PART TWO – Gabriel BORTOLETO (Kick Sauber), Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing), Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari)
Q: Lewis, can we start with you? I can see the headlines now: Ferrari driver on a prancing horse. Tell us what you’ve been up to during the build-up. I believe he was called Jack?
Lewis HAMILTON: Good afternoon, everyone. I was at the factory and then headed out here, had some work in LA, and then I came here. Yesterday, I rode a horse for the first time, so it was an unbelievable experience. When I was younger, there used to be a horse in a field nearby—just a shire horse. It was this beautiful horse. It was always on its own every day, so I’d go and stop, and it would come over to me, and I’d spend time with it. But then I’d start walking home and notice my allergies start kicking off, and I’d struggle to breathe. I’d really struggle, and I didn’t know I had asthma. It wasn’t until I was around another horse another time and had an asthma attack—it was a really scary experience because I didn’t have an inhaler or anything. So, I stayed away from horses since that day, when I was probably 14 or something. I went through a desensitisation program because my allergies were crazy, particularly for hay fever in the UK, were crazy. I hadn’t thought about it much since. Then I did a shoot at the beginning of this year with a horse for the Time 100 magazine. I took medication, antihistamines, and I was able to be around the horse—no problems. So yesterday, I did the shoot with a horse for Plus 44, and I was like, “Can I ride it?” I got on, and it was just… wow. It was an amazing experience. Then the horse started moving, started to gallop, and I was like ‘God!’ I didn’t know what to do. So I panicked a little bit, but it was beautiful. I’m really excited about this next kind of phase of my life, where I’m going to be around horses more and really get into riding. That’s my next thing.
Q: What about on track then? Ferrari had a great race here last year. You have a great record here with five wins. What are the expectations coming into the weekend?
LH: Expectations—naturally, I never have expectations except that we give it our all and we continue to improve. There are lots of positives to take from every weekend, and lots of areas we can improve on. We spent time after the last race going through areas we can improve on, and I really think this weekend we can take a step forward in extracting more from the car that we have. We’ve not moved the car forwards in terms of performance, but there is more performance in the car. If we execute a little better, I think we can extract more. So that’s the goal.
Q: Max, if we can come to you now. Good to see you. You’ve taken 41 points out of Oscar Piastri since the summer break. The RB21 looks like it’s competitive everywhere. Just give us your thoughts coming into this weekend. You’re going for the win, clearly.
Max VERSTAPPEN: We’ll try, yeah, for sure. The last three weekends have been very nice—some better than others. I still think in Singapore we didn’t maximise the potential of the car, but again, you analyse everything and try to do better. That’s what we’ll try to do again here. It’s a great track to drive. Sprint weekend—always a bit hectic—but I’m curious to see what we can do.
Q: You mentioned Singapore. It reminds me of something Lando Norris was asked in the press conference how he rated your chances of winning the world championship this year, and he said 10%. George Russell said 100%. What’s the reality? I guess it’s somewhere between that. What are your thoughts? Give us a percentage chance.
MV: Fifty-fifty. You either win it or you don’t.
Q: But do you think the car will be quick everywhere in these last six races?
MV: Not sure. This car is a bit different to the previous one, so it’s not a guarantee that it works everywhere. I prefer to just look at it race by race. We’ll try to do our best here and then move on and see what we get.
Q: Gabby, belated happy birthday to you. First time you’ve raced here in Austin. What are your expectations for how the car’s going to feel as you drive around this racetrack?
Gabriel BORTOLETO: Well, thank you. Yeah, it’s my first time here. I went for a track walk this morning just to have a look. It looks very fun and enjoyable, especially Sector one—full of high speed. It’s a very bumpy track, so let’s see how our car behaves. We know that’s not normally the best for us, but we’ve been trying different things recently, and hopefully it can be a good weekend.
Q: You say you’ve been trying different things. Where is the competitiveness of the car at the moment? You haven’t been in the points for a few races—has it dropped off a bit or is it just about maximising from race to race?
GB: I think the races where we were in the points, we had very good laps that put us in Q3 and in a good starting position, and then we maintained more or less where we were. In Singapore, I think I was a little unlucky with the yellow flag there and I was out in Q1, but I think the car had good potential to maybe put it in Q3 with a very good lap. When you start at the back, it’s tough to overtake. Maybe I could have kept it in there. It was a tough weekend. We didn’t have much race pace. Other teams have also stepped up—not only us doing a good job. A lot of teams are still bringing developments to the car. It’s a bit more difficult than a few races ago, but I still think we’re on it to score points in this last stretch of the season.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports Italy) A question to Max. Looking at the drivers’ standings, I was thinking about your work in Japan. You said with the McLaren car, you’d arrive in Tokyo. My question is: with the McLaren car, where would you be in the drivers’ standings?
MV: Wait—I would arrive in Tokyo?
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports Italy) Yes, you said that.
MV: I said that, really? Okay. I like Tokyo. It’s a good place. I know I was joking. I don’t know—it’s impossible to know. I think it’s not really worth going into that too much.
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) A question for Lewis. There are stories about Christian Horner and Ferrari having exploratory talks. I’m not asking if it’s a good idea or a bad idea, but does it indicate something fundamentally not right behind the scenes at Ferrari, and what are you doing with the team to help put things right?
LH: I don’t know where the rumours have come from, so I can’t really shed much light on that. It’s a little distracting for us as a team. The team have made it clear where they stand in terms of re-signing Fred. Fred, I, and the whole team are working really hard on the future. These things aren’t helpful. Everyone back in the factory is working incredibly hard, focused, and these sorts of rumours can sometimes be distracting. So for me, it’s about keeping the focus on the goal in front of us and building on next year’s car—continuing to build a foundation so we can have better execution and better performance next year. As I said back in Spa—just having lots of meetings, making sure we’re sailing in the right direction.
Q: (Thiago Fagnani – TV Bandeirantes Brazil) A question for Gabriel. First of all, happy birthday. How important is the simulator for a driver at a new track, and how many hours did you spend in the sim for this race in Austin?
GB: Thank you for the birthday wishes. For me, sim is an important thing. I’ve always done it. Preparing for these events—new track, very technical—I spent a lot of hours with the team and at home on my new sim. I don’t know exactly how many hours, but it was a lot. A lot of laps—maybe more than I wanted to—but it was enough. I feel prepared, I’ve done my homework, and now it’s about hitting the track tomorrow, getting used to it in only one FP session, and going for the Sprint Quali.
Q: (Margot Lafitte – Canal+) Question for Lewis. Talking about the last six races of the year, still three sprints—can you talk us through your approach, maybe the questions you still have, answers you want to have, and the needs in the team to best prepare for 2026?
LH: Yeah. I’m really looking at the next six races as, ultimately, test weekends in terms of continuing to learn and improve on our processes. As I said in the last races, there’s been a couple of gems through the weekend that we didn’t capitalise on. So it’s about taking those good bits and continuing to take what works and change what doesn’t. That’s what we’re trying to do moving forward—continuing to build on the relationships, continue to build on communication. Everyone back at the factory really deserves a good result, and that’s the sole focus—to get good results, try to maximise, squeeze absolutely every point we can out of our performances on the weekends. And I really believe we can do that. So we just stay focused.
Q: (Léonid Kliuev – Grand Premio Brazil) Question for Gabby. On one hand, you obviously want to be world champion. On the other, like we saw with Lewis and Max in 2021, you might have fierce competition with someone. Are you ready for something like 2021 in your career?
GB: Yes. I mean, I don’t know for sure, but whatever happens, happens. You need to be ready. I think everyone needs to think the same in Formula 1. If you don’t think like that, I don’t know why you’re here. That season was very long for both of them. It was actually enjoyable to watch from the outside when I was watching it—very tense. Hopefully, at some point, I can get a season like that: very competitive and enjoyable right into the last race of the year.
Q: (Nigel Chiu – Sky Sports) Question for Max. Just how different does the car feel in terms of driving in the last few races compared to before the summer break, when the car looked like it was third or fourth fastest? And is this the most you’ve believed in the title, even though there are only six rounds left, compared to earlier in the season when you won races in Japan and Milan but had a gap after?
MV: The car is just a bit more balanced now. It doesn’t oversteer dramatically or understeer dramatically. But every weekend, you’re fine-tuning things because it’s never perfect. Luckily, lately, the car, it’s been a bit more together. And then at the same time, it’s not about believing in the championship or not—you just need to be realistic. We’ve had some good results lately, and I know when the car is capable of being quick and fighting for top places, I can be there. It’s as simple as that.
Q: (Ian Parkes – Racing News 365) Question for Max. Given your ‘50-50’ shot at the title, how different is it being in the role of hunter this year compared to being hunted over the past three years when you dominated? And in that hunter role, what are you still seeking from the car that could help you chase down Oscar and Lando?
MV: I don’t really think about it too much—simple as that. I come to the race weekend, try to do everything I can in the car. It doesn’t matter if I’m behind or in front. Naturally, of course, it’s nicer to be in front because it means you’re leading the championship. But I see every race weekend as an opportunity to try and win. If we don’t, we don’t. Life goes on—it’s not dramatic. It doesn’t put any pressure. I guess it helps that I’ve already won. As a team, we’re still trying to understand the car a bit more, learn more for next year as well. It’s not like you completely start over next year.
Q: (Jack Smith – Motorsport Monday) A question for Max. Laurent Mekies recently said that a lot of Red Bull’s recent resurgence is down to how you’ve been pushing the team. You’ve also talked about a slightly different philosophy there now. Have factors like that reaffirmed your decision to commit to the team long-term?
MV: Yeah, but at the end of the day, it’s a whole team effort. I enjoy working with everyone—it’s a good atmosphere. We’re on a good way, right? We’ve had some nice results, and I think that helps everyone. Confidence is high, and that makes it really nice to come to a race weekend. It seems like we’re understanding much more what the car can do and how it needs to be driven.
Q: (Sahil Kapur – NBC) A question for Max. You’ve spent many races this season behind the McLarens, and others ahead. After the recent improvements you’ve made to the Red Bull, which areas do you think your car is stronger, and which areas are McLaren still ahead?
MV: I think, in general, they are still quite strong in the medium-speed corners. That’s definitely a strength of their car. The rest depends a bit on the track layout and conditions—it’s a bit difficult to say. But medium-speed corners, probably still where they’re very good.
Q: (Andrew Benson – BBC Sport) Lewis, do you know if there’s any truth in the report that Ferrari are talking to Christian Horner? And do you think it’s a good idea if he became team principal?
LH: I don’t, and I’m not going to entertain rumours.
Q: (Adam Cooper – Adam Cooper F1) A question for Lewis. Can you talk us through the last few laps in Singapore? How hard was it to bring the car home safely, and was the penalty inevitable? Did you know you’d get one?
LH: Yeah, the last few laps were definitely nerve-wracking. I’ve finished races before with three tyres, and now I’ve finished one with three brakes. Not something I want to experience again. I could stop the car, but in those scenarios, the pedal just went straight to the floor. So I had no choice but to go onto those exit roads—I wouldn’t have made the corner otherwise. The FIA penalty was fine. Doesn’t really make a big difference to me anyway.
Q: (Alan Baldwin – Reuters) Lewis, changing the subject slightly—after Singapore, your Instagram had a video of Victor Meldrew saying, “I don’t believe it.” Have you had a chat with Fernando about that, and had a laugh, as ex-teammates?
LH: I don’t believe it! No, I haven’t seen Fernando—I haven’t seen him since then. But yeah, it was just a bit of fun. It reminded me of that show—I hadn’t seen it in 20-plus years. I thought it was funny, so I posted it. What is life if you can’t have a little fun?
Q: (Rodrigo França – Car Magazine Brazil) Question to all three of you. You all have strong support from your fathers since the beginning. What are your best memories with your father on the path to Formula 1?
GB: I think my championships in F3 and F2. My father unfortunately was working a lot, he has not been at so many races during my career but in the main ones, fighting for the titles, the first person I went to hug after my title was him. It was such a special moment with him. These two years, ‘23 and ’24, were very special for me to see him when I was standing in the car celebrating and to walk straight to him was very special. And when I was younger, obviously, when he brought me to the track for the first time.
MV: For me, what is the most impressive is how he was as a racing driver. Naturally, I think with a bit more luck, he would have had a much better career in Formula 1. But the most impressive thing is just his knowledge of racing, tuning, setting up cars, go-karts. What he taught me from a very young age—that kind of knowledge—you can’t really describe it. It definitely made me the person I am today, but also not only just driving fast in a car, it’s just, again, the knowledge of the car. He would be, I think, a really, really good team boss, even though I don’t think he wants to be, but he would definitely be a very good team boss or a leader in a team. His technical understanding of the car, the parts on the car, and how you can make things go faster. I still discuss so many things with him—about these things for him in his rally car, for me in the F1 car as well, and at the same time also for my GT3 team, what we can do. So yeah, it is very impressive to have someone like that—as my dad—explaining it all and giving you all that knowledge. That, for me, is the most impressive. And at the same time, the years that he sacrificed when I started racing all the way to Formula 1, basically kind of pausing his career in whatever he wanted to do or could do outside of Formula 1, and basically giving 100—no, I would say 110%—because I’ve never seen someone that committed to giving the best opportunities to his son. Not only in providing the best material but actually tuning the material himself.
LH: Yeah. For me, I think best memories would be sitting watching F1 together when I was like five. Along the journey would be, you know, the extra jobs that he had—putting ‘for sale’ signs up. I’d go around and help him put these “for sale” signs up when I was younger. Sitting, watching him work on my go-kart when he came home from work. And the moment that I would start the race in the early days in go-karts, we had a handshake. And knowing that I had him by my side, I knew that I would be safe when I came back from being on track. And then, along the way, seeing him at the bottom of the podium when I won my first race in F1—just knowing all the background of all the hard work and real sacrifice and blood, sweat, and tears that our family put into it. I think that was the real highlight at the end.
Q: (Julianne Cerasoli – UOL.com.br) Max, we had the confirmation of the Mercedes line-up for next year. Do you have any curiosity about knowing the details of these deals or any other deals for next year, or do you think you are in a position in which they don’t really matter?
MV: Yeah. I don’t need to know. It’s all okay.
Q: (Ian Parkes – RacingNews365) Max, just following up on those wonderful comments from you about your dad back then—you talked about him being a potential team boss. Have you had discussions around that subject, and what has stopped him from doing so? And at what level were you talking about him potentially being a team boss?
MV: I think at the end of the day it has to do with family as well. You know, doing so many races if you had to be a team boss… First of all, I’m very happy with the team boss that I have. But he definitely could be a good one on any level, from go-karting all the way to the top. But it’s fine. Like I said, we discuss a lot of things, and he’s there in the background. He advises me. He helps me with certain things if I need to figure stuff out—for F1 or GTs. And that’s just super helpful to have. He has so many contacts as well around the world. I think it’s just super cool. We’re both just super passionate about racing in any kind of form.
Q: Does he still give you driving advice?
MV: Probably if I would go in a rally car. But besides that, no. We just discuss things. It’s not like he tells me where to brake or where to turn in. But we still talk about everything throughout a race weekend and what I do with the car or not.
Q: (John Massengale – Speed City) This question is for Lewis. Lewis, welcome back to my hometown. You’ve been here since the beginning. I saw you and other F1 drivers in Downtown Austin back in 2012 walking unapproached. What do you think of what’s happened to the sport, to our city, to our Circuit of The Americas—everything that’s happened around since then?
LH: I think it’s been amazing to see the growth and the interest from people here in the States. And I think this track is, for me, the best track here in the States. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the whole calendar. But I love that we’ve been able to tap into the sporting community here. I know you have a big college football team here, and they’re massively passionate about sports. So it’s great that we were able to kind of tap into that finally. I think the first time we came here, it was all kind of like, “F1? What is F1?” But the progress—the journey that we’ve been on—from Netflix being out, to then the biggest sports movie of all time, the F1 movie that we did this year, has been amazing. And not only that—bringing people from all ages to the race. There’s a huge turnout every time we come here, and this is one of my favourite weekends of the year because you get to head into town, get some great food, and it’s just a really great atmosphere. So I’m really thankful to the people of Austin and to Bobby for hosting us every time. The circuit’s improving every time we come. Still a little bit bumpy, but I think that’s because the underground is moving a little bit. They’ve just added a theme park, so it’s becoming a really incredible event.
Q: (Julian Linden – Herald Sun) Max, from where you’re sitting, do you think McLaren are favouring Lando over Oscar? And if so, does that help you?
MV: Absolutely! Someone… I don’t know, I heard something… Does it help me? I don’t know. I mean, I honestly don’t know. I don’t care also, because it has nothing to do with me—what they decide, of course, within the team—how they operate as a team. I mean, they do whatever they think is right, and they’re doing a very good job at it—being this quick and what they’ve done over the last few years. For me, what’s important is that when we get to the racetrack, we just maximise our potential. And as long as we can do that, then it’s in our control. Of course, if you look at the whole season, we didn’t have a great start to it. But I just approach every race weekend trying to maximize everything we can, try to win races, and that’s the only thing we can do until the end.