Krack sees Aston competitiveness as key to keeping Alonso

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack says the target is to keep Fernando Alonso by providing him with a more competitive car than he could receive elsewhere. Alonso is out of contract at the end of this season, and has acknowledged he could be an …

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack says the target is to keep Fernando Alonso by providing him with a more competitive car than he could receive elsewhere.

Alonso is out of contract at the end of this season, and has acknowledged he could be an attractive proposition for the likes of Mercedes – which needs to replace Lewis Hamilton – due to his championships and experience. Alonso himself says he believes it is best for both himself and Aston Martin if he makes a decision on his future early, because of the potential movement in the driver market that could take place in 2025.

“It’s fair to me to not delay the team too much, for the team and for the options that they need to keep open,” he said in Jeddah.

Following that suggestion from the Spaniard, Krack says he is focused on ensuring Aston Martin is his most appealing option from a competitiveness standpoint.

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“It’s not a secret that first of all he wants to decide for himself what he wants to do, and I think it’s also not a secret that I keep saying that we want to continue working with Fernando.” Krack said. “I also say that the most important is that we give him a quick car, so that he believes in this project and he believes in this team. And everything else we will have to discuss over the weeks to come.

“Now it is clear that a driver of that caliber is attractive for everybody, but we will try to keep him.”

Krack points to the influence Alonso has on Aston Martin in terms of his approach and professionalism as being particularly crucial to the team’s development.

“We have seen that last year already when he joined, it’s not only what he brings in terms of driving talent and race craft, I think we don’t have to discuss that. But he brings this extra to the team, driving and pushing and motivating everybody, and leading by example. From the first moment in the morning to late at night, it’s exemplary, and this is something that is infecting the whole team. That is something that you want to preserve.”

Alonso’s fifth place in Saudi Arabia was more encouraging for Aston Martin after a small return in Bahrain, but Krack says a clearer picture of the car’s performance will only be seen after Melbourne this weekend.

“I think it is a good baseline, but it has only been two or three events – the test and then two races – so you need to understand your car in different conditions. Also we drove at night, the races have been at night, so that’s something we will need to find out. But it’s a steep learning exercise, and we keep learning about it.”

‘I stayed at Haas too long,’ Steiner admits

Guenther Steiner believes he “stayed at Haas too long” before his departure this winter, with the team unable to fight at the front in Formula 1. The former Haas team principal held the position since it entered F1 in 2016 until he was replaced by …

Guenther Steiner believes he “stayed at Haas too long” before his departure this winter, with the team unable to fight at the front in Formula 1.

The former Haas team principal held the position since it entered F1 in 2016 until he was replaced by Ayao Komatsu ahead of this season. Steiner was present at the Bahrain Grand Prix working as a media pundit for German television and is also writing a column for the official F1 website, where he admits he had lost sight of the targets he wanted to aim for.

“Life has been good since I left Haas ahead of this season,” Steiner said. “These last few weeks are the first time I’ve switched off from F1 for around a decade. This time has been good for me. The longer time goes on, the more I can see that I stayed at Haas too long.

“When you step away, you get clarity and you can see what you need to do. While you’re there, you’re in denial — you think you can do it but you cannot.

“When I was there, with what we had, you could still fight for being seventh, eighth or ninth but you couldn’t fight for podiums without the same weapons as the other guys. Doing that in the long term is not what I want to do in life. I don’t want to be seventh again. I’ve done that. I want to be able to fight, to battle at the front.”

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Steiner points to the development of Mercedes as an example of how a team with the right resources became a dominant force, saying he’s only interested in a return to the F1 grid if it offers more potential for progression.

“When Toto Wolff started with Mercedes, the team at the time was not at the top. Yes, they had the advantage of the engine at the beginning, but he set everything up right to be successful in the mid-term — and they won eight constructors’ championships. It’s the same thing with Red Bull. How long did it take for them to get there? Every year, they kept on getting better. You need that patience and long-term planning.

“I would come back to F1 in the future, but it needs to be the right project, done right.”

Horner complainant appeals grievance dismissal – reports

The complainant against Christian Horner, who accused the Red Bull team principal of inappropriate behavior, has appealed the decision to dismiss her grievance, according to multiple reports. Horner was subject to an investigation throughout the …

The complainant against Christian Horner, who accused the Red Bull team principal of inappropriate behavior, has appealed the decision to dismiss her grievance, according to multiple reports.

Horner was subject to an investigation throughout the first part of this year due to allegations relating to his behavior, but after a months-long process Red Bull GmbH opted to dismiss the grievance.

The female employee — who has since been suspended on full pay by Red Bull for what RACER understands to be inaccuracies and concerns relating to the evidence given in the original investigation — was told at the time that she had a right of appeal, and both the BBC and Press Association report that option has now been taken up.

Speaking at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Horner had said Red Bull was moving on from the investigation following the initial outcome.

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“The reality is that there was a grievance that was raised,” Horner said. “It was dealt with in the most professional manner by the group, not by Red Bull Racing, but by the owners of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull GmbH, that appointed an independent KC that is one of the most reputable KCs in the land.

“He took time to investigate fully, all of the facts. He interviewed all of the people involved, together with others of interest. He looked at everything. He had all of the facts. And he came to a conclusion where he dismissed the grievance. As far as I’m concerned, as far as Red Bull is concerned, we move on and we look to the future.”

The BBC also reports that the complainant has lodged an official complaint with the FIA’s Ethics Committee, although the governing body states it cannot discuss specific situations, despite raising the subject of a potential transfer of information of a confidential nature between an F1 team principal and a member of Formula One Management (FOM) personnel in December.

“At the FIA, enquiries and complaints are received and managed by the Compliance Officer, and the Ethics Committee where appropriate,” an FIA statement read. “Both bodies operate autonomously, guaranteeing strict confidentiality throughout the process. As a consequence, and in general, we are unable to confirm the receipt of any specific complaint and it is unlikely that we will be able to provide further comment on the complaints that we may receive from any parties.”

Red Bull GmbH has been approached for comment by RACER.

New F1 Manager game lets you create your own team

The third edition of Frontier Developments’ F1 Manager video game will be released this summer, and will give players the opportunity to create a team of their own for the very first time. As well as the option to run one of the existing 10 real …

The third edition of Frontier Developments’ F1 Manager video game will be released this summer, and will give players the opportunity to create a team of their own for the very first time.

As well as the option to run one of the existing 10 real world Formula 1 teams, F1 Manager 2024 will introduce ‘Create A Team’ mode, where players will have full creative control over the team, as well as the ability to negotiate sponsorship agreements and identify young talent. It’s a notable shift from last year, when developers told RACER it was not a feature they planned to bring into the game, while EA Sports’ F1 series has had a similar game mode in place since 2020.

The game will also introduce a new mentality system, which places emphasis on driver and staff personalities and demands and players look to strike the perfect balance as they strive for success with their team. Other teams can also poach staff or drivers, making this a crucial new addition to the experience.

Players can continue influence the races, but now with what the publishers are calling ‘new strategic perspectives’, while enhanced AI will increase the overall challenge.

And after its successful introduction last year, Race Replay mode will return, allowing players to relive real world scenarios from the 2024 season, assert their influence, and rewrite history in the virtual world. Frontier Developments will also reveal more in the coming weeks and months with regular Wednesday livestreams.

No release date has been announced for F1 Manager 2024 yet, but it will be available this summer for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for a suggested retail price of $34.99.

Bearman’s built for the big-time

Formula 1 needed Ollie Bearman on Saturday. Ever since Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was announced, all of the headlines surrounding the sport so far this year had been negative or controversial, and certainly not focused on matters of a racing …

Formula 1 needed Ollie Bearman on Saturday. Ever since Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was announced, all of the headlines surrounding the sport so far this year had been negative or controversial, and certainly not focused on matters of a racing nature.

Even when the attention was on the track, the ongoing dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull wasn’t exactly sparking huge levels of excitement among the majority of fans.

But then came Carlos Sainz’s misfortune; the Spaniard requiring surgery for appendicitis on Friday morning after having been battling through the ailment for both practice sessions the day before. Bearman got the call.

For many, it came as a surprise. “Where is Robert Shwartzman when you need him?” was one question that was raised on our pre-race SiriusXM coverage. But with the greatest respect to Shwartzman – who I’m sure would also be an excellent stand-in if required – he wasn’t needed.

Bearman was jumping in at late notice, and what he achieved was remarkable given the circuit and the situation, but he has also been earmarked as a future F1 race driver long before this opportunity came his way.

For most F1 fans, he first came to their attention when he took part in his first FP1 session for Haas in Mexico City late last year. Bearman was competitive throughout when compared to teammate Nico Hulkenberg; the pair taking on the same run plans to allow a clear picture to build-up to, and only a big moment on his fastest lap prevented him potentially matching or even beating the German, who himself was having an impressive season.

A second FP1 appearance for Haas was already planned at that point, but if finishing sixth during his rookie season in the Formula 2 championship had threatened to slightly slow his progress, it was his time in an F1 car that accelerated Bearman’s path.

Spending the full weekend with the team in Qatar – before Mexico – Bearman shadowed his Haas race engineer Mark Slade to understand the way a driver and engineer work together. Then in Mexico, once he had driven the car he took a step back to have a wider understanding of how the team works and appreciate the complexity that comes with so many different roles.

Everything Bearman did at Haas impressed the team. He was calm and collected, and extremely mature in his approach behind the wheel. “No expectations” was his mantra for those FP1 sessions, as he wanted to make sure he didn’t put too much pressure on himself and just followed the directions he was given.

He did his reputation no harm during his Abu Dhabi outings too, as he took part in FP1 and the Young Driver Test for Haas. It was valuable mileage, but also a further chance to impress that made its way back to Maranello and helped earn Bearman the reserve driver role at Ferrari for this year.

Bearman’s calm approach was a hallmark of his practice outings with Haas, and served him well again when he got the Ferrari call-up last weekend. Image via Ferrari

But if there was a tell-tale sign about how highly-regarded Bearman is, and what Ferrari’s plans for him are, it came when he was named as one of the Haas reserves. Pietro Fittipaldi’s full-time IndyCar ride was always going to mean a reliable alternative would be required on many occasions, and Bearman got the nod.

At the same time, he was confirmed as completing six FP1 sessions for the team this season. Not just the two mandatory ones, but six.

With two experienced drivers in Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, Haas didn’t need to replace either of them more times than is required, other than to help prepare another driver for the step up. Bearman’s place at the team for 2025 might not be guaranteed, but it was a clear sign that Ferrari wants him to race in F1 soon, and is keen for him to gain further experience ahead of that chance.

Haas was also more than willing to oblige, given the confidence it has in the 18-year-old after 2023, and its eagerness to keep its power unit supplier happy.

Bearman’s already shown the team he can soak up information quickly and execute whatever is asked of him, knowing that his rise has already been rapid and he has time on his side. Those are traits that he continued to display even when the unexpected chance to race in Jeddah came his way, as he himself admitted “the stars have aligned”.

While his approach is one thing – and a major positive, it must be said – his immense feel for a car is another. Bearman showed it from the very first run in FP3, surprising even his own teammate, who has been through a similar promotion path with Ferrari that featured Haas FP1 sessions and a rookie season at Sauber.

“Unbelievable, unbelievable,” Charles Leclerc said. “I mean, he’s done an exceptional job. To get into a Formula 1 car in FP3 when all the drivers have done FP1 and FP2, you don’t know the car, the track is one of the most challenging ones of the season, and you get there and do the first three laps of FP3 and you are straight away on the pace and pushing the car to its limits…

“It has been super-impressive to see him so fast straight away, super-nice to see him so happy all weekend and so excited as he was, and he did an amazing job.”

The excitement comes from Bearman knowing he is living out a dream, having moved to Italy as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and racing for Prema in Formula 2. While the Briton admits he misses his family dogs, the move abroad at such a young age has helped him mature in a way that some 18-year-olds would not have by the same stage.

It’s a maturity that means Ferrari is also going to entrust Bearman with its own FP1 sessions later this year, ensuring he will run on at least eight more occasions during grand prix weekends, and the Scuderia has full faith in calling upon him again if needed in Melbourne next time out.

Bearman was always being prepared for the big time. Now the rest of the F1 world has been able to see why.

Hamilton fight highlighted McLaren weaknesses – Piastri

Oscar Piastri says his difficulty overtaking Lewis Hamilton in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix highlighted a number of weaknesses that McLaren is facing. The Australian was running a strong fourth after overtaking Fernando Alonso early in the race and …

Oscar Piastri says his difficulty overtaking Lewis Hamilton in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix highlighted a number of weaknesses that McLaren is facing.

The Australian was running a strong fourth after overtaking Fernando Alonso early in the race and appeared to be a threat to Charles Leclerc [lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]for the podium, but was then stuck behind Hamilton when the Mercedes driver didn’t pit under the safety car. Hamilton had the top speed to keep Piastri at bay until he finally made his own stop, showing up a lack of top speed for the McLaren.

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“I’m not sure fun is the word I would use,” Piastri said. “Frustrating, yes. I mean, I think it kind of just showed a couple of weaknesses of ours definitely. I was very relieved when he boxed out of the way but just didn’t quite have enough on the straights mainly to get past.

“I was hoping he was going to pit about 15 laps before he did, but I think he started to struggle on the tires because I was basically past him when he boxed. He had to pit at some stage, and that seemed like a good time to do it.”

Although McLaren moved ahead of Mercedes in the constructors’ standings in Jeddah, Piastri says the fact that he couldn’t overtake Hamilton shows how track position is key between the two teams.

“I think it’s very, very even. I think we have different strengths and weaknesses for sure. And I think qualifying made the difference (in Saudi Arabia). I think Lewis showed that if we qualify behind them, there was a good chance we were going to be stuck behind them for the whole night.

“So I think it’s very, very tight between us. And yeah, we need to do some work to try and jump them and catch the two teams ahead.”

The next round is Piastri’s home race in Melbourne, and he believes a repeat of his fourth place would constitute a strong result given the track characteristics at Albert Park.

“I think there’s a bit of a mix, a bit more low speed than. But we’ll see. Hopefully we can have a good race. If there’s one race of the year you can pick to have a good one it’s your home race. So we’ll try our best. But yeah, I think if we can finish around where we did (in Jeddah), that would be the most we can do.”

‘My relationship with Helmut is no issue’ – Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists his relationship with Helmut Marko is not an issue, amid speculation about their respective futures. Horner was investigated after an allegation of inappropriate behavior was made against him, with …

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists his relationship with Helmut Marko is not an issue, amid speculation about their respective futures.

Horner was investigated after an allegation of inappropriate behavior was made against him, with the grievance being dismissed at the Bahrain Grand Prix. One week later in Saudi Arabia, Marko revealed he was also part of an investigation relating to leaks to the media, and that he could be suspended or opt to leave Red Bull if he wasn’t happy with certain conditions.

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After a meeting with Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff in Jeddah, Marko stated he would be continuing and that a way forward had been agreed, and Horner says that does not have an impact on the pair of them working together moving forward.

“The rumors about suspension was as news to the team as it was to anybody else,” Horner said. “So we were quite surprised to hear that. Helmut is a contractor to Red Bull GmbH so it was an issue between there and we weren’t party or part of that discussion.

“I’ve known Helmut since 1996 and he’s played an important role over the years. That role has evolved over the years, but I’ve known him for a very, very long time and coming up to 81 years of age he’s still obviously motivated about Formula 1 which is a positive thing.

“My relationship with Helmut is no issue. He’s always outspoken but that’s Helmut.”

Horner says the second consecutive one-two finish for Red Bull in Jeddah shows the team has retained its strength as a unit despite the controversies that have made headlines over the past six weeks.

“We’re focused on winning, and that’s what we do. That’s what we’ve done (in Saudi). That’s how we’ve started this season. Obviously, I’m aware of all the noise, but it hasn’t distracted the team from the job and we are one team.

“Now obviously speculation about Helmut is speculation about Helmut. Helmut doesn’t work for me. He doesn’t work for Red Bull Racing, he works for Red Bull GmbH. But I think you can see that there’s a very clear route that he’s looking forward and wanting to continue this incredible winning streak that we’ve been on.”

Massa seeking over $80m in damages over 2008 title loss

Felipe Massa has filed a lawsuit seeking over $80million in damages from the FIA, Formula 1, and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone over the 2008 Crashgate scandal. Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr was ordered to crash deliberately during the 2008 …

Felipe Massa has filed a lawsuit seeking over $80million in damages from the FIA, Formula 1, and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone over the 2008 Crashgate scandal.

Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr was ordered to crash deliberately during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in order to help Fernando Alonso’s strategy, with the Spaniard going on to win a race Massa had been leading. In the resulting safety car period, Massa suffered a pit stop issue and finished outside the points, while title rival Lewis Hamilton came home third to score six points.

The scandal only became public a year later, and with the FIA statutes stating a result can’t be changed following the end-of-year prize giving ceremony, the result remained unchanged. However, comments attributed to Ecclestone last year suggested he and the FIA were aware of allegations relating to it before the end of the 2008 season.

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Hamilton beat Massa to that year’s championship by a single point in the end, and last year the Brazilian launched a legal challenge, with his lawyers issuing a letter to both the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) that read: “Simply put, Mr Massa is the rightful 2008 Drivers’ Champion, and F1 and FIA deliberately ignored the misconduct that cheated him out of that title.

“Mr Massa is unable to fully quantify his losses at this stage but estimates that they are likely to exceed tens of millions of Euros.

“This amount does not cover the serious moral and reputational losses suffered by Mr Massa.”

Having not received an acceptable response, Massa’s lawyers are now seeking more than $80million in damages and an admission from the FIA that it didn’t follow its regulations correctly.

The lawsuit has been filed in the High Court in London, with Brazilian law firm Vieira Rezende Advogados confirming the submission via a statement.

“Mr Massa is seeking declarations that the FIA breached its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Nelson Piquet Junior’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, and that had it acted properly, Mr Massa would have won the Drivers’ Championship that year,” the statement read.

“Mr Massa also seeks damages for the significant financial loss he has suffered due to the FIA’s failure, in which Mr Ecclestone and FOM were also complicit.

“As Mr Ecclestone has admitted, there was ‘enough information in time to investigate the matter’ in 2008 and ‘cancel the race in Singapore’. Mr Ecclestone further affirmed that, had the results of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix been canceled, “Felipe Massa would have become world champion” and that Mr Massa ‘was cheated out of the title he deserved’.

“Attempts to find an amicable resolution have been unsuccessful, leaving Mr Massa with no choice but to initiate legal proceedings.

“Recent events naturally demonstrate that issues of transparency and integrity in Formula One remain relevant, and it is clear that serious work is needed to restore its credibility and long-term future.”

Massa himself told Brazilian broadcaster Globo that his intention is to receive justice for the 2008 championship result. There were three further races that season following the round in Singapore.

“I always said I would fight until the end,” Massa said. “As the FIA and FOM have decided to do nothing, we will seek redress of this historic injustice in the courts. The matter is now with the lawyers and they are fully authorized to do whatever is necessary so that justice in the sport is done.”

Wolff would ‘love to have’ Verstappen at Mercedes

Toto Wolff admits Max Verstappen is a driver he would “love to have” at Mercedes next season but believes he needs to improve the car on offer to attract the three-time world champion. Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has come under increased …

Toto Wolff admits Max Verstappen is a driver he would “love to have” at Mercedes next season but believes he needs to improve the car on offer to attract the three-time world champion.

Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has come under increased scrutiny amid the power struggle that has been taking place following an investigation into Christian Horner’s alleged behavior, with Verstappen firmly backing Helmut Marko at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Dutchman stated Marko needs to stay or it could influence his own decision-making when it comes to remaining at Red Bull, and while the Austrian appears set to continue in his role, Wolff says he’d jump at the chance to sign Verstappen.

“Let’s word it like this, I think this is a decision that Max needs to take and there is no team up and down the grid that wouldn’t do handstands to have him in the car,” Wolff said.

“I’d love to have him, but first we need to sort out our car. First, we owe it to George [Russell] and Lewis [Hamilton] to improve the car and give them equipment that is good before dreaming about the future next year.”

With Mercedes securing a best finish of fifth in each of the opening two races, Wolff admits he expects Verstappen to want to stay at Red Bull given the dominance he is enjoying, even if he believes his management team are unhappy with current situation off-track.

“A driver will always try to be in the fastest possible car. That gives you the best chances of winning races and championships and this is where Max is at the moment. But Max is also … Jos [Verstappen] and Max and Raymond [Vermeulen, manager] are also people who are very straight, sometimes uncomfortably straight, and I think that’s something they will make up their mind on. But I think fundamentally a racing driver is calibrated to be in the best car.”

The links between Verstappen and Mercedes have gained more attention given the vacancy at Wolff’s team in 2025, as Hamilton heads to Ferrari. However, the team principal says he’s willing to see how the driver market plays out before committing to any replacement.

“I think we are going to wait. We are going to wait. We have a few interesting options and the more we are able to assess how the season pans out, young drivers with us against slightly older ones, that’s not going to be a decision that we want to take in the next few weeks, it will be in a few months depending on where it goes.”

Bearman set for future FP1s with Ferrari after impressing on race debut

Ollie Bearman is scheduled to make FP1 appearances for Ferrari as well as Haas later this season, following his impressive debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Ferrari reserve driver was required to stand in for the unwell Carlos Sainz, who …

Ollie Bearman is scheduled to make FP1 appearances for Ferrari as well as Haas later this season, following his impressive debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari reserve driver was required to stand in for the unwell Carlos Sainz, who underwent surgery on Friday morning after being diagnosed with appendicitis, and finished seventh after qualifying 11th. Team principal Fred Vasseur says the strong performance from Bearman needs to be seen as a further step in his development towards a full-time drive in future, and reveals he’ll complete Ferrari’s FP1 sessions later this year on top of six outings for Haas.

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“I think in this situation we had good young drivers a couple of times, not only at Ferrari but on the grid, and I would say the pace… I don’t want to say it’s easy to have, but it’s something they can achieve,” Vasseur said. “The fact he did a short weekend without FP1, FP2, without any mistakes, for me it’s unrealistic. Honestly, I was completely impressed by this.

“In Jeddah, between the walls, skipping FP1, FP2, going almost directly into qualifying. In Q2 on the first lap he was doing a good lap, he had the red flag, he made a mistake in the second one, he started the last lap in the qualifying with nothing on the board and he was three hundredths behind Lewis [Hamilton]. With a clean Q2 I think he’d be able to get to Q3.

“But again in Jeddah you have to consider it as a step, not the final target. He did well this weekend, he will have other challenges in front of him in the future with F2, he will do a couple of FP1s with us and Haas in the season.

“We know all of you, and including me, that in six months’ time we won’t speak about Jeddah, we’ll speak about Mexico or Brazil if he’s doing well. And we know every single day will be a new challenge, but we know if he continues with the same approach (as Jeddah) he will do well.”

While the FP1 appearances will likely have been mapped out long before Bearman’s opportunity in Jeddah, Vasseur says the way the 18-year-old handled the race gave the team principal himself confidence to push his driver late on as Hamilton and Lando Norris chased him down.

“I think as everybody has said it’s a mega weekend from Ollie. You know the story, we called him – it was something like 2pm on Friday I think – to jump into the car for FP3. It’s not Barcelona, we are in Jeddah, the challenge was mega and he had a very good FP3, he was going step by step, and then in qualifying he missed Q3 by a couple of hundredths and thousands.

“The race I was a bit nervous as you have so many things to manage in F1 with the starting procedure, with the pit stop, the steering wheel and so on, it was not an easy one and at the end of the day it went very well.

“In the end he managed very well, if you have a look he was even able to push in the last lap to keep Lando and Lewis behind him, and I was even surprised myself to push a little bit more from the pit wall and not be conservative as he was not making any mistakes at this stage.”