’ve been like: ‘no, no, it’s too early. It’s too soon.’ They’re trying to get ahead of the curve. But I have signed some caps, obviously. And yeah, I mean, we’re always talking about the kit and I’m always looking at the progress that they’re making through the year in terms of the image, where they’ve been, and it’s an incredible history they’ve had.
Q: (Phil Duncan – PA) Lewis, there have been times in the past where you’ve been significantly behind in the title race and gone on to win the championship. Lando is obviously 70 points behind Max, nine races to go. Do you think that it’s doable that he can catch Max and maybe overtake him or at least take it to the wire this year?
LH: I mean, there’s a lot of points on the table, so I think it’s not impossible. I think ultimately Max probably only needs to finish second every race to win at this point, and he (Norris) would have to win every single race and that still wouldn’t be enough. So there’ll need to be some fortune in it. I do think, and what’s really exciting, I think there’s a real chance that McLaren could win the Constructors’ title. And I think that’s really, really exciting because obviously I was there when we did win the last Constructors’. Obviously it got taken away from us, but we won it in terms of performance that year. I don’t think they’ve won since, so I think that could be really exciting, I think, not only for them, but also for the sport. And, yeah, I hope that it goes down to the wire, because I think that would be great for the fans. But, yeah, with their performance they showed last weekend, maybe they could.
Q: (Alejandro Alonso Lopez – DiarioMotor.com) Question to Charles. You pointed out earlier that this was a very tiring weekend. I want to know, is there any additional or specific routine you are doing in the evenings this weekend to recover better for the on-track sessions the next morning?
CL: Not really. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Whenever I get to a special race like Monaco or Monza, you just try to do exactly the same thing as what you normally do on a normal race weekend, just to be in the same state of mind. not condition yourself doing anything differently. So that’s my target is to just approach it like a normal weekend and to maximize the results just like we try to do every races. So yeah, that’s it. Then of course there are a lot more things we’ve got to do tonight until very late. I’m in Milan for events which are things that you’ve got to manage as a driver. But apart from that, I just try to approach it as a normal race you can.
Q: (Veliko Jukic – Auto Focus) I have one difficult question for all three of you. You are experienced professionals, top-level sportsmen, and still you drive on the brink of impossible. When you do a really fast corner, when you go straight speed to the maximum possible, when you do one fast corner on the extreme limit, do you still have time for your feelings? Do you have time to say: ‘Wow, that was it? That’s what we live for, that’s what we race for.’
LH: I mean, I think that’s a really good question. I think like anything, there is an element of you being used to it. So when we accelerate down to Turn 1 out of the pit lane, there’s no fear there because it is part of what we do. But I don’t know how it is for everyone else. But for me personally, when I get strapped in the first time and they start up the car, I get the same bubbly feeling inside. And then when everyone moves the tyre blankets away and you pull out into the pit lane and drive out into Turn 1 and just do your first lap, I mean, I always get a huge thrill. And there’s so many moments that I still pinch myself that I still get to do this. It’s really something I wish you could all feel and experience. But the cool thing… And it’s probably why I’m still racing, is that it’s not become such the norm that I don’t feel it. If I was numb to it, that would really suck. And I’d probably be doing something else. But I’d have to fly fighter jets or something really low or something, I don’t know, to come anywhere near close.
NH: Yeah, same. I think we still, obviously, it’s a process and, you know, especially in quali, you know, when you’re on the limit, sometimes over the limit, you’re playing with the limit, you just have to function, you have to do it all. But of course, As you go through the corner, you feel like, ‘OK, that was amazing, I nailed that’. That was perfect or not perfect. On the in-lap, you kind of have a little bit of time to process everything, get ready for the next run, and trying to optimize the next lap already. Yeah, like Louis says, you get used to some things. And it’s our job. But obviously, it’s still very thrilling and exciting and very, very special.
Q: (Dan Lloyd – Racecar Engineering) Lewis, Pirelli are saying that the tyre temperatures could go up, sorry, the track temperature could go up over 50 degrees with the resurfaced tracks. Is that a worry for Mercedes at all?
LH: Not at the moment, no. We had good deg in the last race. I mean, everyone, I think, thinks about it, but I don’t think our deg was particularly bad in the last race and it was kind of warm. It’s not currently a concern. We think the temp… Yeah, if it does get up there, then we’ll deal with it. And I think the surface is going to be really interesting for us all to experience tomorrow.