Hadjar has mixed feelings, while Mekies is satisfied
Hadjar eliminated at the start of Q3 and Tsunoda finished in the top 5: an excellent team performance not seen for a long time. Here's a look back at their impressions after qualifying.
For the French rookie, feelings are mixed after this qualifying session where he almost made no mistakes: « Failing so close to Q3 is really disappointing, 6 hundredths, and I know where I lost them. It’s a bit tough, but it’s still a good result. I’m more pleased with the car’s performance than anything else, Yuki is fifth, so we have a very good car and it’s a good day. »
Given his performances, one might say that Isack has quickly adapted to his car and shows a certain confidence. Tomorrow, with the rain, it will be completely different. It’s not so much a question of speed or only experience; it’s something I haven’t done yet. So, when I think about tomorrow, there are still many question marks, but I’m going to do my best.
Despite everything, the Frenchman had very good qualifications, a very good drive despite a small mistake. Considering his skills and driving style, it seems he will achieve better results tomorrow.
Laurent Mekies, the team director, talks about Tsunoda’s effort and the return to a high level after the team missed Q3 last year.
« It has been a very good weekend for us so far. It’s always quite a special moment: you work all winter, you spend 2-3 months at the factory, you see people busy developing the car. But you’re never quite sure if you’ve done enough: is it going in the right direction? Have we improved the car enough? […] Here in Melbourne, on this special circuit, it’s satisfying to see that the speed is there, the drivers are doing an incredible job. And it’s good to see that we are in the fight, even if we are not claiming a top 5, and surely Yuki and Isack have extracted more from the car than was really there. But I think we are in the fight after the top 4 teams in this big midfield. So, it’s a very good starting point! »
The pace of the drivers surprised everyone a bit today. But little hope that it will last.
« It’s always difficult to read the winter tests, now everyone has a different program.
[…] So, this weekend is the first real data point. I don’t expect us to be able to maintain this level of pace. But we are going to work hard. It’s a fantastic credit to everyone at the factory who has worked hard all winter.
Tomorrow, this first GP of the year will be in the rain, conditions that many rookies are not familiar with, and Laurent predicts a chaotic day, but we’ll have to deal with it.
I think tomorrow will be true chaos with the rain on this circuit and with 6 rookies, but that’s how it is.
We are focused on one thing: the championship positions at the end of last year for us in this midfield were down, by only very few points, so today, every new point counts, that’s what we are focused on, but we will try to get everything we can with Yuki and Isack. Both have already done a wonderful job.
Tsunoda has shown us strong performances. There is still work to be done and a pace to maintain tomorrow to achieve this end-of-year goal! To be first in the midfield.
