Get ready for an exciting insight into the world of Formula 1! Today, we're diving into the FIA Thursday press conference ahead of the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix. This is where the drivers open up about their experiences, strategies, and the challenges they've faced throughout the season. And boy, do they have some stories to tell!
The Season's Rollercoaster: Kimi Antonelli's Perspective
Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver, reflects on a race that wasn't his best in terms of position but was an execution masterpiece. He shares how he managed to pull off a crazy strategy, holding on to a one-stop race, and how it changed the entire game. It's a testament to his skill and the team's strategy, and he's proud of it.
But here's where it gets interesting: Kimi reveals that this race was also a personal milestone. He managed to put all his learnings from the season into practice, from understanding his needs on and off the track to adopting the right mindset. It's a growth story, and he's excited to share more about his journey.
Ollie Bearman's Consistency and Confidence
Ollie Bearman, the Haas driver, is on a roll with five consecutive points finishes. He attributes this success to an upgrade in Austin that gave him the feeling he'd been chasing all year. It's a delicate balance, though, as the car can be more challenging in specific conditions. But Ollie's confident, and he believes this upgrade has given them an edge, even if it's just a tenth or two.
When asked about the upcoming Lusail circuit, Ollie hopes their car will suit the fast sweeps. He believes it's more about execution and getting it right, especially with such tight qualifying sessions. It's a challenge, but he's ready for it, and he's looking forward to the last two races of the season with a positive mindset.
Liam Lawson's Season Reflections
Liam Lawson, from Racing Bulls, describes his season as a rollercoaster. He emphasizes the importance of not dwelling on mistakes and emotions, especially with the tight schedule of races. It's a challenge to keep a clear head and focus on the positives and learnings from each weekend.
When it comes to qualifying, Liam admits it's been a struggle for him to extract that one-lap performance. But he's seen improvements throughout the year, and he's confident they're in a better place now with the car compared to last year. It's all about execution and putting everything together, and he's determined to have a good weekend in Qatar.
The Floor is Open: Insights and Controversies
Now, let's hear from the journalists! David Croft from Sky Sports F1 asks Kimi about his amazing 48-lap stint on the hard tyre. Kimi admits he couldn't have done it at the start of the season, but he's learned a lot about tyre behavior and how to react to an aging tyre. It's a skill he's proud of and one that he believes sets him apart.
Panagiotis Seitanidis from ANT1 TV asks Kimi and Ollie about their biggest challenge and surprise in their F1 journey. Ollie highlights the busyness of F1 compared to F2, with more races and off-track commitments. Kimi agrees, adding that managing energy levels is crucial, especially with the amazing cars they get to drive. It's a privilege, but it comes with its own set of challenges.
Mara Sangiorgio from Sky Sports Italy asks Kimi about his thoughts on the Italian driver fighting for the F2 championship. Kimi is following his friend's progress and is impressed by his consistency and speed. He's excited to see how he performs in the last rounds.
Ruis Chagas from DAZN Portugal brings up a tough mid-season period for Kimi. Kimi admits he doubted himself many times, especially with the new suspension, but he overcame it by resetting mentally and refocusing on the process. It's a learning curve, and he's grateful for the support of the team.
Leonid Kliuev from Grande Prêmio asks about the potential rule changes and whether it's time to revisit the rules from scratch. Kimi believes the driver guidelines are okay and that the plank issue is a rule they need to follow. Ollie adds that their main concern is the lack of permanent stewards, which leads to different interpretations of the guidelines. They want to create more parity and give the stewards a better perspective of what it's like to be in the car.
Jake Boxall-Legge from Autosport asks about the 25-lap stint maximum and its impact on strategy. Kimi understands the safety concern but believes it will make strategy more straightforward and lead to a more flat-out race. It's a change, but one that he's okay with.
Part Two: Celebrations, Progress, and Reflections
Nico Hülkenberg from Kick Sauber is celebrating his 250th race, and he's taking it in stride. He reflects on his journey, the ups and downs, and the great industry he's been a part of. This season has been satisfying, with the team making good progress and connecting on many levels. It's a vibe he's enjoying, and he's looking forward to the next 12 months.
Carlos Sainz from Williams had a strong weekend in Vegas, but he's realistic about his expectations. He knows the top cars have an advantage, and he's happy with the maximum points he could get for the team. It's a learning experience, especially in Qatar, where he believes it will be one of the most difficult weekends of the season.
Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari is looking forward, not back, when asked about his first season with the team. He believes in moving forward and taking the positives. It's been a learning curve, especially in rebounding and getting back up. He's excited to see what the team builds for next year and to continue growing with them.
The Floor Continues: Guidelines, Strategies, and Future
David Croft from Sky Sports F1 brings up the drivers' meeting discussing driving standards guidelines. Carlos Sainz believes they need to sit together and analyze the incidents calmly, as there's been confusion and division in opinions. He believes the guidelines have created more problems than solutions, and he'd like to see a better implementation in the future.
Rui Chagas from DAZN Portugal asks Nico about his rookie teammate, Gabi. Nico admits he's learned a lot from Gabi, especially on the driving side. It's a mutual learning experience, and they've pushed each other throughout the season.
Tom Slafer from DAZN Spain asks Carlos about the temporary 25-lap limit in Qatar. Carlos believes it's a reliability measure and that the future of F1 should focus on a variety of strategies rather than mandated stops. It's a temporary solution, and they'll see how it goes.
Mara Sangiorgio from Sky Sports Italy asks Lewis about Kimi's progress as an opponent. Lewis is happy to see Kimi grow as a driver and a man, especially in the second half of the season. They have a great relationship, and Lewis is proud of Kimi's performance.
Panagiotis Seitanidis from ANT1 TV asks about the future of their teams. Lewis and Carlos admit they don't have crystal balls, but they have good feelings about their teams' progress. Nico believes gut feelings aren't worth much, but he hopes they'll be stronger next year.
Ian Parkes from Racing News 365 asks Lewis about his decision to join Ferrari. Lewis stands by his decision, knowing it takes time to build and grow within an organization. He expected the challenges and is ready to put in the work.
Jake Boxall-Legge from Autosport asks Carlos about the need for racing guidelines. Carlos believes in the analysis done by recent racing drivers like Karun Chandhok and Jolyon Palmer. He thinks they do a great job and would appreciate a similar level of analysis and judgment in the future, without guidelines.
Samarth Kanal from The Race asks about the ground effect era coming to an end. Lewis and Carlos are excited to see the back of these cars, especially with the understeer in low-speed corners. Nico is more neutral, but he agrees that the following has become very bad this year.
Luke Smith from The Athletic asks Lewis about the passion he felt within the Ferrari team. Lewis believes the passion is the most special thing about the brand and the people who work for it. The Tifosi's support is also a highlight, even through the tough on-track moments.
Diletta Colombo from AutoMoto asks Lewis about Ferrari's potential for a new leaf in 2026. Lewis believes they have a lot of work to do over the winter, but he's hopeful for improvements and a better package next year.
Leonid Kliuev from Grande Prêmio asks Lewis about the difference in results with Charles. Lewis isn't concerned, knowing that Charles has a well-oiled machine with a team he's worked with for many years. Lewis is still getting used to his new environment and is working hard to catch up.
Dzhastina Golopolosova from F1Maximaal.nl asks Nico about the Red Bull deal that almost happened. Nico admits it didn't happen, and he's not a dreamer, but he's where he is now, and that's what matters.
Ian Parkes from Racing News 365 asks Carlos about the need for a driver with a recent racing mindset on the stewards' panel. Carlos believes there are older generation people doing a good job, but he thinks having recent racing drivers on the panel would bring a different perspective and accuracy to the judgments.
And there you have it! A deep dive into the minds of these Formula 1 drivers, their experiences, and their thoughts on the season and the future. It's a fascinating insight into the world of racing, and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
