Team managers’press conference
Before delving into their teams'performances, team managers Oliver Oakes, Zak Brown and Christian Horner paid a heartfelt tribute to Eddie Jordan, an iconic figure in F1 who recently passed away.
Christian Horner opened the ball by highlighting the remarkable character of Eddie Jordan: “He was a great character, very inspiring. He led his team from F4 to F1. We will miss him a lot. My first memories with him date back to 1991: he took the time, during an evening, to advise me on my career. His advice is the best in motorsport.”
Zak Brown added: « He had a great personality and contributed to the careers of many drivers. I remember Spa in ’91 when Michael Schumacher debuted in his car and qualified. It was an iconic car. We will miss him, we need more people like Eddie in F1. »
Oliver Oakes, director of Alpine, concluded on this tribute: « He was a character, a personality. Even at Hitech, we started in a small unit at Silverstone, near the old Jordan factory. He was an incredible man who leaves a beautiful legacy. »
McLaren: First Victory and Strengthened Confidence
Zak Brown spoke about McLaren’s victory at the Australian Grand Prix: The pressure is always present in F1. It’s an excellent start to the season. The car is fast, and the team has done a good job, just like the drivers. I felt bad for Oscar at the end. The conditions were complicated, a stressful race, especially when Max isn’t far off.
When asked about the team’s change in mentality, Brown replied: « I don’t think so. Our drivers have great confidence following last season, they are in shape and in an excellent state of mind. The pit crew was exceptional given the pressure, the drivers, the weather, the tires. I was very happy to see how they responded to the constant pressure. »
The CEO of McLaren Racing also emphasized the importance of making the car easier to drive and more flexible. However, he qualified his statement by noting that he would not draw any hasty conclusions after this race in Australia due to the particular weather conditions.
Red Bull: solid performance but Horner remains cautious
Red Bull’s director, Christian Horner, acknowledged the speed of the McLarens: « They were fast in qualifying and at the start of the race. They did an excellent job with a great car and good drivers who push each other. The race came back to us a bit when the conditions became more variable and thanks to the mistakes of some. Max got closer at the end, we know what would have happened with one or two more laps. »
Regarding the development of the RB21, Horner stated: « We have significantly changed the characteristics of the car, which gives us a solid foundation. It’s a development race between now and Abu Dhabi in December. » He insisted on the necessity of relentlessly developing the car to win the championship.
The English boss also spoke about his young driver, Liam Lawson: « Liam has his head on his shoulders. It was a challenging baptism by fire for him, but he posted the second fastest lap. I told him to ignore social media. He just needs time. »
Alpine: promising progress despite absence of points
On his side, Oliver Oakes also discussed his team’s performance: « We had a good Saturday with Pierre [Gasly] in Q3. Jack also did a good job, but he was unlucky with the yellow flag. On Sunday, we were frustrated to leave without points, but we remain confident for the season. »
He also noted the harmony between his drivers: « Pierre is a pillar of the team. Having him with Jack gives us a solid lineup. Jack [Doohan] has worked brilliantly, even in Australia. »
The three team directors remain focused on improving their cars’ performance while keeping a close watch on upcoming developments.
