Response: what drivers say after thrilling Austria qualifying

The qualifying session on the Crimson Bull Ring changed into a thriller with Max Verstappen and the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz battle it out for the primary beginning place for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. In the long run, it was the double world champion to come back out on prime, however Leclerc was proper on his heels together with his up to date Ferrari SF23.

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, 2nd, 1:04.439

“It feels good to lastly have a clear qualifying once more and to be again on the entrance row. The sensation from the automotive has been a bit higher within the final three races after which in Q1 and Q2, it was all about constructing as much as that lap in Q3 and I managed to place every thing into that final lap and obtained very near Max.

“We hadn’t anticipated to be that near the Crimson Bull so it’s a great step ahead and I want to thank everybody again on the manufacturing facility for all of the work they’ve finished in the previous few weeks with the intention to carry an replace bundle at Spielberg, sooner than deliberate. It’s actually spectacular and helped us to carry out nicely at present. Now we have to affirm that within the races, tomorrow and Sunday. Ranging from the Dash we have to concentrate on consistency and we are going to see on Sunday if we’ve got the identical race tempo as in Montreal.”

Carlos Sainz, third, 1:04.581

“Total it was a optimistic day for me and the group as we are going to begin second and third for the GP on Sunday. The automotive was good all day and I used to be quick from the beginning, which is at all times a great signal. We do not have many indications on our race tempo in comparison with our rivals however we sit up for tomorrow’s and Saturday’s races with confidence.”

Alpine

Esteban Ocon, twelfth, 1:05.438

“It’s not been a straightforward day for us as we didn’t attain Q3, which is the minimal intention for every qualifying session. We had been within the prime ten in Q2, however our lap was deleted for monitor limits, which we noticed many occasions this afternoon up and down the grid. The margins are very small right here, and we actually should push the boundaries particularly on the closing two corners as that’s the place time is to achieve.

“It’s disappointing, however I’m assured we will recuperate some locations in Sunday’s race from twelfth on the grid. We’ll evaluate at present however now our focus turns to the Dash Day tomorrow with one other Qualifying session earlier than the Dash Race. There is a chance to attain factors tomorrow and that’s our goal.”

Pierre Gasly, ninth, 1:05.170

“It was a difficult session for everybody with all of the monitor limits incidents, so it was all about pushing every thing to the utmost, making an attempt to extract as a lot lap time as doable but additionally staying inside the limits, particularly on the closing two corners. I focused having a trouble-free session, particularly after the final two races, so I’m happy that was the case at present. We positively have a automotive able to being within the prime ten and there’s one other good alternative tomorrow within the Dash. It’d rain and I’m assured we will rating factors from the 2 remaining days in Austria.”

Crimson Bull

Max Verstappen, 1st, 1:04.391

“It’s nice to be on pole right here on the Crimson Bull Ring, it feels good. It wasn’t a simple qualifying due to all of the monitor limits. It’s very onerous to guage the white line right here, loads of us obtained caught out so at the least it wasn’t simply us. At the moment was all about surviving, we simply wanted to financial institution the laps as we weren’t capable of push onerous. It’s such a brief lap right here so we’re all fairly shut collectively. We’ve obtained an extended weekend forward so so much can occur, tomorrow will likely be a totally totally different story. At the moment, the automotive was fast and we had been forward, that’s a very powerful factor.”

Sergio Perez, fifteenth, 2:06.668

“I believe we most positively had the tempo at present and you would see that as qualifying progressed. I’m upset, particularly with my closing lap. It’s at all times effective margins at this circuit and the primary two laps that I had deleted for monitor limits the principles had been clear and I settle for these selections from the stewards. On my closing run in Q2 I attempted to push as finest as I might inside these limits and was on a great lap however was in site visitors and that was trickier to maintain clear. It’s what it’s, we sit up for tomorrow, it’s a new alternative.

“Probably the most optimistic factor is that we’ve got the tempo after which we are going to attempt to recuperate on Sunday afternoon for the race. I’m feeling slightly higher however nonetheless not 100%, my entire focus is on being ready for tomorrow’s Dash after which racing nicely on Sunday.”

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton, fifth, 1:04.819

“It was a tricky session at present, however fortunately we obtained by way of it. This monitor has at all times been a problem for our automotive previously and it confirmed once more at present, so I’ll take P5. It’s a great, robust place to start out the race from on Sunday. I’m not fairly positive but, the place precisely we stand with our race tempo, presumably we’re third or fourth quickest. We’re making an attempt to concentrate on us and to get round as fast as we will, so we are going to work onerous in a single day and attempt to do higher in dash qualifying tomorrow, relying on climate circumstances and temperatures.”

George Russell, eleventh, 1:05.428

“We weren’t fast sufficient at present and from the primary laps within the follow session I didn’t have the very best really feel of the automotive. Clearly, it’s difficult going right into a dash race weekend like this, as you simply don’t have the time to make needed modifications. We’ll see what we will do in a single day going into tomorrow and the way we will enhance forward of the dash qualifying. P11 is clearly not the very best beginning place for Sunday, however we’ve had some good outcomes ranging from additional down the sector this yr so I’m hopeful we will battle our method again in the course of the race.”

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso, seventh, 1:04.911

“I really feel good after that qualifying session. It is at all times intense qualifying right here the place the lap occasions are so shut. In the event you have a look at the timing board all through the three classes, there are two or three tenths between a lot of automobiles. Monitor limits had been tight, and I had a few laps deleted as I used to be making an attempt to actually decide to these quick corners, but it surely was the identical for everybody and one thing we’re used to round this circuit.

“We had one lap time deleted in Q2, which compelled us to place an additional set of tyres on the automotive to progress. It then meant we solely had one probability on new tyres in Q3, which wasn’t splendid. Sixth and seventh are robust beginning positions for us. I believe it will be attention-grabbing and thrilling with the climate as there’s a probability of rain tomorrow and possibly dry circumstances on Sunday. The automotive feels good, so I am optimistic heading into the remainder of the weekend.”

Lance Stroll, sixth, 1:04.893

“I used to be pleased with how the AMR23 was feeling at present and happy with my closing lap; I believe we obtained every thing we might have out of that qualifying session. Monitor limits had been tight, and I had a few laps deleted as I used to be making an attempt to actually decide to these quick corners, but it surely was the identical for everybody and one thing we’re used to round this circuit. It appears to be like like we may very well be in for some barely difficult climate circumstances for the Dash occasions tomorrow, so it is good to have a strong beginning place on the board as we sit up for Sunday’s race.”

McLaren

Lando Norris, 4th, 1:04.658

“I’m tremendous pleased with P4. It was among the finest qualifying classes of the season. The automotive was feeling good at present, I had loads of confidence and was chipping away by way of qualifying so I’m glad. The group did an superior job on getting the upgrades prepared for this race they usually did an amazing job at present to get us there. I believe I might’ve had slightly bit extra as I made a small mistake within the final nook, which possible price me P3, so I’m slightly bit pissed off, however on the identical time, I’m taking a P4 day by day. So, I’m glad, we’re in a great place for Sunday and we’ll attempt to do the identical once more tomorrow.”

Oscar Piastri, thirteenth, 1:05.605

“So, P13 in qualifying. It’s a little bit of a disgrace as I’d have been in Q3 with out the lap deletion. The tempo was very encouraging for each myself and Lando. The brand new improve is wanting good, so an enormous thanks to the group for all of their work. We’ll strive once more tomorrow to get into the highest 10 after which, in fact, for Sunday, we’ll attempt to make our method into the factors if we will.”

Alfa Romeo

Valtteri Bottas, 14th, 1:05.680

“In fact, we had been focusing on one thing greater than Q2, however on the optimistic, we’ve got seen how margins are very small as soon as once more. Total, it’s been a comparatively regular qualifying session, though I spun firstly of Q1: I obtained too near a Crimson Bull who didn’t see me, and I misplaced the again finish. It wasn’t splendid, however I fortunately managed to get again underway with the session. We’re nonetheless missing a little bit of efficiency on the one lap, and that is what we’ll be placing our concentrate on in a single day. Tomorrow is a brand new day, and Sunday as nicely: there are nonetheless a lot of alternatives for us to enhance. Our goal, as at all times, is to get into the factors, and that’s what we’ll be working in the direction of.”

Zhou Guanyu, Xth, 1:05.818

“I really feel like the place we’re at present doesn’t actually replicate our performances: I reckon we had the tempo for extra. In the direction of the tip of Q1, I discovered myself in the back of the pack and stood nonetheless for over 10 seconds, dropping so much in sector one as a result of tyres not being heat sufficient. I nonetheless managed to barely recuperate in sector three, however that didn’t find yourself making sufficient of a distinction.

“Nonetheless, I really feel just like the potential was positively there at present, so I can not say I’m fully glad with this session. Now, our focus will likely be on tomorrow, particularly on the Shootout: hopefully, we’ll be within the battle for some factors. As for the the automotive, we’ve got been capable of finding a fairly respectable stability, it total felt okay. I nonetheless assume we’ve got the potential to be transferring ahead tomorrow, and on Sunday as nicely: I’m assured we’ve got an opportunity to climb up the sector, and get into the factors.”

Haas

Nico Hulkenberg, eighth, 1:05.090

“Q3 is at all times excellent news. We all know although the issue is within the race for us, however I’m glad to have one other easy qualifying. I extracted every thing from the automotive, and it was a clear execution from myself and the group, which is a optimistic, and superb for at present. One session of 1 hour could be very little time to do issues and also you even have to organize slightly bit for qualifying. Tomorrow we’ll get a primary learn and a primary reply on the way it’s going to go.”

Kevin Magnussen, nineteenth, 1:05.971

“It’s all so tight for the time being. I had site visitors with Verstappen at Flip 1 on the primary lap of my closing run, however that lap was deleted for monitor limits, it wouldn’t have counted anyway. Then on my second try I had a downshift fault, it wouldn’t downshift, so it price me slightly little bit of time at Flip 3 as I used to be within the unsuitable gear. When it’s this tight, in reality it’s unbelievably tight – slightly situation like that could be very pricey. Usually you will get away with one thing like this, however we had been simply on the unsuitable finish of it at present.”

Williams

Logan Sargeant, 18th, 1:05.948

“I’ve obtained combined emotions after that session. I’m genuinely fairly pleased with my lap. I used to be lacking a bit this morning in Free Follow and knew I had a great bit to search out however I felt prefer it was coming. I discovered most of it by way of Sectors 1 and a couple of. I struggled slightly bit to guage the final two corners with monitor limits. Clearly not desirous to lose my lap, I possibly left slightly bit an excessive amount of on the desk. Tomorrow is one other good day to continue to learn. It appears to be like moist so some extra time in these circumstances can be good for me and a pleasant change. The grid is brutally shut, and I simply should be that bit higher.”

Alex Albon, tenth, 1:05.823

“I’m feeling snug concerning the outcome we delivered at present in qualifying, as regardless of the monitor limits, we’d’ve completed P10 regardless. We obtained by way of to Q3 due to a number of different drivers affected by monitor limits, so P10 was positively the very best we might do. The upgrades are working however I believe we had a bit extra uncooked tempo in Canada than we do right here. We’ve some fast automobiles in entrance and behind us on Sunday, so let’s see how we go.”

AlphaTauri

Nyck de Vries, twentieth, 1:05.974

“I believe we weren’t fairly robust sufficient at present. Particularly because the session developed, I felt as if we had been dropping efficiency. In my final run, I made a mistake in Flip 1 and misplaced two tenths, which might’ve put us barely extra within the combine. Nonetheless, I don’t assume we had been robust sufficient to proceed to Q2. Tomorrow is one other day with new alternatives and totally different climate circumstances, so we’ll get one other shot at maximising our efficiency.”

Yuki Tsunoda, sixteenth, 1:05.784

“I’m very pissed off as a result of I couldn’t maximise our efficiency at present attributable to site visitors. The second push was actually good, Q2 was doable at present, and clearly, the pack remains to be tight, so it’s a disgrace, however it’s what it’s. Tomorrow appears totally different in comparison with at present, with potential rain forecasted, so we’ve got to be ready, and I’ll put my full effort into Dash qualifying.”