F1: FIA Thursday press conference – Qatar

PART ONE – Charles LECLERC (Ferrari), Pierre GASLY (Alpine), Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin)

Q: Charles, perhaps we could start with you. Very good to see you. Now, you cut a frustrated figure after the race in Las Vegas at the weekend. What were your main frustrations?

Charles LECLERC: I don’t want to go back to what happened in Vegas. Yeah, I mean, last two races of the season and we need to do absolutely everything in order to get that Constructors’ Championship. That’s all that matters. And whatever happened in Vegas, we discussed about it and we are all good, which is the most important thing. I had no doubts about that because we’ve always had a really good relationship with Carlos and we’ve had races where sometimes things don’t go exactly the way we want, but the most important thing is that we discuss about it and we go forward. It’s very clear for both of us that we just want to win the Constructors’ and it’s by working as a team that we’ll achieve that. And I’m sure that there won’t be any problems with it.

Q: Just to clarify, so you and Carlos have cleared the air since then?

CL: Exactly.

Q: Alright. Well, let’s talk a little bit more about this battle in the Constructors’ Championship. You are 24 points behind McLaren. There are 103 still on the table. How do you see these next two races in terms of competitiveness from your point of view?

CL: I think that realistically here, it’s going to be a bit more of a difficult weekend. However, it’s a Sprint weekend as well. And if we do things really right from the first few laps and the car is in the right place from the first laps in FP1, it can make a big difference and much bigger than any of the car characteristics we may have seen or anticipate for the weekend. So I think that on paper it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be our strongest track. However, things can still turn our way and we are super motivated to prove us wrong.

Q: Irrespective of what happens in the Constructors’ Championship or indeed the Drivers’ Championship, because you can still finish P2, how will you look back on the 2024 season?

CL: I think if we compare this one to the previous years, we’ve done a good job in maximising the points and minimising the loss in races where we have struggled as a team. And that’s a really positive thing, which I think in the past wasn’t necessarily the case. I think, as a team, we were a lot more vulnerable to what was happening around the team and it was making us going a bit up and down, emotionally speaking, and now we are a lot more solid. That doesn’t mean that it’s good enough yet because obviously, as a matter of fact, we’ve lost the Drivers’ Championship last weekend, or even before, but we are a more solid team and we are going in the right direction. So I think it’s been a positive season and we are going into the right direction.

Q: Alright. Charles, thank you for that. Pierre, let’s come to you now. Disappointing end in Vegas, but let’s look at the positives, that brilliant P3 on the grid. Do you and the team understand where that performance came from now?

Pierre GASLY: Yeah, it was a pretty nice qualifying. I think, overall, the last few weekends have been… We’ve been in a better shape since Austin. We brought some new parts, we’ve managed to get to Q3 the last four weekends and it seems like we found quite a nice flow. I think in Vegas we just made the best out of the conditions. It was quite tricky, street track, very cold. Got in a nice place with the car. And when we got to Q3, we had a single lap, but we really managed to put everything to it. And yeah, it put us in a great place. So it was a great achievement, especially looking back at Bahrain, first race of the year, I lined up in 20th, you know. We were absolutely nowhere. So when you look at all the evolution and development, it definitely shows we’re heading in the right direction and it’s definitely positive.

Q: And what about this weekend? Because it’s a quick track, it’s a smooth track and you qualified very well here last year. Are you coming here with a lot of confidence?

PG: Yeah, I think we can be confident. We are in the fight for sixth in the championship. We know the target. We know who we’re fighting. Haas and AlphaTauri (sic) are also competitive. They’ve shown to be in that top ten most of the last few races. And it’s going to be a tight fight, but I expect an exciting one. So I’m sure we’ll be in the mix. And I’m looking forward to these last two weekends.

Q: And Pierre, you made reference there to the improvements you’ve made to the car since Bahrain. But can we get your thoughts on 2024 as a whole from a team perspective? Because it’s been one of transition, isn’t it? There’s been staff movements and you’re changing teammates and all these things. How do you reflect on the last 12 months as a whole?

PG: I would say it was a very disappointing start of the season. We expected it. We had a rough winter, didn’t manage to get the car in the place we wanted to start in Bahrain. But once you get the tools you have at the start of the year, you’ve got to work your best way with it. And I must have been very impressed with the team in the way they’ve managed to turn things around. The understanding, spotting where [are] the limitations of the car, finding solutions to it. And I must say I’m definitely more confident than ever into going to ‘25 with a clear idea of where we’re heading, the changes we’re going to make. I definitely believe the car is going to be in a much better place to start with. And yeah, it just brings confidence to all of us. So there have been a lot of changes. I think a lot of positive changes internally, which are not very obvious from the outside. But I think we’re shaping up a much better team start of ‘25 compared to where we were a couple of months ago.

Q: So the foundations are now in place for you to move forward?

PG: Yeah, I mean, there’s still big, big work ahead. You know, like looking at the top four, it still feels like they are in a different league, especially come race day. But yeah, it will be definitely starting, hoping, to close that gap and hopefully see us able to fight more consistently in the top ten and hopefully in the top five on some occasions.

Q: OK, Pierre, thank you for that. Fernando, let’s come to you. Talking of building foundations, something you said before the summer break was that you wanted to use the second half of 2024 to put the foundations in place for a better ‘25. Do you feel you’ve done that?

Fernando ALONSO: Yeah, it goes up and down for everybody. Difficult to be sure of that, but I think we didn’t manage to improve the car much throughout the season. So we started quite strong, but we are now in a position that we’re struggling to be in Q3 on some occasions. But yeah, at the same time, all those difficulties, I think, probably are teaching us a lot of lessons, which we will apply into next year’s car. And that will be probably the biggest positive aspect of the second part of the year, you know, that even if we didn’t succeed in putting much performance on the car, I think it’s well understood what we are struggling with at the moment. So that will be applying in 2025.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit more about the struggles? Because you’ve had a pretty rough ride of it since Singapore, haven’t you?

FA: Yeah, I think even before that, I think Baku and Singapore were just good Sundays, thanks to a good qualifyings on Saturday, street circuits, we maximised, I think, the opportunities there. And some of our rivals, you know, maybe didn’t perform to perfection there. So, yeah, I think after the summer break, we’ve been struggling a little bit, but the team is still working flat out to bring upgrades. And as I said, even if not all of them, you know, succeed to race in the following weekends, I think there is a clear understanding now of where the path is into next year’s car. So yeah, that’s the aim.

Q: You said after the race in Vegas that you were happier with the car on the Sunday. Does that give you a little bit of confidence coming into this track, a track where you’ve actually gone very well at?

FA: Yeah, definitely. I think Vegas was difficult to understand the car and the low temperatures and to get the grip, the confidence, high speed. The walls are very close. But then on Sunday, already in the laps to the grid, the car felt much more alive. And on the race itself, I think we gained some positions and we were happier. So yeah, I left Vegas thinking that I want to jump in the car again. and try. So yeah, tomorrow in FP1 I will be happy.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Roldan Rodriguez – DAZN Spain) A question to Fernando. Last week, you mentioned that nobody has been able to beat Max Verstappen in the title fight. My question is, would you, if you have the car?

FA: Well, that will be a very nice thing to try, you know, to be in a position to fight for the World Championship. At the moment, we are not in that position, and next year probably is going to be difficult. But hopefully in ‘26, with the new rules, we’ll have a better chance to try at least. And yeah, so far Max has proven, you know, not having weak points, basically, and he has been always delivering the job on Sundays and scoring, you know, so many points when the car was good, but so many points when the car was not good as well. And that’s the strength, you know, to win a championship. And yeah, you always think that if you have a chance, maybe things could be more difficult for him.

Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) Charles, to move forward to the last couple of races of the season and to work as a team probably requires trust and faith in your team and your team-mate. What has been said since Vegas to give you trust and faith in your team and your team-mate?

CL: Nothing special, but at the end, I don’t even need that. As I said, we have a really good relationship with Carlos. And sometimes I have overstepped the lines, and sometimes he did. And then it only requires a discussion between us two. And we look ourselves in the eye, and we know each other since a very long time now. We understand each other very, very quickly. So I have no doubts. Sometimes we need these kind of things to reset a little bit and I have no doubts that going into the last race of the season there won’t be any problems or whatsoever because at the end it’s in the benefit for both of us to try and win that constrictors we know that an opportunity like that doesn’t happen very often and we’ve got to do absolutely everything on both of our side in order to try and win that. And we need each other in order to win that because it’s not going to be easy. This weekend is not going to be easy. And by working as a team, we can maybe achieve that.

Q: (Margot Laffite – Canal+) A question for Fernando. We’re doing a footage on the pleasure, the joy of driving. Could you describe if it’s, for you, directly linked to the performance? No performance, no pleasure in an F1 car? And maybe you can compare also with the lighter cars you drove in the past.

FA: Yeah, interesting question. Probably I have to think a little bit deeper. But no, I don’t think that the pleasure of driving is linked to the performance only. Sometimes you come to a circuit or to even a go-kart track, and you are alone on track, and you are not fighting anyone. And you have a lot of joy, and you have a real good day. Sometimes you have a car that is not really well set up or you have a huge understeer or we all, as I said now, you jump in a rental car that you just self-steer to the left or whatever, or it’s just not really square, the chassis, and you still have a lot of fun just fighting against that weakness of the car you know and trying to make the car turn the same way, left to right, in some corners. So I think it’s just overcoming the challenge sometimes of what the car is able to do, which produces satisfaction and joy in driving. And I think the adrenaline and the freedom when you are behind the wheel of choosing what to do, at what speed you want to approach the corner, when you want to brake, 30 metres later, 30 meters earlier. So all those kind of decisions that you make by instinct is a sense of freedom that I think increases the joy of driving whatever car. So I don’t think it’s related to performance. And then comparing different eras of Formula 1, for sure, I think the early 2000s were the best cars to drive. They were very light, very reactive. I think the feedback that you get from the car when you have less sophisticated tools is much more pure than what we have now, that is all filtered a little bit by all the technology we have. So yeah I still think that those cars were more fun to drive.

Q: (Roldan Rodriguez – DAZN Spain) Charles, you are doing a very good season and reaching the maximum points in your career. But I want to know how important it is for you to be second in the championship of drivers.

CL: At the end, I always say the second is the first of the losers. And you never really are excited about a second or a third or a fourth place. However, having said that, obviously second place in a year like this would mean a lot in a way because I think it’s not been an easy year. The priority remains the Constructors’. However, the second place in the Drivers’ would be a nice bonus. So it’s not like I don’t care at all. But it will be a good thing to be finishing second after a year like this.

Q: (Rosanna Tennant – BBC Five Live) A question to you all. Rui Marques, the race director, will be presiding over F1, F2 and F1 Academy this weekend. In the past, that workload has been deemed too high. Charlie Whiting stepped down from all those responsibilities previously. Is there any risk for the three of you this weekend and other drivers on the grid having somebody in charge of so much across one weekend?

(CLARIFICATION: The role of F1 Academy Race Director is performed by Silvia Bellot rather than Rui Marques, as the question suggests)

CL: I find it very, very difficult to judge. I mean, it’s not like we actually know how much work there is for these three categories. I mean, at least personally, I don’t know that. So, yeah, I think it’s very, very difficult to judge whether that is too much or not. I guess he will be the first one to experience it. But the first race has gone really well. And he’s been super open-minded in listening to us drivers and doing things in the right way. And that was very positive. But concerning the workload, I think it’s very difficult to judge or to say anything from our side.

PG: I think I fully agree with Charles. As he said, I think the first race weekend has been very positive, very objective and open for discussion and very factual as well. So I’m sure whatever comes out of this weekend, if it doesn’t allow him to be at a F1 standard, I’m sure there’ll be changes in the future. So at the minute, yeah, we’ll see. But as I say, it’s been a good start and we’ll see how it goes the next two weekends.

FA: Yeah, not much to add. Only he knows if it’s too much or not. Or probably he will know after the weekend, not even now.

Q: (Adam Cooper – Adam Cooper F1) For all three of you, the 11th team has been confirmed for 2026. What are your thoughts in general on having two extra seats for you guys? And secondly, for Fernando, there’s a lot of guys from your Renault days in that team, Pat Simmons, Rob White, Nick Chester. What do you think of the potential of that group a few years down the line?

FA: Yeah, I mean, 11th team, 22 drivers, it’s not the first time that we will be 22 on the grid. It’s a complex decision, I guess, for the sport in general but if they came to that conclusion it’s because it’s the best for everybody. I will support always whatever management thing that is the best. And then for the team personnel, yeah, they have a couple of people that they were in the Renault days and for sure they will have a huge contribution right now at the very early part of the project, with a lot of experience in Formula 1 and in the sport. So, yeah, I wish the best of luck, you know. A new team is never an easy task, but I think they will be well prepared and they have the right people. So, yeah, welcome.

PG: I mean, it’s exciting. It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 cars in F1. So, yeah, more rivals, probably more action, more racing. So, yeah, exciting, exciting times. And as Fernando said, I think it’s been a long topic for quite a long time. So I’m sure if they came to that conclusion, definitely means it’s the best for the sport. So, yeah, excited about it.#
CL: Yeah, very similar reply. It’s the first time in my career that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s exciting. I also think that there are lots of young drivers waiting for a place in Formula 1, in order to get there, and that will obviously give more opportunities to very talented young drivers that are dreaming to get into Formula 1. So for that, this is a good thing, and yeah, cool to have two more cars on the grid.

Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Pierre, a question for you. Red Bull have been struggling to replace Max Verstappen’s teammate for quite a few years. Of course, you were in that position once. Are you surprised that Yuki hasn’t been seriously considered for that seat? You know Red Bull well. You know Yuki well. He’s been performing this year. Do you think that they should give him a shot?

PG: It’s a tough question. I think performance-wise, he deserves a chance. He seems to have improved a lot from the moment he came. He’s been performing pretty strongly, I would say, this season and also last year. He’s beaten his teammate. From this point of view, I think, yeah, looking at the programme, the Red Bull programme, it will make sense to give him a shot. But, you know, at the end, ultimately, we know there is not only performance that comes down to that decision. It’s a top team. And, yeah, it depends on what Christian and Helmut wants to do with it. Personally, yeah, I’d like to see him and see what he does there. But I know it’s not that easy. And if you ask me performance-wise, yeah, I think he deserved a chance.

Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) Fernando, just going back to your earlier answer about the satisfaction and joy that can be derived from working on a car and improving it. How much satisfaction and joy have you been able to get this season, given it’s been so challenging for Aston?

FA: Yeah, it has been challenging, but I still enjoyed a lot this year, especially at the beginning, obviously, when the car was a little bit faster. But even now, you know, with the difficulties we face sometimes, we’re still trying to analyse and get some lessons into the next year’s car and into the future. And yeah, when you start the season strong and then you finish with a little bit more struggles, you have the sense of, you know, you finish so you had a so-so season. And when you do the opposite, it’s a very different feeling when you finish strong. But the points are counting after Abu Dhabi. And I think we have a high chance to finish fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, which is not what we want to be. But I have the feeling that, you know, there is a perception that there are a lot of teams that they did better than Aston Martin this year and they are well behind us. As I said, you know, it depends if you start strong or you finish weak or vice versa. But, you know, we are not where we want to be. But there are only four teams happier than us, not nine.

Q: (Erwin Jaeggi – Motorsport.com) A question for Charles. After winning the title in Vegas, Max said that he also would have become champion driving a Ferrari. What do you make of that statement? Thank you.

CL: I mean, Max is a very special driver. And I think what makes him very special is also the confidence that he has. However, I think it’s very difficult to say something like that not knowing actually what the car is like. Yeah, he’s an incredible driver. No doubts whether he will have made it or not. I don’t know. I don’t know how the Red Bull is. I don’t know how the McLaren is. And he doesn’t know how the Ferrari is. So it’s maybe a bit of a stretch to say something like that. But yeah, nothing to add.

Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Charles, a question on your relationship with Carlos. You guys obviously struck a pretty good working relationship over the last few years. A lot of memes on social media about C squared and things like that. How much are you going to miss Carlos as a person at Ferrari?

CL: I’ve said it many times. On one hand, it’s not like I’m going to miss him like crazy because he will still be in the paddock, maybe 20 metres away. So as I’ve said it for Fréd, Carlos isn’t my girlfriend either. And so I really like Carlos, but I’m sure we’ll spend still a lot of time together. And as I was saying earlier, we have a really good relationship that will stay there even after our relationship within Ferrari. Yeah, we won’t be working any more together, but we’ll still spend time together. But he is a good person and we get along very, very well. And yeah, that, as I said earlier, helps us to work together very well.

Q: Charles, do you expect the dynamic between you and Lewis to be different next year?

CL: No, I don’t think so. We have a very good relationship too. It’s a different kind of relationship because I haven’t spent that much time with Lewis yet, but I have obviously so much respect for Lewis and what he has achieved. And we have had a very good relationship. We don’t have quite the same age, but we still share a lot of interest outside racing. So, no, I’m sure it won’t be any different.

Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) Another question to Fernando, please, just following up on what you were saying there about the perception of the team. Would you agree that the success of early 2023 raised expectations too much, given where the team is on in its journey? There are key facilities that are still being built at the factory, the wind tunnel, not online, for example. So what do you make of how people see Aston and where it is from your perspective in reality?

FA: No, I don’t think that the expectations were too high. We did a very strong campaign in 2023, and people were expecting us to fight for bigger things, or at least to be at the level that we were at the beginning of this year. And this is normal. This is Formula 1, and we want to be there as well. You know, we didn’t succeed, you know, the second part of the year. We are aware of that. But we are not ashamed of that. You know, we are working towards fighting for the championship in the future and the second part of the year we didn’t maybe bring to the circuit what we thought that it was in the pipeline. But at the same time, we have finished, as you said, some of the facilities in Silverstone, with building two and three of the factory, the wind tunnel will be soon operating. And we have Adrian Newey on board, so. It was not a bad 2024.

Q: (Carlos Miguel – Diario Marca) Question for Fernando. I read about the car of next season, that the idea of Aston is to come back to a car in slow corners, like the ‘23 car. It’s true that? And what do you know about this ‘25 Aston? The numbers are good? What do you think?

FA: I don’t know much. I don’t know exactly what will be the characteristics of the car. As I said before, all the learnings that we are taking into this year’s, you know, the struggles, I think are well in place into next year’s project. So, you know, all the things that we didn’t succeed this year, I think they are better for next year. I don’t think that the car will be the base of 2023. I don’t think so. I think it’s just a completely new project for ‘25 which hopefully delivers better results than the current car. But we are aware of also the gap with the top four teams. They are in a little bit in another league. So, you know, I think there is a lot of work to do, but there’s still four months or three months and a half until the first race and first proper test. So I think we have plenty of time and we have the right people. We have the right facilities and we have the good learnings of this year. So, you know, I’m confident to start the season strong and to have a good 2025.