Hungarian Grand Prix: Post Race press conference

Observe Interviews – Carried out by James Hinchcliffe

Lando, twelfth profession victory, back-to-back right here in Hungary. It was a dominant day, however it did not begin essentially the best way you have been hoping. Stroll us by means of what occurred on that first lap with Oscar in Flip 2.Lando Norris: I am drained! What occurred? I do not know what occurred, to be sincere. I simply saved dropping the rear. I had three or 4 huge snaps. It felt horrible and, in fact, Oscar did a very good job to get the cutback and get previous. I feel I used to be only a bit extensive, within the dust, and recreation over for the primary lap. However, man, I used to be pushing like hell to attempt to pressure him right into a mistake or one thing. My tempo right this moment was most likely among the greatest tempo I’ve ever had. The automotive was lovely to drive and I felt very assured, so a terrific race. To get it again by way of going lengthy, which is definitely not what I used to be anticipating, however the tempo was so good. I may all the time lengthen the stints and more energizing tyres than anybody else within the race. I am simply comfortable to be again and see the primary once more.

Primary in victory lane for the primary time with you on this automotive as World Champion, again within the winner’s circle. The staff did a number of effort, a number of work, to get the upgraded automotive right here. It has clearly labored effectively this weekend. Are you assured, from what you are feeling behind the wheel, that this type of efficiency goes to hold ahead?LN: I wish to imagine so. Contemplating how good it felt right this moment, I definitely wish to imagine that we are able to proceed it. There are going to be moments once we battle extra, moments that could be even higher, however we all know this monitor is an efficient one for us. It is most likely certainly one of my best-suited tracks of the 12 months. That is perhaps pretty much as good as it may search for now, however I definitely imagine we are able to nonetheless win races. I knew it was coming and, such as you mentioned, the staff have put a lot work in to make it a automotive that may lastly win once more. It is good to have the ability to do it for them.

Alright, we’ll come again to you in a second. Max Verstappen, it has been a tough weekend for Crimson Bull. We have heard feedback on the radio: steadiness points, shifting points, the automotive is aerodynamically damaged. You are standing right here in P2. Is that this past what you have been anticipating coming into right this moment?Max Verstappen: Yeah, for certain. I did not anticipate to be on the rostrum right this moment, however we labored arduous for it. I feel the beginning was first rate, to get by means of Turns 1 and a couple of. Then, after the primary cease, to get again forward of Lewis beneath braking into Flip 1. Then simply making an attempt to outlive on the compounds, making an attempt to make the appropriate calls with the technique as effectively. Very comfortable, contemplating, to be second right here.

You had some nice battles on monitor there, particularly with Lewis Hamilton. An awesome dive-bomb into Flip 1 there. Simply stroll us by means of a few of these battles that you simply had on monitor.MV: I noticed the chance as my just one and I simply went for it. We have been good on the brakes, in order that helped, however it was all beneath management.

Excellent, congratulations. Kimi, you look scorching, you look drained. We have talked about how scorching it’s this weekend. What was it like contained in the automotive bodily?Kimi Antonelli: It was a troublesome race. It was actually arduous to overhaul, so we needed to do one thing with the technique. Initially, we tried to go for the one-stop. I attempted to go for the one-stop, however they informed me that the tyre was an excessive amount of on the restrict, so we stopped. Then, with the Digital Security Automotive, the 2 Ferraris boxed and I knew it might have been very arduous as a result of I used to be on Exhausting they usually have been on delicate. Fortunately, we managed to maintain them behind.

Kimi, we’re midway by means of the season now. We head into the summer time break. You’ve got prolonged your lead within the championship. Greater than two full Grand Prix wins is the buffer. Might you ever have imagined being on this place midway by means of the 12 months?KA: No, probably not. In fact, I am very comfortable and it is one of the best ways to enter the summer time break. I feel right this moment was huge injury limitation and we have to maintain pushing as a result of the second half goes to be arduous, however we’ll attempt our greatest.

Nice restoration right this moment from P7. Congratulations on the rostrum. Lando, we discuss momentum on this sport loads. You head into the summer time break off the again of a terrific outcome. How essential is it to maintain the spirits of the staff up going right into a break like this?LN: It helps, that is for certain. It helps you get by means of it. The staff are nonetheless working arduous to convey much more to the automotive. We now have powerful competitors. The Ferraris are fast. Kimi is the one who’s all the time there each single session. He is doing a very good job. If we wish to come again, we’d like much more of those and we have to maintain placing stress on our competitors. At this time, or this weekend, was an ideal weekend for us, however it’ll be powerful. We’ll maintain pushing and dealing arduous. I owe the staff loads. They’ve executed an incredible job to even get again to successful races at this level, so I am proud. We have to get pleasure from a very good break. We’re all going to get pleasure from a pleasant break and a while off, and hopefully we come again even stronger.

Acquired huge plans in your break day?LN: Simply sleep, that is all. Catch up.

Press Convention

Max, why do not we begin with you, please? A superb race. Earlier, you described it as „unbelievable“. Simply inform us how arduous it was to attain this outcome.MV: Yeah, I used to be nonetheless fighting the identical issues as yesterday, so the automotive was simply extraordinarily oversteery, simply degging fairly arduous at one level as effectively. However I do assume that, you recognize, in the beginning, shifting ahead was, in fact, making our first stint potential. Then, in fact, we obtained undercut, however then I made the transfer on Lewis, which I feel made my second stint a little bit bit extra simple. Then the staff additionally put me onto the Softs, which initially I used to be like, „that is going to be a future to the top,“ however we made it work. So, yeah, total, I nonetheless do not actually perceive how we’re second, however I feel as a staff we carried out strongly. So, yeah, I see it as a little bit of an overperformance in comparison with what we anticipated, so I suppose that is, in fact, a very good factor contemplating how every part felt. I additionally noticed, after I jumped out of the automotive once more, there was injury on the automotive for no matter purpose. So, yeah, it was not made straightforward for us.

You say the identical points as yesterday, however are you happier with the automotive right this moment?MV: No. It was precisely the identical. There’s nothing that you could change anyway after qualifying, so I knew that it was going to be powerful, and it was very powerful. Truthfully, I feel it was one of many hardest races of this 12 months by way of how I felt within the automotive, how I needed to handle the steadiness as effectively, nook to nook. So, to be on the rostrum, I feel, was an unbelievable outcome for us.

You talked about your overtake on Lewis Hamilton. Are you able to simply stroll us by means of that one? It regarded very spectacular from the surface.MV: Yeah, I imply, I knew that that was my solely alternative as effectively, as a result of they weren’t too unhealthy by way of tempo. So, after I noticed the chance come up, I went for it and, yeah, it was a very good transfer.

Okay. Now, that is your third podium in 4 races. I get every part you have simply mentioned about this Grand Prix, however as we head into the summer time break, how would you sum up this primary half of 2026?MV: Powerful. On the whole, it has been very powerful. Some good moments, some vivid, shining moments, I suppose, however total, powerful. So, I feel we have to attempt to be extra strong, a bit extra all-round, to have extra simple weekends. Plus, we have to discover extra efficiency. I imply, it is so simple as that on the finish of the day. Then, moreover discovering extra efficiency, simply not having the problems as effectively with the present bundle, for instance, that we have now.

Okay, Max, thanks for that. Kimi, if we may come to you now. P7 on the grid to P3 on the flag. Very effectively executed. Simply how satisfying is a race like that?KA: Yeah, I feel right this moment we maximised the outcome. Clearly, we have been a bit fortunate with the VSC, I imply, with Oscar’s situation, however apart from that, we did the very best we may. Circumstances have been fairly tough right this moment, struggling a little bit bit with oversteer, steadiness after which understeer. So, yeah, situations weren’t straightforward right this moment, however I am proud of the outcome.

You say you maximised the outcome. Had you began increased up, how constant was your velocity right this moment? Do you assume you might have challenged Lando Norris for the win in case you’d been increased on the grid?KA: I do not know. I imply, if I would began P3, then it might have been one other factor. However I feel Lando nonetheless had the higher hand this weekend, even on us. On pure tempo, I do not assume I might have been in a position to problem him, particularly with how tough it was to comply with as effectively, with a number of tyre overheating. So, I feel it might have been very tough. However apart from that, it was a terrific staff effort. Additionally, with technique, we took a threat initially after which we form of pulled again a little bit bit as a result of we have been a bit involved about security. However nonetheless, regardless of that, they put me able to battle for, finally, the rostrum. So, it was a terrific staff effort.

And, Kimi, only a second of reflection from you as effectively. 9 podiums in 11 races. All of us knew you had a very good automotive coming into the season, however have the outcomes exceeded even your pre-season expectations?KA: Nicely, for certain, I didn’t look forward to finding myself on this place. However, you recognize, the automotive has been extraordinarily good, the staff has executed an unbelievable job and, on my aspect, I attempt to maximise each alternative I’ve. In fact, there’s nonetheless plenty of work to do, heaps to be taught, however it was a very good first half of the season. Now I am wanting ahead to the second half and we’re simply going to maintain pushing.

Take a look at our Sunday gallery from the Hungaroring right here.