DRIVER GROUP 1 – Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren), Lando NORRIS (McLaren), Yuki TSUNODA (AlphaTauri), Alex ALBON (Williams), Nico HÜLKENBERG (Haas).
Q: Let’s start with the local hero. Yuki: Suzuka, what does this race mean to you?
Yuki TSUNODA: Yeah, first of all, the track layout is amazing. It’s my favourite track. So I’m just really looking forward to driving here on track. Seems to be good weather this week. So I can feel pure kind of performance, Formula 1 as performance, here in Suzuka especially in the first sector. You know, like, last chicane is a fast chicane and, you know, that’s kind of proper aerodynamic downforce corners. And yeah, also for the fans, as well. You know, like it’s really far away, normally, from Japan, to feel any kind of support exactly. You know, I didn’t expect… It’s always a surprise the amount of people supporting Formula 1, because, to be honest, it’s hard to know exactly the amount of people watching Formula 1 from Japan but yeah, even yesterday, even to two days before I went to Tokyo and did a couple of promotions and stuff and I saw lots of Formula 1 fans there and I feel I got a really warm welcome from them. So yeah, so it’s nice to be here and looking forward to it.
Q: Tell us about your history with this racetrack. When did you first come to Suzuka?
YT; I think I was 16 years old.
Alex ALBON: I thought it would be younger than that?
YT: No, I was 16 years actually
AA: Six or 16?
YT: Ah, OK. You mean the track itself? So as a spectator, maybe earlier, yeah. So I think I was maybe 14, 13 years old. I think I remember when Seb was driving with Red Bull. I think that was the first time I came here, Still probably the engine sound was really loud. And so I remember I was wearing kind of earplugs. It’s incredible. For me, it’s the best place to watch Formula 1 from the outside, especially around Turn 1, Turn 2, even like first Sector. I can see the Formula 1 car going into the corners with a sparkling kind of a yellow spark. And I can see how fast they are. And I feel always impressed. Also Turn 7 and Turn 8, the Degner curves, that place is just incredible.
Q: Most of the corners are incredible. Can we talk a little bit about your approach to this weekend, because you’ve had a very tough last couple of races, failing to complete a lap in either one. How does that change your approach coming here?
YT: Nothing I think. I just probably thin… I just put down like just unfortunate, especially Monza was things I couldn’t really control. Singapore, obviously there was a bit of room to improve myself but also just didn’t work out in the end, just things that also happened that I cannot really control as well. So I just reset. I take it positive, just hopefully I digest every bad luck from there. And yeah, hopefully I can have a good race week here. So just reset and think positive.
Q: And you’ve got the updates. You ran the updates in Singapore, didn’t you? What did you learn about them during practice there and do you think the car will be better here?
YT: The car was good in Singapore. I think also the car itself, the characteristics of the Singapore track, anyway, was probably suiting us anyway. When we see Baku, normally we’re fast there, it’s a kind of a mechanical grip track and we’re quite fast. We see here I think we can see proper aerodynamics, if we actually gain from the aerodynamic side from the car. So yeah, if we perform well, I’m quite, you know, optimistic for the second half of the season. But we’re expecting good performance here as well. So yeah, hopefully we can put it all together and aiming for good results.
Q: Alright, well, best of luck. Enjoy the support. Alex, coming to you now. Is Checo Pérez, still on your Christmas card list?
AA: You should ask Yuki that as well. Yeah, of course he is. You know, it was a bit disappointing, of course, at the race last week, just points for us, especially, you know, as they come long and far away from each other, so not to be able to score points was a bit of a shame. But all forgiven. And you know, we’re going into Suzuka, a track that should play a bit more into our car. But yeah, it was a bit of a… I think it was more disappointing because we didn’t have many hopes going into Singapore last week and to be in a position where we could have almost scored points was exciting. And then I think, normally, as long as we kept it on track, we would have scored some points. But we didn’t.
Q: It’s a return to the harder compound tyres here. Does the car normally perform well in those conditions?
AA: Honestly, tyres aren’t such a big thing. It’s more just about the circuit itself. I think it’s, kind of, low-braking, high-speed kind of corners around here. And that’s actually a style that suits us. We’ve got some proto tyres to test this weekend. I think that’s going to be quite interesting just to see, and give us a lot of mileage, basically, as drivers, to be on low fuel or get the most out of it. But yeah, honestly, not so different.
Q: And is it fair to say that you love Suzuka? And I cast my mind back to 2019 when you set an identical lap time to Max Verstappen in Q3.
AA: Yeah, yeah, I love this circuit. I think it’s actually my favourite circuit of the year. It’s kind of what Yuki said: it’s that feeling that you can really drive the corners and really feel what it’s like to drive a Formula 1 car, which sounds silly to say, but a track like Singapore, you don’t really feel like you’re driving a Formula 1 car, whereas here just the speed, and because it’s so tight, so narrow, there’s grass either side, the immersion in speed, the feeling of speed is a bit more than you get, for example, at Paul Ricard so it’s very special.
Q: Alright, final one from me. Just tell us about the level of support that you have here?
AA: Not as much as Yuki, that’s for sure. But it’s OK. It’s not bad.
YT: Japan loves you.
AA: It loves me? You love me or Japan loves me? Everyone loves me! Thank you. No, it’s a great place. I actually would say Singapore was a bit more my home race than here but as Yuki said, apparently I’m welcome here. I love the food. I think I’ve gained about three kilos in the in the three days I’ve been here so. So that’s been good.
Q: Sounds fun. Thank you. Best of luck to you. Nico, coming to you now. What does this race mean to you? Because you’ve always gone pretty well here.
Nico HÜLKENBERG: Is that so? 2019 didn’t go so well. That was my last time here, but yeah, it’s a cool place. It’s a fun circuit. Definitely ranks very high on my favourite list too. And yes, it’s very different. It’s always exciting coming to Japan and spending a couple of days here.
Q: Tell us what you’ve been up to. I think you’ve been in Tokyo, right?
NH: I think we all have, pretty much. I didn’t see many other F1 faces. But yeah, obviously there’s limited time in between and, you know, Tokyo is always worth a trip.
Q: What is the secret to a good lap around Suzuka?
NH: Be quick. You know, connect all the sectors, have a good car balance. Obviously, there are a lot of grip-limited zones, a lot of change of directions. It’s quick and flowing, as we know. So yeah, I guess, ultimately, it comes down to you know how much grip you have and a good balance. I think it’s quite challenging for us here this weekend. Singapore last week, I think was definitely one of our stronger weekends, especially recently. Think here this weekend, obviously quite different characteristics and I think they will challenge us.
Q: Hulk so many people talk about Sector 1 here. What is it like to drive? Are you hitting the brakes?
NH: I don’t know yet. Let’s see, but I don’t think so. I think it’s just lifting.
Q: Just all about precision.
NH: Yes.
Q: OK. Just a quick question about tyres. We’re going back to the harder compounds. Is that good or bad news for you?
NH: Neither, I think. It’s obviously the same for everyone. But I think that neutral. It doesn’t play a main factor. Obviously, it’s high energy, high deg, therefore, and I think the soft compounds would really struggle here. So, you know, it’s in line with what this circuit needs.
Q: Best of luck to you. Thank you. I think there’s congratulations in order. Oscar, you’ve just extended your contract with McLaren. Give us your thoughts?
Oscar PIASTRI: Yeah, obviously very happy to have that announced already. You know, it was already around for next year but to announce it for the end of ’26 now is very exciting. Very happy to have my future secured for a long time in papaya. So I’m looking forward to it.
Q: Why two more years? Everyone seems to sign two-year deals at the minute – both Mercedes drivers, you as well?
OP: I don’t know. I mean, I’ve still got three years after this. But it’s… You know, I think everybody… It’s always nice to have a sense of security. And I think, for me, it made sense from my point of view, from a team point of view as well. So yeah, just that longevity and continuation together as well. Yeah, nice confidence for us all.
Q: Now, this is your first trip to Japan. How are you finding it?
OP: It’s been cool. I’ve been Tokyo as well. And yeah, it’s been a really cool experience. Came to Suzuka last night and yeah, it’s obviously a bit different to Tokyo, out here. But no, I’m enjoying it a lot. Tokyo I really loved, first time. So yeah, enjoying my time here so far.
Q: Now, I’m going to apologise in advance for this next question. But I did read somewhere that you learned to speak Japanese when you were at school. So I was wondering if you could give a message to your Japanese friends in Japanese?
OP: So, this was a long time ago. I did study Japanese at school for three or four years, but that was probably about 10 years ago now. So I don’t remember much. But yeah, arigato gozaimasu, I mean, it’s very, very simple. So yeah, I know a few words here and there, but not enough to say thank you. So thank you. And hopefully it’s a good weekend.
Q: Alright. Well, final one from me. Just describe the sense of anticipation ahead of your first laps of Suzuka?
OP: Yeah, I’m really excited. It’s a circuit I’ve heard plenty of things about and obviously watched a lot growing up, being in Australia as this was one of the races that was actually quite friendly for me to watch. So yeah, I’ve watched it a lot. I’ve driven it on video games and simulators. It’s always been a fun track. So I’m looking forward to getting out there tomorrow.
Q: Mark Webber had a couple of podiums here back in the day. He’s your manager. What advice has he given you?
OP: Prepare your neck for Sector 1. That was the first piece of advice and yeah, obviously, there’s so many factors here, you know. The wind can play a massive, massive role, especially through the high-speed corners; it’s a long race, a lot of corners where you put a lot of energy through the tyres. So yeah, a lot of factors. But your neck’s probably a big one.
Q: Thank you very much. Lando, coming to you. Can we start by getting your thoughts on a few more years working with Oscar?
Lando NORRIS: Yeah, first, I mean, congrats to him. I think any contract that allows you to be longer in Formula 1 is a great thing. He’s performed, he’s done everything he’s needed to, and probably, I think, exceeded most people’s expectations from what he’s been able to achieve already this season. He’s pushed me a lot. And it’s not a nice thing. It’s not what I want. But yeah, he’s done a really good job. So congrats to him for another few years. And yeah, we’ve had a fun first half of the season. And it’s a lot of progress. And I think for him to be part of that progress, and to hopefully continue that into next year. ’25 and ‘26 for himself, is going to be something to look forward to.
Q: You say he’s pushing you a lot. When you look at the whole grid how strong is McLaren’s driver line-up now?
LN: The strongest.
Q: And how strong is your car? You had the upgrades in Singapore. Do you think that will translate?
LN: Yes. It’s tough to say. I don’t know. I want to believe so. I think everything did it was what it was meant to do. And I think we definitely took some steps forward. I don’t think we’re confident in saying we’re as quick as Red Bull. I think Red Bull will probably be dominant this weekend. But I think comparing us to Ferrari and Mercedes then Mercedes have been just a lot more consistent than what we have. We still fluctuate quite a bit. On a good weekend we can be very, very good and maybe a little bit ahead, like we’ve seen in Silverstone and things like that. But on the whole Mercedes have probably been the second best car this season, then Ferrari and then then us so far. We’re getting there. It’s still a very different circuit to Singapore with these upgrades. So there’s all things for us to find out and analyse from Suzuka.
Q: You say Red Bull are going to bounce back. How sure can you be of that?
LN: Pretty much a guarantee.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) Congratulations, Oscar, on the new deal. But Yuki, let’s talk AlphaTauri. The assumption is that you’ll be driving for AlphaTauri next season. And if you want to enlighten us as to any progress on contracts, please do, but if you are, who should your teammate be?
YT: Yeah, so we’re speaking already. It’s not confirmed yet. But I don’t know, to be honest. I think both perspective have positives. Daniel brings definitely more experience. And he showed a lot of feedback, comparison, he’s got really good kind of… Yeah, he definitely can tell more details about the how the car is behaving. So I think it helps a lot for the engineers. And I think engineers like it, especially how he talks and how he helped the development side. So if the team wants to develop the car more to be competitive, maybe Daniel. But at the same time, Liam, I think he showed in the first three races that immediately he showed the good performance. And probably he’s still progressing. So on the performance side… Obviously I’ve just done, with Daniel, two races, and it was not really probably the best time for AlphaTauri as well. And in the last two when Liam actually came into the Formula 1, the car was pretty good – Monza and Singapore – so actually, he had a good time as well. But at the same time he definitely perform well. So yeah, I think AlphaTauri itself, we know it’s like a junior team. So yeah, I think there is a bit more risk (in that) if we think about the results in general, so… Yeah, depends on what they are thinking. You know, if they want more results. probably Daniel would probably be more easier. He has more experience, especially, maybe, he can extract that results maybe, but also Liam, you know… I don’t know. I probably… It’s hard. I’m scared to say…
AA: Sounds like Yuki Marko!
YT: I think Liam also (got) the best score, you know, he got ninth. I’ve never done ninth. So I’ll stop here. Maybe, Liam and Daniel. Three seats!
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Lando, a question for you. You said that any contract that allows you to extend in Formula 1 is a good thing. I know you’ve got another two years to run on your contract, but are you already talking to McLaren about plans beyond 2025? Because obviously there’s a lot of noise around your possible future and that you might be quite an important person in the driver market moving forward?
LN: Yeah. There are always things every now and then. I would love to. I’ve always said I want to win with McLaren. And I think we’re getting closer and closer to achieving that. And not just to win races, but win championships, both Driver and Constructor. I want to do it with McLaren. I’m very happy there. So if I was to spend 10 or 15 years there I’m not going to ever say no. I think that’s something I would look forward to. But I’m very much just concentrated on this year, next year and ’25. I think that’s two-and-a-half years to try and progress and we’ll see then. But things (crop up) every now and then but nothing more than that.
Q: (Matt Coch – Speedcafe) Your new contract takes you into ‘26 obviously the new era with regs and whatever. How much did that play in the conversation that you had with McLaren, given that, I guess what you’ve got now is unknown then, even as far as engines go?
OP: I mean, it wasn’t a massive factor, to be honest. I think, you know, for me, obviously I’m still only, I think 14 races into my career. So, I think more just having a team around me that’s very supportive, that were keen to have me in Formula 1 in the first place. To be able to continue that journey is the more important thing. And obviously, we’ve made a lot of strides and a lot of progress this year, firstly on the car and the team point of view, but also, they’ve been helping me develop as well. So, yeah, I feel very much at home and I think just continuing that for everybody involved was the main thing about that.
Q: (Adam Cooper – Motorsport.com) As has just been mentioned, Oscar’s committed to ’26 and the new engine regulations. I know it’s still a long way away but are you guys already starting to think about the engine situation across the teams and trying to position yourself to be in the best possible place?
NH: I think there’s still so much gap between now and then. I mean, sounds like quite a big change. And for sure, I think beginning of next year, you start to wonder about that. The Musical Chairs I think will move in and work quite a bit next year and I think naturally things will fall in place for people so yeah, depends what happens, how you perform and how strong your value is.
AA: Yeah, I think just as Nico said. Of course we are paying attention to it, I think it’s more that it’s the teams that are paying attention to it more than drivers. We’ve just got to focus on our jobs. I think it’s as Nico said we will have our own stock and then it’s our performances that raise or lower it. And then, that’s it really. I think more than ever this… I don’t know, I haven’t been in the sport long enough but it does seem like there’s been a big push around 2026 in general from the whole paddock about keeping… there is a big move around then and that’s when we’re going to get the big Musical Chairs like Nico said.
YT: I’m quite scared now, talking about drivers line-ups! We’ll see. Obviously for me now it’s Red Bull family, so it would be nice if I’m part of Red Bull. And yeah also about Honda as well, so see how it looks like. But yeah, I think same copy/paste as them.
Yuki, where does your loyalty lie? With Red Bull or Honda?
YT: Both! Both definitely. I mean, Honda has supported me from 16 years old. Actually started from this track. So without them, obviously I’m not here – but same time, without Red Bull, I’m not here as well. So, it’s hard to say but they are different. I think they combine very well as a junior category, when I was a junior. They helped me in both ways and it’s balanced actually really well. So definitely both.
Q: (Matt Coch – Speedcafe) Yuki, just before, you spoke about the virtues of Daniel and Liam in the other car. How confident are you that you’re not going to be the odd one out next year?
YT: We’ll see soon. You’ll know soon.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) For all five, whoever wants to answer. Alex, picking up on your point about the immersion of speed around Suzuka. It’s such an incredible circuit. When you look at the F1 calendar and tracks like this, how much do weekends and circuits here really remind you of why you became an F1 driver and the thrill and rush you enjoy while racing as opposed to maybe more sanitized circuits?
LN: I think quite a bit. Like Yuki mentioned and Alex, I think when you go to Singapore, it’s still amazing to drive it into Formula 1 car and probably still quicker than any other car you can go around Singapore in but you don’t feel the same speeds like you do here: you don’t get that same feeling of what an F1 car is really capable of, because where it performs better than anything is high-speed corners. So yeah, I think a lot of it is about that. Also, the room for error is pretty small. There’s a lot of consequences as soon as you go off pretty much anywhere. I know some places have changed, and there’s a lot more Tarmac run-off, like in the Spoon corner and things like that. Maybe Turn 1 as well, but it’s not changed much over the years, which I think is one of the best things about it. It’s not just Tarmac everywhere, they’ve still got grass, you’ve got that bit of risk, that element of risk, which I think is always genuine, it always feels very natural and definitely adds to, say, a Qualifying lap, with how much risk you want to take. Especially through Turns 7 and 8, you’re always a bit afraid of running too wide, things like that, because you know if you put a wheel half a metre too wide, it’s game over. So it’s exciting. It definitely brings a few more nerves while putting a lap together and driving. But, yeah, probably one of the ones I look forward to the most every season. I think a lot of drivers do, They said it was their favourite ones and probably up there with one of my favourites too. So yeah, you experienced what Formula 1 Car is capable of and just whole experience of driving here is always a lot of fun.
AA: Lando, there, was pretty extensive and complete.
Oscar, probably best coming to you after the weekend. How was it on the sim?
OP: It was cool. I walked it this morning. But I think any sort of like historic track where there’s a bit more risk, it’s a bit more old school. It almost, in some ways, for myself, it reminded me a bit of when I was coming through the junior ranks, on almost some of the British circuits, where there’s a lot of consequences. It’s just a bit more old school. So it looks cool, the layout looks cool, but yeah, also I guess, it just bites you a bit harder, which, of course when it does bite, it’s never fun, but it adds that element of risk and excitement.
Q: (Adam Cooper – Motorsport.com) For all of you. Were you surprised that Max got away with reprimands for impeding last week instead of grid penalties? Do you have any concerns about consistency? Because Pierre got quite excited about it. He says he’s going to bring it up with the FIA.
NH: You mean the pit lane stuff on Saturday? I mean, I’ve seen it. I know too little about it. What Pierre wasn’t happy about it? He felt it should have been penalised – or what? I don’t know everything about it. I think it’s a fine line there. I think Pierre is probably pushing for what you can do. But, I mean, they looked into it and yeah, that’s it.
AA: Yeah, I think it’s quite a tricky one because I think consistency is… we push on it a lot as drivers, I think as teams as well and viewers as well, but it’s a tricky one. For example, you could take my incident with Checo, when he has a five-second penalty, it’s consistent with everything else, but is it really fair? Maybe not. So I do think there needs to be flexibility in some ways. To answer the question about Max, same as Nico, I haven’t really seen it but I do think things don’t need to be as consistent as they are right now.
LN: I don’t want to say too much because I’ll just create controversy. I think the blocking one on track should have been a penalty. He blocked someone: it’s not just down to the team. I know the team got the fine in the end of the day, but it should be down to the driver as well to look in his mirrors and see if someone’s… you’ve got nothing else to do the whole lap but look in your mirrors and it seems like a lot of people struggle to do that. But I think, yeah, it should just be harsher penalties for blocking people, because so many people do it, it ruins your lap, it ruins your Qualifying. It put Yuki out in Qualifying and he was P1 in Q1. Probably would have been P1 in Q3 if he went all the way. Just no one seems to care enough. It’s happened a lot this season, happened to me quite a few times, especially with certain teams – but it’s also down to the driver to look in the mirror, like they got nothing else to do but hit the recharge button and look in your mirror and people seem to struggle to be able to do that in Formula 1, which is a surprise. But yeah, I’ll probably block someone out this weekend and make myself look stupid.
Q: Yuki, just very briefly from you?
YT: I don’t want to really talk about like Singapore… but in general to be honest it feels like I’m quite getting consistent penalties, to be honest. So yeah, but it is what it is. I spoke with FIA actually in Monza, so I understand what they were thinking in general.