Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Brazil GP : Fernando Alonso Friday quotes

Fernando Alonso :
"Today we knew that the power unit had reached the end of its cycle. So there was a risk we wouldn't finish the second session, but this was part of the programme we have been on for a few races now. It's always a shame not being able to use all the time available, even though I don't think it affected our work too much. The new track surface produced a lot of grip and it was extremely difficult to put together a good lap, because tyre behaviour changed from corner to corner. With a new surface, what effect the rain will have is always an unknown factor, so it's impossible to make predictions. That would have been the case at Sochi too, but it didn't rain there, so it means we have to be ready for every eventuality. "

Brazil GP : Kimi Raikkonen Friday quotes

Kimi Raikkonen :
"This was a better Friday than past ones and thanks to the work we did on the car, we got a good response from the changes we made in both sessions. In the first session we concentrated on set-up work and aerodynamic measurements. Because of my usual problems with the front end, we tried to eliminate anything that might have been causing them. In the afternoon, on the Soft tyres, the lap times were good and I'm sure that, without traffic, I could have done even better. Because of the red flags, we were unable to do a race simulation, but everything can change over the next days, because the weather forecast is very uncertain. In the dry, the car is going quite well, but we know that, if it rains, the track conditions could change things around. "

Monday, November 10, 2014

Brazil GP : FP2 results


Brazil GP : FP1 results

Austin GP : Fernando Alonso Sunday quotes

Fernando Alonso : 
"Today went more or less as expected, with the cars ahead of us being very quick, clearing off immediately after the start. After a good start, we tried to manage our sixth place, with a view to the Constructors ' championship, in which it was important to finish ahead of the McLarens. The strategy was the best possible, coming in for the first pit stop at the right moment. For the second one, we tried to go long to fit the Softs and go quicker. I think this season has been very complicated and regardless of the cards performance in these final races, I want to do my utmost to score points and help my team. "

Austin GP : Kimi Raikkonen Sunday quotes

Kimi Raikkonen : 
"This weekend was very complicated and again today in the race, I wasn't able to give my maximum. Up to the first stop, the car behaved well, but after fitting the Mediums the situation got tricky, with higher degradation than expected, so I lacked grip and after a few laps I began to have problems with the front end. I tried to save the tyres in any way possible, slowing in some parts of the track and turning into the corners, but even so I had to take on a set of Softs earlier than expected, which meant I had to make a third stop in the closing stages. Now we will continue to work to try and solve our problems. It won't be easy, but we won't give up all the way to the end of the last race. "

Austin GP : the race results

Austin GP : Fernando Alonso Saturday quotes

Fernando Alonso : 
"I think that this was a good qualifying and, looking at the times of the cars ahead of me, I don't think I could have done much more. Before coming here, we had thought about changing the power unit, but then we opted for one we had already used, so as not to start from the pit lane. The track surface is much better than in past years, with a lot more grip, but at the same time, others more tyre degradation so a two stopper is inevitable. The temperatures have dropped from yesterday to today, but I don't think this factor, along with the expectation that the wind direction will change for tomorrow, will affect the strategy. The races are long and anything can happen, including on the reliability front, as has especially been the case this season. "

Austin GP : Kimi Raikkonen Saturday quotes

Kimi Raikkonen : 
"The behaviour of my car was better today than yesterday and I was reasonably happy with the balance, even if I still didn't manage to put together a good enough lap to be higher up the grid. For some reason, we haven't managed to fix a problem with the front end. In all sectors of the track the car tends to slide causing a lot of understeer. Unfortunately, this is a very limiting factor and not ideal. But as usual, tomorrow in the race, we will try our best to get the most out of what we have to work with. I am sure that by continuing to work, improving day by day, we will soon find a solution. "

Austin GP : the grid


Austin GP : Fernando Alonso Friday quotes

Fernando Alonso :
"Today we did some good testing, helped by the track conditions, which were definitely different to previous years. It's possible the races they had here a few weeks ago helped to clean the track and as far as grip levels were concerned, we didn't have too many problems. In the second session, the situation was slightly worse because of the strong wind, but that was expected over the weekend and did not affect our work too much. The Soft compound seems to last less than expected, but we are well aware how much tyre performance can change as the track evolves. Certainly the race looks like it will be different to past editions, because the likelihood of two stops opens up different strategic possibilities. Today we tried the Virtual Safety Car system and I think that, for a first try it went well, although there is still much to do. All us drivers agree it's a very worthwhile idea, we just need to get used to it. "

Austin GP : Kimi Raikkonen Friday quotes

Kimi Raikkonen :
"The day began with a few difficulties in the first free practice session, in which we concentrated on analysing various aerodynamic components. I did not feel comfortable with the set-up we had and controlling the car wasn't easy. In the afternoon, we made some changes and the handling of the car was definitely better. On the Medium compound, I managed to do a good lap and I think if I had not been held up in traffic, I could have done even better. We still have a lot of work to do before tomorrow qualifying, but the improvement we saw from one session to the next seems to indicate we are going in the right direction. We just have to continue doing our best. "

Austin GP : FP2 results


Austin GP : FP1 results