Formula 1 – FIA Team Principals press conference at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2024.
Peter BAYER (RB), Bruno FAMIN (Alpine), Alessandro ALUNNI BRAVI (Kick Sauber), Christian HORNER (Red Bull Racing)
Q: Peter, let’s start with you. You’re approaching the first anniversary of your tenure as CEO of VCARB. Can we take a moment to reflect? How do you perceive your first year? What stands out as your proudest accomplishment thus far?
Peter BAYER: Good afternoon, everyone. It’s been an extraordinary year. For six months, I had the privilege of collaborating with Franz Tost, who has crafted an incredible legacy in Italy and the UK. Alongside Laurent Mekies, who joined us on January 1st, we had the honor of taking the helm of the team. Our primary focus was on evolving the team’s culture and mindset, which I believe we are gradually achieving. This shift has also attracted new talent to our team, individuals who might not have considered us previously. It’s also heartening to see our two drivers finding performance and propelling us forward. On a personal note, as an Austrian, it’s a great honor to be part of the Red Bull family. The year has flown by, but it’s been immensely enjoyable.
Q: The car this year is swift and evolving rapidly. Can you consistently challenge Aston Martin moving forward?
PB: If only I knew… Our goal was to lead the midfield, with P11 being our “pole position.” Our recent upgrade from Miami, intended for Imola, has enhanced our performance. Both drivers are confident in the car, but Aston Martin has also introduced significant upgrades. The mindset change is crucial—we’re looking ahead, pushing relentlessly, and challenging them one by one. We’ll fight until the end.
Q: Let’s discuss drivers. Yuki has scored points in four of the last five races. Has he improved since last year?
PB: Absolutely. He’s made significant strides in both physical preparation and mental readiness. For example, he’s realized that swearing on the radio costs him valuable time, so he’s more controlled now. He’s extremely professional in his feedback with the engineers and has undoubtedly made a significant step forward.
Q: Are you eager to retain him next year?
PB: Yes.
Q: When will you confirm your drivers for next year?
PB: We’re very satisfied with both our drivers and not wasting time on speculative discussions. Our focus is on performance, and the primary concern is catching up to Aston Martin rather than debating driver line-ups.
Q: Final question from me. Both drivers lost positions at the start last time out in Imola. Is this an area of concern as we head into this race weekend?
PB: Our starts have been inconsistent this season. Imola, with its tricky Turn 1, exacerbated our issues, but we were also unlucky. We can improve in all areas, including tires and clutch management. We need to broaden our operational window to make our performance less sensitive to specific conditions.
Q: Peter, thank you. I’m sure there’ll be more questions for you later. Bruno, let’s turn to you now. A challenging start to the weekend in FP1. What were Pierre’s issues?
Bruno FAMIN: Good afternoon, everyone. Anticipating your question about drivers, my answer aligns with Peter’s.
Q: So you want Yuki and Daniel next year?
BF: Precisely. Regarding Pierre, it was a wastegate issue, which we resolved during the session. He managed a couple of laps at the end to ensure everything was fine. Now, we’re focusing on FP2.
Q: What about Esteban’s side? Did you make good progress?
BF: We know this weekend will be tough for our car, which is stiff and low. We’ll struggle if it remains dry, but it’s a chance to work on the setup and continuously improve the car.
Q: You anticipate a difficult weekend, but considering the car’s progress since the season’s start, how satisfied are you with the recovery?
BF: I’m pleased with the team’s response. We’ve managed to introduce upgrades ahead of schedule and reach the minimum weight. Now, we’re transitioning to the next phase of development. Having David Sanchez onboard for the past two weeks will expedite our recovery.
Q: Has David Sanchez had an immediate impact on the car’s performance?
BF: While there’s no magic in car performance, he’s significantly impacted the team’s mindset and has set a clear development direction for the car and future models.
Q: Bruno, final question about drivers. Is your primary plan for 2025 to retain your current drivers?
BF: Our focus is on improving the team. We have two good drivers and excellent talent in our academy. We’re in no rush or pressure regarding the driver market.
Q: Thank you, Bruno. Alessandro, let’s turn to you. The last few races have been tough, especially in qualifying. What have been the issues with the car?
Alessandro ALUNNI BRAVI: Good afternoon, everyone. The issue has been a lack of performance. We started FP1 on the back foot and couldn’t recover in time for qualifying. Our race pace was better, but we need to accelerate upgrades. We introduced a new floor in Imola, which helped but wasn’t enough. Here, we have a new rear wing concept to find additional performance, but the field is very tight.
Q: Bruno mentioned his car doesn’t suit the Monaco circuit well. Do you see this as an opportunity?
AAB: I don’t believe a car suits one circuit over another. If you have a solid baseline, you can be competitive everywhere. Here, it’s crucial to maximize track time and assess our new rear wing’s performance. The weather might also play a role. Our focus is on finding more performance from the car, not just for different tracks.
Q: How about pit lane performance? Early-season races were compromised by pit stop issues. How did the updates perform in Imola?
AAB: Our pit stops in Imola were good, and we didn’t lose positions. We’ve resolved those issues and can now focus on other areas.
Q: You’ve confirmed Nico Hülkenberg for next year. What are you looking for in a second driver? Does it need to be someone with experience?
AAB: We aim to have the best drivers available. It depends on market availability and various factors. The driver market is fluid, and we’re looking for the best option for our long-term project with Audi F1.
Q: Do you have a deadline?
AAB: No specific deadline, but we have a target to find the best option.
Q: Thank you, Alessandro. Christian, thank you for waiting. Max won brilliantly at Imola, but it wasn’t a smooth weekend for the team. Have you started Monaco in better shape than last weekend?
Christian HORNER: Imola was challenging, despite achieving pole and a victory. The first half of the race was strong, but we faded in the last 20 laps. We’ve learned a lot from Imola. Monaco is a different challenge, and we expect a very competitive qualifying tomorrow with strong performances from Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes.
Q: Do you think you’re starting on equal footing with McLaren and Ferrari this weekend?
CH: It’s inevitable, given the convergence of car designs and lap times in year three of these regulations. We’ve stayed ahead for a while, but strong competition is expected. Monaco is unique, and it all comes down to that one lap in qualifying.
Q: McLaren and Ferrari have introduced significant upgrades. Can we expect the same from Red Bull?
CH: Our approach is more iterative. We’ve introduced pieces here and there, and they’ve performed well. However, as we reach the top of the curve, the returns diminish, especially with the cost cap. We have to be selective about when to introduce upgrades.
Q: A quick word on Checo. He had his worst qualifying of the year at Imola. Are you concerned about his form?
SP: No, I believe he’s driven well this year. Imola was tricky for him, but he has performed well across various circuits. We’ll figure things out in due time.
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2024-05-24 17:09:54
