Thursday Drivers’ Press Conference

Max, what are you thinking about before your first race at home?

« Max Chilton: It’s an extremely exciting moment for me. Racing in Formula One is great. In Australia, that Grand Prix was very special, but this is the one I’ve been waiting for. To be in front of our fans, with all the Union Jacks around the circuit. It’s going to be a moment we won’t forget. The most important thing is to continue doing what we always do, not to do anything different, and to try our best. »

What do you think of your progress since the beginning of the season? We’re at the eighth race and you seem to be making a lot of progress.

« Max Chilton: Yes, I have confidence in what we are doing. I finished my seven races and had a great race in Monaco finishing 14th. You have to learn as much as you can during your first season in Formula One. I feel that I’ve learned everything I could and learned something new at each race, which I applied in the next one. That’s what I’m going to do all year and maybe next year. I don’t know what’s planned. You have to take as much as possible, use it in the next race, and achieve a better result. »

Mark, you have won here twice. What are your chances for another victory?

« Mark Webber: Yes, it has been a good hunting ground for me, in Formula One and in previous years in the junior categories. I think it’s one of the best circuits on the calendar. All the drivers love driving here, with a Formula 1 car on the limit, all the fast corners. Red Bull has been quite strong here in recent years. So we clearly aim for another victory here. In qualifying, I have finished in the top 3 in the last five seasons. So it was a good basis to build a good result. We must therefore have a trouble-free weekend and fight in the final part of the Grand Prix. I think once again, the tires will play a very important role, as they always have here in recent years. Fernando has been strong in Shanghai and Barcelona, which have a similar profile. We must remember this, even if we cannot do much about it. We know we will have good competition this weekend, and I look forward to it. »

And an important announcement today. Tell us what’s behind your announcement of retiring from Formula One. What is the significance of the year 2013 to 2014?

« Mark Webber: Well, it’s the perfect moment for me. I am very, very excited about my new step and the new challenge. With Porsche, I have one of the most respected brands in the automotive industry in general and in motorsports. So, I am personally thrilled. In fact, I made my decision some time ago. I knew for a while, I had a plan, and I stuck to it. But, at the same time, I want to respect my current profession and I am focusing on getting very, very good results for my last season in Formula One. »

Is it about the new engine regulations? Did it play a role?

There are many reasons that came into play. I think every athlete reaches a point in their career where they want to stop. There’s an extra little ingredient: there are going to be big, big changes in this sport next year. So, I’d rather make these big, big changes where my future will be. We’ll see how Formula One is next year. It will be interesting for me to watch that and see what the guys will do.

Jenson, Fernando, you have fought with Mark for many years. What do you think of today’s announcement?

Jenson Button: That leaves room for someone else, doesn’t it? It’s not really a surprise. I think Mark’s career is similar to mine: struggling in the early years before finding a seat you think you deserve and then, with a team that gives you wins. It’s obviously the right time. So well done.

« Fernando Alonso: Yes, I think it’s the right time for him, a good opportunity. As Mark said, he is joining a very prestigious brand and perhaps one of the most famous races in the world, along with Formula One. I think he’s going to have a lot of fun behind the wheel, as he does now, with a little less trouble off the track than we currently have in Formula One. We enjoy 19 Sundays a year, and the rest of the time, it’s quite stressful. With this new championship, I think he’s going to have more fun, and I wish him the best for the rest of the championship and the future. »

Compared to your own feelings regarding the two upcoming races, this race and next week’s in Germany, how important are they for your championship hopes, given the current deficit you have?

« Fernando Alonso: All the races are important from now on, especially given the position we are in. With a 36-point deficit to the leader, we don’t have much room for mistakes or to lose many more points. But, on the other hand, we have to stay calm, we have to do our job, the best we can do every weekend. If we can win this race, if we can finish ahead of Sebastian, that would be great. If we can’t do it, we will try to lose as few points as possible. Last year, after Monza, I think I had a 40-point lead (39 actually) over Sebastian and it wasn’t enough. And that was at Monza! So being 36 points behind today is not an ideal position but it’s not the end of the world. »

You were in pole position last year and finished second. Is your car this year suited to Silverstone?

« Fernando Alonso: We will see. I think it should be a good circuit for us. We have been more or less competitive here over the last three or four years. As Mark said, it’s the first circuit that is somewhat like China or Barcelona, which have been the best circuits for our car this year. So we have high hopes for this weekend. On the other hand, Red Bull is strong here and has been dominating since 2009. So it’s going to be very tight, with Mercedes as well I’m sure, as they’ve shown in China and Barcelona with the front row. So it’s going to be an interesting weekend that we approach with confidence, knowing we have a good opportunity.

Jenson, it’s an unfortunate statistic that you haven’t been on the podium here since 1999. Is it due to bad luck? What’s happening at Silverstone?

Jenson Button: I am certain that there is something more than just bad luck. I have had some great races here. In my first Formula 1 season, I finished fifth in my first British Grand Prix, overtaking Michael (Schumacher) at the first corner and finishing with only nine cylinders. It was a great weekend, with David Coulthard’s victory. As the fans here are passionate, it was a big celebration. But indeed, I agree it would be great to finish on the podium here. It will be difficult this year but we’ll see. We’re going to fight as much as we can and get the most out of the car. That’s all we can do this weekend: we know we’re not fast enough to reward the fans for all their support. They aren’t just fans in the good times, they are also fans in the tough times. It’s really nice to see. Let’s hope we have plenty of Union Jacks and I promise we will do our best.

We know you have a challenging car this year. What can you do to improve it?

« Jenson Button: I think everyone knows, watching on television, that our car is doing things a Formula One car shouldn’t do. I think our car is an area where we need to improve and an area where we are improving. So, with a circuit like Silverstone, which is quite bumpy. It’s not like Canada and I think our car is suited to circuits like Barcelona, China, Malaysia. Hopefully, the pace of the circuit will help us but it won’t be enough. We need to improve in the areas where we are weak. We are not thinking about 2014. We want good results this year and we are giving it our all to improve, but it’s an area where it’s very difficult to improve the car. But we are trying… »

Paul, you had two great races in Monaco and Canada, starting from far back on the grid. What do you think of these two Grand Prix?

« Paul di Resta: Obviously, I think we have achieved good results by fighting. Canada was obviously an excellent result. I think everyone raised their level on Sunday and the result we got was quite remarkable. This weekend, we are going to try to have three problem-free days. To build on that, move forward and finish in the points. We have scored points six times this season and the time we didn’t, we gave up. If we can continue like this, fighting, even beating McLaren and being ahead of them, it makes a big difference for a team like us, fighting in the midfield for most of the year. »

You had two great qualifications in two races here. As you say, it’s about having three days go as planned?

« Paul di Resta: Canada was very tough. I think the whole team felt it, but I think here we will gather information, starting with the tires tomorrow. Our car seems to perform well in all conditions this year. It seems very stable. I think it’s a circuit where tires will be an issue. We are normally on the right side of tire management, and our focus should really be on qualifying because that’s the big result of the weekend. Then it’s about transferring that into the race, where we know we have a good package to gain positions. But there’s still a lot of work to do, in front of many British supporters. »

Lewis, are you a bit surprised to arrive here as the British driver with the best chance of winning and being the highest ranked in the championship?

« Lewis Hamilton: I think yes. I didn’t expect this at all at the beginning of the season. So I think it’s positive.

What do you think of Mercedes’ progress this year?

« I think it’s incredible what they’ve managed to accomplish. It’s very difficult. When you see how my previous car evolved over time, over the past few years, it’s impressive to see all the progress that can be made over a winter. Seeing what they’ve done is quite impressive. They’ve done an amazing job, but it’s because they are brilliant people. They have lots of very smart people who come up with great ideas and new innovations. It’s a team to be commended. »