PART ONE – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing), Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren), Jack DOOHAN (Alpine)

Q: Let’s start with the champ. How are you and what sort of shape are Red Bull in as we embark on this new 24 race campaign?

Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, all good. What kind of shape? Positive shape I guess. I don't know. Guess we'll find out more this weekend and after it. Yeah, we’ll try to do our best. I mean, there's not really much more that we can do, You know, testing isn’t many days. So we found, already, a few areas that we can work on and that's what we'll continue to do so. 

Q: What did you learn in testing, particularly that final day when you were in the car the whole time? Is the car a step forward over the car that finished last year? 

MV: Yeah, I think naturally there is an improvement, but I think I've said it before: there are still things that we want to improve on and do better now. This is of course also a different track to Bahrain. So yeah, that already will feel a bit different to drive the car here. But yeah, step by step. 

Q: Are you expecting a tighter season this year compared to last year? 

MV: Impossible to know at the moment. I mean, I know that we are not the quickest at the moment, but again, it's a very long season. If you would have asked that question here last year and then at the end of the season again, you know it looked completely different. So a lot of things can always change quite quickly in Formula One. 

Q: OK, thank you very much for. Good luck this weekend, Jack. Can we come to you now? Your first home race, a huge moment for you. A huge moment for your family. Describe your emotions sitting here now?

Jack DOOHAN: Yeah, to be honest, I'm super keen just to get on the track. Been so much build up. A long time since we finished in Abu Dhabi it feels now, so I'm excited to get to tomorrow, FP1 on the way, and enjoy actually driving these race cars. 

Q:  What goals have you set yourself for the weekend? 

JD: To enjoy. Enjoy each time I'm on track, because number one, that’s why I'm here, because I enjoy what I do. And to work hard with the team, ensure that we extracted everything we could from Bahrain pre-season testing and put that into play for this weekend and then deliver on track, whatever the car's potential. 

Q: You mentioned the potential of the car. Tell us what you learned in Bahrain. Same question as I asked Max. What sort of shape are you in?

JD: I think it was positive. We got 55 laps more as a team than we did in the previous pre-season testing. The car was reliable. You know, I was comfy in the car, got to get a good grip. Obviously, Bahrain had strange conditions—not typical temperatures, high winds. So let's see. You know, it's going to be looking super hot, especially for Saturday here, but it's difficult to give you an answer. We're going to find out very soon, for sure.

Q: Good luck, enjoy it. Thank you. Oscar, coming to you now. No Australian has won the Australian Grand Prix. Could this be the year?

Oscar PIASTRI: I don't know. We'll see. I know what you want me to say, and everyone's headline can be that, but we'll see. I think, you know, obviously no one really knows what to expect. Testing went pretty well, but you don't know where everybody stands. I think we're pretty happy with how our test went, but as we've said, Melbourne is a completely different track to Bahrain. Weather is going to be different to Bahrain and different every hour, by the look of it. So it's going to be an interesting weekend for sure, but I think hopefully we're expecting to be somewhere up the front. Whether that's right at the pointy end, we’ll wait until Saturday, I think.

Q: Not long to wait, and you come into the weekend with a new contract in your back pocket. Tell us why you decided to commit to McLaren long-term.

OP: I mean, it was from both sides, really. I was already signed up for this year and the next, but it felt like just a very natural progression to sign for an even longer term. Obviously, last year was an incredible year for the team. I think my two years at the team have been pretty incredible—starting from where we were when I joined to being Constructors' champions now. It made a lot of sense in my mind to try and continue that and build with the team. Obviously, myself and Lando are both there for a long time now. Andrea is on a long-term contract, Zak, the key technical staff as well. So yeah, for me, it seemed like a no-brainer, and I think it was reciprocated from the team as well.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) Jack, Oscar, Max, lovely to see you all again, and good luck for the weekend. Max, I’m going to turn to you. You can't predict this season, but you've had three successful title defences. What goes into a successful title defence? Where can it be won and lost? And once you've helped us with that answer, is this going to be your toughest title defence yet?

MV: Yeah, there's a lot of things that you make me think about that I actually don't think about. So it's actually way more relaxing to just go into it, trust the people around you, and go from there. You know, work hard on and off track, try to address things that you don't like in a car or whatever, and always try to do the best on track yourself. Try to minimize mistakes and keep scoring points.

Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) And is this going to be your hardest one yet?

MV: I don't know. I don't think about it. There's no reason to think about that yet.

Q: (Nelson Valkenburg - Viaplay) Oscar, congratulations on your new contract. You probably haven't binged Drive to Survive yet, but we heard Zak Brown saying this is the start of the age of Lando Norris. Did you make him swallow his words a bit when you signed that contract, or is that the goal for this?

OP: I haven't watched it, to be honest. I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what happens, so I don't need to watch it again on TV. No, I mean, obviously there's a lot of things in Drive to Survive that, you know, we never quite know how it's been cut up. But no, I think for myself, I'm very confident in what I can do. We're going into the season starting from zero for both of us, and we're both obviously going to be trying to fight for a world championship. So yeah, I'm pretty confident in what I can do and aware that there are things that I need to do better from last season. But I'm confident that we've done a lot of hard work to try and improve that and go out and have a good year.

Q: (Craig Slater – Sky Sports) Another one for Max again. I think you spoke to the Dutch media and said you didn't think you could contend for victory. Is that circuit-specific, or are you particularly concerned about the pace you saw from McLaren?

MV: Exactly that. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you answered it for yourself.

Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports Italy) Question to Oscar. Do you have the feeling that McLaren can open a Red Bull-style cycle of dominance like we've seen in recent years?

OP: No, I don't think so. Obviously, that would be ideal—to try and have that level of success and competitiveness. I think that’s what every team dreams of and what every driver dreams of. But at this point in the regulations, with how last season went, expecting that is incredibly naive. I think this season is going to be just as tight, if not even tighter, than the second half of last year especially. So yeah, of course, that’s what we want to aim for, but we have a new set of rules coming next year, and that's probably going to change the pecking order quite a bit—or at least the gaps quite a bit. So I don't think it's the same circumstances. But also, I think this year is going to be an incredibly competitive year of F1. As much as I would like to try and have that level of success, I think it's going to be very, very tough.

Q: (Nelson Valkenburg - Viaplay) Next question for Jack. How important was it for you to get that Abu Dhabi race under your belt? And since you're part of a big group of rookie drivers this year, until when are you considered a rookie? Some drivers have done a couple more races and are still being called rookies. Where’s the cut-off line there? But mainly, how important was Abu Dhabi for you?

Jack DOOHAN: Yeah, Abu Dhabi was important, to be honest. Going into Abu Dhabi, you know, there were nerves. And to be honest, I was already thinking about this weekend back then. My feelings have changed quite a lot since then. With so much time to digest, that this weekend's going to happen. A lot of off period, and I've become very comfortable and relaxed with what's to come, and it's helped a lot. You know, the team has been amazing in helping with that. Abu Dhabi was great just to go through the motions and learn how the weekend goes actually being in the driver’s seat and not from a third point of view. And about the rookie question—I don't really know. Technically, maybe I'm not a rookie after doing that race last year since it’s not officially my debut, but I'm sure after a few races you can't really be called a rookie anymore. It’s a difficult one. I think it depends on anyone’s opinion.

Q: So Liam Lawson—not a rookie, right?

JD: I wouldn't say so, technically. I mean, he's raced in two different seasons now, right? And in quite a few races. I wouldn't officially say that.

Q: Oscar, when did you stop feeling like a rookie in Formula One?

OP: When I signed my contract again yesterday! No, I think you're constantly learning. Even now, two years in, there are still things you always learn and improve. I’m sure if you ask Lewis and Fernando, it's still the same, however many decades later. I think after the first race or the first couple of races, you start to feel a bit more comfortable. A home race is a tough circumstance for a second race, but once you get some of those big milestones out of the way and have a few good results on the board, that always helps with the nerves as well.

Q: (Aldona Marciniak – Eleven Sports) Oscar, obviously everyone sees McLaren as a favorite at the start of the season. If that's the case, what are the rules of engagement? Have you already talked about how you will handle things internally between yourself and Lando?

OP: Yeah. I mean, we're starting from a clean slate, and ultimately, whoever's going to be faster on track is going to be the one who wins and finishes higher. So yeah, we’re very much clear on how we’re going into the season, and that’s racing each other and trying to hopefully fight for wins. It’s all very clear. We've discussed a lot from last season and how we managed the back end of last year. And I think this year, starting from zero again, we’re both going to be trying our best to win.

Q: (Margot Laffite – Canal+) A question for Max. Ten years ago, you were starting your first race for Toro Rosso. This year, it’s Isack Hadjar who’s playing the same part. What’s your feeling about this new French driver? And more broadly, what do you think about the young Red Bull talents coming into Formula One?

MV: Yeah, it’s a long time ago now. No, it’s great to see. I mean, in general, it’s nice that there are so many— I’m allowed to say rookies, right? I guess that’s still up for debate—but young drivers getting into Formula One. And of course, I’m hoping they stay for a long time. The excitement, also the unknown at the same time, is good. It’s fun to see from my side as well. From the Red Bull pool, seeing young drivers finally getting these opportunities is great. I’m excited to see how they will perform throughout the year and in the coming years.

Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) Oscar, at McLaren, we have a 24-race series where an Australian goes up against an Englishman for the battle at McLaren. Then in November, the Australian and English men’s cricket teams play out The Ashes. In which of those two series does the Australian have the better chance?

OP: Yeah, I’d like to think both of them! To get in early, the Ashes aren’t even going to be a contest, Crofty. I was going to say same result as last time, but the trophy is staying in the same place. For the season, obviously, I’m confident in what I can do as a driver. Last year, I proved to myself over a decent portion of the year what I’m capable of, and I really took confidence from especially the wins and some of the better races. Now, it’s just about trying to do that every race weekend—that's the goal. With Lando, it’s obvious that he’s incredibly talented, and it’s never going to be easy going up against him. But yeah, I’m confident in my own ability to try and prevail this year.

Q: (Ian Parkes - Racing News 365) Max, given the issues that your car had last year, the RB20, how concerned are you that those issues seem to have carried over into this season? And do you feel the team has enough time to get on top of them, bearing in mind how quickly focus has to shift onto the 2026 car?

MV: Yeah, I mean, we’ll do our best to make it as competitive as possible. Of course, it’s the final year of these regulations, so I guess up to a certain point—and I don’t know where that is—you focus on this year, and then at some point, you focus on a whole different thing. We’ll make it more drivable, but Bahrain is very different to what we have here, so it's a bit difficult to say if things have been fully fixed or not. I guess we just have to be patient and see how much we can regain.

Q: (Oliver van Bronswijk – The Roar) A question for Jack and for Oscar. Australian drivers have a lot of pressure placed on them, more so than drivers at other home races. Jack, how are you dealing with the pressure your first time out? And Oscar, what is one piece of advice you could give Jack to help?

JD: I don't necessarily agree, to be honest, that we have more pressure than other home races – especially there’s two of us, you know. Max is the only Dutch driver and there's a lot of raging fans in Zandvoort, to say the least. But no, I think the off season was good. Started work early with the team and you know, I know I'm mentally fit, physically fit. Done the ground work. So for me, you know the nerves shouldn't really be an issue and knowing that I've done everything that I can to put my best foot forward, then the rest, you don't think about that. That will come as it will be and I'm just looking forward to actually driving, like I said.

OP: Yeah, I think the advice would be just to enjoy it mainly. You only get to make your home race debut once. And you know, it's a busy week. A busy weekend. It's busier than everywhere else and I think you know, for me, as much as you try to say it's another weekend, it's not. It’s a bit different. So I think just mainly enjoying it. For me, it hit pretty hard the first time here, especially growing up 15 minutes down the road, that was pretty special. But I think the advice is just to enjoy it, the first time round, every time round. But yeah, just soak it all in and you know, remember that you only get to do it once and it's pretty special to be able to race home.

Q: (Adam Cooper – Adam Cooper F1) For Max and Oscar, Stefano Domenico has been confirmed for another five years in charge of Formula 1. What do you think of the job he's done over the years and is he a guy who's easy for the drivers to talk to and actually listens to you?

MV: Yeah, I mean it's great for Formula 1. He's first of all a great person as well. I got along very well with Stefano as well, so I'm very happy that you know he's staying around for a longer period of time.

OP: Yeah, very much the same. I think what he’s been able to help with the sport has been very appreciated. You know, his door is always open to us as drivers. And again very easy to talk to very receptive of our ideas and concerns if we have any. So yeah, very happy that he's sticking around for a long time.

Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) A question for Max. Oscar mentioned some of the clever editing we sometimes see on Drive to Survive. I think you've watched the Miami episode and then there was a clip of you in Zandvoort looking quite sad to add a bit of drama to it. Does it bother you when you see that kind of thing and like, how drive survivors may? Playing with the truth a little bit at times?

MV: I'm not surprised, so… I didn't watch it. It's just unfortunate you see these things pop up on X, but you just need to quickly ignore it so it doesn't come up again in your feed. No, not blocked, because they see that. If you ignore it, then no one knows.

Q: (Ben Waterworth – The Roar) Question for Max. It was mentioned earlier it's 10th anniversary of your debut in the sport. A lot has happened. What's the one piece of advice you'd like to go back and tell debutant Max that you think might help you today?

MV: No, nothing to be honest. It's important to make your mistakes and of course feel that excitement at the time, because if I would have told him at the time what he would achieve in the sport then it's pretty boring to know what's ahead, right? You need to have that uncertainty. You need to feel the pressure of having to perform at the time, trying to work your way into a top team. All these kind of things. So, no, nothing.

Q: (Samarth Kanal – The Race) Max, are you praying for rain on Sunday? And do you think that's your best chance of overhauling the McLaren's here?

MV: No, I mean actually I was like it to be dry because it's just nicer. Also, for the fans. But if it's wet, it's wet. It's fine as well, but I don't know how we will perform in in the dry or the wet at the moment, you know, so it's a bit a bit difficult to say.

Q: (Damien McCartney – Nine’s Wild World of Sports) Question for Jack. The elephant In the room. There's been plenty of reporting about Franco's arrival at the team as reserve driver, and how you may only have a very short F1 career before you're hopefully not replaced from an Australian point of view. But I just like to get your thoughts on do you feel that extra pressure? Has that been communicated to you? How do you feel about that for what could hopefully not be your only home Grand Prix?

JD: Great question. To be honest, kind of similar as Max said before, I haven't been thinking about any of that because as you all know, there’s no point thinking about rumours or commenting on them. But you know, I have a contract for at least this year, if not more. So, I look forward to many home Grands Prix. And the uncertainties? You don't bother worrying about them. I think I have to perform each and every time I'm in the car. I have one guy chasing my seat, but we actually have four now, if you didn't realise, we have four reserves, you have all four of them, not just Franco, probably wants my seat and if not, Pierre’s as well. And I wanted their seats while I was reserve driver the last two years. So you know I'm going to enjoy, to be honest, every race as if it's my last, because I want to enjoy each and every moment I'm in the car. But. Yeah, to be honest, not much more to add on that.

Q: (LA Wilshaw – Top Speed) Max, I would like to ask you about your parenthood this year. You’re about to be a father. Would you like to see your child following your footsteps as you did your own dad? Or would you like your child to take a completely different career?

MV: I would like my child to choose themselves. Yeah, it doesn't matter. Mean, of course. If he or she wants it, then you will always do you're very best as a parent, you know to provide everything they need or advice. But I'm also very happy if they, you know, would choose something else, to be honest.

Q: (Ethan Cardinal – Drive.com) Evening cardinal. From job com. Max and. How much of a race is team strategy and planning versus driver, driver IQ and instinct to kind of perform out there?

OP: I think it's a combination of all of those things. You know, in in some races the strategy is more important than others. I think always, you know, being intelligent with how you drive and ultimately being fast usually makes the strategy a bit more. If you can do that. But you know, that's why we have a team of hundreds of people back at the factory. Obviously they're not all doing strategy and stuff like that, but it's why you have those teams to give you every chance of success out on track so. A combination of all the things you know, obviously as a driver in the seat, you're probably the best person to read the situation from the car in terms of you know what the tyres are doing, what the car's doing. But the strategy team will see a lot more of the race picture and what's going on around you so a bit of column A and a bit of column B.

MV: Brilliant. So. nothing to add.

OP: If you pay. A fee I can do all your answers.

MV: Yeah, I mean that would actually… You want to sign a contract? You're good at it. Can just make a little side letter.

Q: (Michael Lamonato – Fox Sports Australia) question to Oscar. First part I guess, is how pleased you to see Australia continue to drive representation on the grid and having come up through a similar path as Jack, how much do you think he deserves his seat in Formula 1? What can he contribute to the sport?

OP: Yep. I mean, it's always nice to have a fellow Aussie on the grid and you know, I think Jack very much deserves it. Think he had a lot of success in his junior career. I know the challenges he's probably had in the last year of sitting on the sidelines. So, you know, I know it's never an easy thing to come back into a race seat again when you've spent so much time out of a seat. You know, I think having time to get back into the swing of things and you're not just jumping in back in any race car, you're jumping in an F1 car, so I think time is going to be an important thing and trying to learn. But yeah, it's always great to have another Aussie and I think Jack has proved through his junior career that he deserves a chance. Yeah. It's nice to see him here.

Q: (Emily Selleck – Motorsport com) Jack. I'm curious if your final week of preparation for the season was thrown into a bit of chaos given the cyclone in your home town?  

JD: No it. It was quite OK. It was nice. I had three days back on the Gold Coast. And to be honest, with no actual, like… When you're forced to stay inside, it's almost nice, just not doing anything. Three days switching off and we were very fortunate to be safe and have no issues and I could fly down here early Tuesday morning and the weather, to be honest, doesn't look like it's much better right now, hopefully it gets sunnier for Friday and Saturday so we can at least experience some warm weather that we're supposed to offer here in Australia.

Q: (Julian Linden – National Sports Newsroom) A question for Oscar. Third time here, Oscar, what can you learn from your two previous races here that you think can help you this time?

OP: I mean, I think just the experience from both of them. I think the first time round watching the carnage unfold was a pretty good strategy that year, but last year, I think it was a pretty solid race. Some things to work on, but I think it's the same with every race. There's going to be parts from every single race I've done that you can transfer into your next race. Doesn't have to just be from Melbourne, but I think, you know, looking back at qualifying last year, the race last year, you pick up on some of the specifics and ultimately we've got to see what our competitiveness is like. We obviously hope it's good, but that is going to dictate a lot of the weekend and what you're fighting for. But I think yeah, being here for the third time now, obviously you know the track a lot better. You know some of the things to look out for in terms of the strategy, how to drive the car in the race. One thing you can never count out is Melbourne weather, though, so whether that's going to be relevant at all, we'll see. But. Yeah, I think you always gain experience from every race that you can just transfer into the next. So, nothing too crazy, but yeah, definitely in better stead than I was the first time I came here two years.

PART TWO – Carlos SAINZ (Williams), Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari), Andrea Kimi ANTONELLI (Mercedes)

Q: Lewis, can I start with you? The switch to Ferrari has been huge news all winter. Can I ask you about your first race vibes? How different is the experience here in Melbourne now compared to when you joined Mercedes in 2013, or even when you joined McLaren back in 2007?

Lewis HAMILTON: Good afternoon. It's good to see everybody. Yeah, naturally, I'm very, very fortunate. I've had this amazing career here in Formula 1. Starting with McLaren here in 2007 was an epic feeling. And then starting with a new team again with Mercedes was, again, incredible. I think this is very reminiscent of my first year. Over the years, I've gone up and down the paddock looking at the red garage, and now I'm actually in the red garage. So it's a really nice feeling.

Q: Quick word on the car. Is it one that inspires confidence?

LH: Yeah, so far, I definitely feel so. We've only had three days in the car, but it's difficult to know where we stand with everyone else. We're just trying to keep our heads down and focus on our job. Carlos was incredibly quick. Kimi was really quick. It was difficult to know who's where, but it looks like it's going to be close. For me, I’m itching to get going. It's been a long time coming, and to think that this is going to be my first Grand Prix—one of those other firsts with the team—as I experience that all through the year, it's pretty special. I feel very honoured and very grateful to have the opportunity.

Q: Brilliant. It's busy in here. I'm sure you'll get more questions in a minute. Carlos, we come to you now. Change of colours for you in 2025. You appear to have hit the ground running. Just give us a summary of how things have gone so far with Williams.

Carlos SAINZ: Yeah, it's definitely been a positive start. I think, as I've said many times now, the positive start began in the Abu Dhabi test. As soon as I jumped into the car and started working with the people I was going to work with this year, I felt I had just joined a team full of motivation—full of people wanting to bring this team back to the front. The car also didn’t disappoint me. It was a good test overall in Abu Dhabi, and we've had a strong winter in development. We've tried to hit the ground running this year, and we've had a positive test. Having said that, what you call positive—are we going to be half a second, one second off the leaders, I don't know. But hopefully, we can show progress. I think that's the fundamental word for us this year: keep showing progress as a team and see where we end up.

Q: Talking of progress, it took Williams eight races to score points last year. Will it take as long this year?

CS: I hope not, but in this sport, you never know. I'm definitely going to do my best to score them as soon as possible, but I don't know when that's going to be. That statistic isn’t the most important. As I said, progress means being more competitive, fixing the things we didn’t get right last year. So far, testing has been positive—reliability, weight of the car, just simple things that maybe in the past, Williams wasn't getting spot on. This year, it’s been the case, and that's exactly what I mean by progress. Happy faces, happy people. I see people full of motivation and that's what I care about the most because that's what's going to sustain medium to long-term success.

Q: Thanks, Carlos. Enjoy the weekend. Good luck. Kimi, coming to you—your first Grand Prix weekend. You must have dreamt about this moment many times. How do you feel now that it's a reality?

Andrea Kimi ANTONELLI: Well, first of all, hello, everyone. Yeah, it's amazing. Obviously, it's a dream coming true. I've been waiting for this moment my whole life. The winter felt pretty long, I'm not going to lie, but yeah, I’m super happy to be here. I think it's a special place to do my first Grand Prix, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how we perform once we hit the track.

Q: What goals have you set yourself for the weekend?

AKA: Well, it's hard to say. The thing is, I don't know what to expect because it's my first Grand Prix.

I don't want to set anything too high—I just want to have a clean weekend, find a nice rhythm in order to be able to build up from there.

Q: Does it help that you raced here in Formula 2?

AKA: Yeah, of course. It definitely helps because I know the track, so I don’t have to learn it. You understand the track, where you can overtake, where you can defend best. So definitely, F2 was a good help last year.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) Kimi, Lewis, Carlos—good to see you back again. Lewis, you're smiling, and you're in red. It just kind of looks good and feels good, I'm sure. But every Ferrari driver feels the expectation and the pressure. Are you turning that pressure into motivation? Because you look like you're loving every second.

LH: Yeah. The first reason I was smiling was just looking at this youngster here. I’m happy for him, you know, he’s doing so well and conducting himself so well. Taking that first leap, getting that first opportunity to be in Formula 1, it's so, so special. I know how many years of dedication it would have taken for him. Starting even younger than I did. You’re 18 now, yeah? It’s just exciting to see. As for me, I don’t really approach this role with pressure. I think over the years, the pressure I put on myself has always been ten times higher than any other pressure that could be put upon me. I haven't joined this team and been made to feel any pressure. I have an expectation for myself—I know what I can bring, I know what I can deliver, and I know what it’s going to take. It’s just about getting my head down and working away. I come with a very open mind, coming into this weekend. It’s about getting into a good rhythm. I’m still learning this new car that’s quite a lot different from what I’ve driven my whole career, in the sense of the Mercedes power coming to the Ferrari power, it’s something quite new – different vibration, different feel, different way of working. The whole team works completely differently. I was just sitting looking at last year’s race traces and it’s upside down compared to the previous ones, what I’ve been used to. I don't understand it all. You’re looking at things from a different perspective and that makes it exciting and challenging. This is definitely the most exciting period of my life. I’m really enjoying it, and I’m so excited to get in the car tomorrow.

Q: (Nelson Valkenburg – Viaplay) For all three of you—given that you're in new circumstances and ahead of a monumental season, what would define a successful season for you? What would make you feel like you've accomplished your mission?

CS: Yeah, I think I summarised it before. Keeping showing progress and keep building momentum as a team. Personally, adapting fast to the team would be success because a new year in a new team it always takes time to adapt to the car, to the team and making that adaptation process as short as possible is one of the biggest challenges. If I manage to do that quickly, I’ll be proud of it. In terms of results, I prefer to wait for two or three races, analyse where the car is, what am I going to be fighting for and once I see if I am going to be fighting for Q2s or Q3s, points, no points, then I put together whatever a good season would be and I would start targeting those results.  But before knowing where the car is going to be, it’s almost impossible to set targets in terms of number if points, position in the championship and all that.

LH: Carlos answered it well. I was kind of following him thinking he was taking the words right out of my mouth. As he said, joining a new team, the sooner you can reach a high level and get results, the better. But inevitably, there's a transition period, and there is a foundation that’s needed to be built. I’m sure both of us that’s what we have been doing over the past couple of months. The first half of the season, it is about that foundation building those relationships, the trust, you’re building with absolutely every everyone in the team. It’s not Trust isn’t something you just walk in the door and have—it’s built over time. For me, the goal is to win, of course, and to take the team forward. I’ve had some not-so-spectacular years and I’m trying to see if I can have a better year than I have the last three. There’ll are a lot of factors that can add to that.

AKA: Well, for me, you know, I will have so much to learn during the season. Obviously, there's so many new scenarios I need to experience. But of course, I think it will be a good season you know, trying to maximise every result, especially in that moment, maximising the best result. And then, of course, keep learning. I mean every weekend keep learning, keep developing, but, yeah, the mindset is always the same. I mean as a natural racing driver, you go on track and try to be the fastest and win but the same time I'm pretty realistic about the situation, and the level is extremely high, but that's what's amazing about this sport and about racing in Formula 1. So definitely, I'm looking forward to see how I get on during the season, but definitely maximising the result every time will be good goal.

Q: (Tom Slafer Savin – DAZN Spain) Carlos, this is a very different Australian Grand Prix for you compared to last year for different circumstances. You were mentioning that it's pretty difficult to say what the result will be for the weekend, but with what outcome would you be happy for this first weekend as a Williams driver?

CS: Again, it's very difficult to answer this question. I think even after FP2, I would be able to tell you more in detail what I would be happy with, because that's where you start to understand whether you are fifth team, eighth team or 10th team or seventh. And then you set yourself expectations, for quali and for the race, but without knowing it's like, I don't know, maybe top 10, it could be a good result, but you might not be even close to the top 10, or top 10 might not be optimistic enough. So you need to readapt the expectation, so I don't know, maybe after FP2, give me a session to see where everyone is, and I tell you what I would be happy with. But yeah, the win of last year, I don't think it's very is very likely.

Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports Italy) More or less the same question to Lewis. After a lot of attention and expectation that have been created in these days around you and the team, after this weekend, you will be happy if?

LH: Yeah, well, definitely hope to be in the top 10. I think, well, I mean, I don't remember where I finished here last time? You guys won, I don't think it was that great.

CS: You didn't win.

LH: No, I didn't. I know you won. Yeah, what would I be happy with coming away this weekend? I don't know. As I said, I don't have expectations. I think I just ultimately want to come away knowing that I've given absolutely everything, and I've excelled in in the way that I know I can, that I felt comfortable in the car and just one foot in front of the other. So I don't know what that means in results. But of course, we won't know till tomorrow where whereabouts we truly stand with within the top teams. But I'm hoping that we're able to compete for the top five, so somewhere in that space.

Q: (Margot Laffite – Canal+) Question for Kimi. Can you talk us through your feelings about having been Lewis's teammate, If we can say, last year, and having him as an opponent on track this year?

AKA: I mean, first of all, if it feels pretty surreal to be able to raise, you know, with someone such as Louis. I mean, I've been growing up, and also, once I joined the Mercedes, you know, been looking at him, and, you know, it's been incredible successful. So it feels kind of weird that I'm going be sharing the track with him, but also with Carlos, with all the drivers at the end of the day, because you know when, when you're used to see them on TV, and then finally you're able to share the track with them, it is an incredible feeling. And yeah, last year, I mean, I've been doing some track side, end of season, and being starting to work with the team, and, you know, Lewis has always been nice to me, and also giving me some advice. And then also, I think you wrote a message, in the drivers’ room, so I'm going be able to see it pretty soon. But, yeah, it's always been really nice to me, and I'm really, really grateful for that, because it shows that, you know, it's not only a great driver, but also a great person.

Q: (Sam McClure – The Age) This one's for Lewis. Lewis, you talked about dreaming about being in the red garage for so long over the years, in your time here, how aware of you, of the special connection that not only Ferrari has with Melbourne, but the Italian community, the food, the culture, Lygon Street is going to be painted red? Do you feel a little bit of extra support knowing that?

LH: So, say that again. Sorry.

Q: (Sam McClure – The Age) Just the special connection that Ferrari and obviously Melbourne has a very strong Italian community.

LH: I didn't know that. I really didn't know that. So that's something new for me. I have not met any Italians here,

Q: (Sam McClure – The Age) Have you made your way to Lygon Street over the years?

LH: I don't think so. I’ve been coming here a long time. No, I haven't been. I didn't even know that, but that's really cool to know, I guess. I mean, Italians are everywhere, right? They're everywhere you go, you got the cultures. Everywhere. Everyone loves pasta, everyone loves pizza, everyone knows about that, and everyone's seen the movies growing up. So I just feel like Italians are everywhere. But as I said, coming to Australia for me, I kind of I done the other, only other culture I really knew of the Aborigines, and as I've met some of the kids that have come to the track over the past years. So yeah, I guess now I'll get to see some of the so now I know when I see some of the people that are in red, they're actually Australian Italians, it's good to know.

Q: (Giles Richards – The Guardian) Lewis, earlier, you said you're itching to get going, and this was one of the most exciting periods of your life. Given that, are you able to compare it to how you felt in 2007 when you first got going, and how this new challenge with Ferrari compares to that?

LH: Well, obviously you know I’ve got the worst memory, but I do know looking back that like when I was 22 years old, I wasn't obviously mature. I obviously had done all the homework in terms of how to drive a car, and I had the natural ability, but I didn't have a lot of foundation around me. I didn't have a team around me. It was my dad and my stepmom was booking my flights to come out here to they're here this weekend, so it's been a long journey with them. But I didn't have any help with prepping for something like this. It was just deep end everywhere I was, and I drowned many a times, as opposed to now, obviously, I'm very comfortable in my skin. I know who I am. I know where I'm going. I know what energy and time and effort I need to put in to get there. And obviously when I was 22 I didn't know that, but what a roller coaster ride it's been up until now and I'm just incredibly grateful to still be here, to still have an opportunity. Something that's been blowing my mind just recently is the fact that out of 8 billion people, there's only 20 drivers in Formula 1, and we're one of those drivers. It's such a privilege to be here and have this opportunity to do what we do year on year. It's absolutely phenomenal, and it's great to see it grow. It's great to see the audience grow. To see the sport moving in the right direction, having Stefano just resigned, thank God he's staying, because it's good to have a neutral, good leader at the forefront of the helm. And yeah, I'll stop there.

Q: (Fred Ferret – l’Equipe) Question to Carlos and Lewis. Do you think that Charles is a natural Ferrari driver, and do you get inspiration for him to be a good Ferrari driver too?

CS: Inspiration, you said? I think Charles has been doing a great job in representing the Ferrari colours, the Ferrari brand, the last how many years? Six or seven years of his career. I think no one needs to talk about his talent and his speed, everyone knows that. But in terms of how he behaves, how he treats everyone in the team, how he takes the Ferrari brand all around the world, I think he's doing an incredible job, and he's part of that team growth that Ferrari has seen recently. And I think, yeah, in that Ferrari has a great ambassador also, Good on him. Good job. I think he's been doing that, and he's been progressive, progressing both as a driver, but also as a human being all these years. And he's now probably in one of the sweetest spots of his career. He feels mature, comfortable, and probably ready to win. So let's see what they can do here.

LH: I didn't really understand the questions. Be nice, but I think Carlos probably answered it. Copy Paste, yeah. He said it pretty well. I can't really say much more to them.

Q: What has impressed you about Charles?

LH: Beside his great hair? His eyes. I mean, he's a good looking lad, you know! What surprised me most? Well, I would say, I would say work ethic. It's been really, really good. I didn't know, naturally, you don't know what happens behind closed doors. Naturally, I think every driver works really hard, but everyone has a different method in how they achieve their ultimate performance. And it's been really interesting to see. It’s not too dissimilar to mine, and you just see a hard working kid just getting on with it. He's obviously been in the team a long time. It's his second team. Obviously the team he was with before it was relatively short there, and then he's had this amazing time at Ferrari. And so he is. He's very, very, very much Mr Ferrari, and it's been really cool to work alongside him. And I'm really looking forward to working alongside him for the year.

Q: (Ethan Cardinal – Drive.com) Lewis, when you see a crop of rookies coming into the field, how does it feel competing against the next generation of drivers to take over the mentor reins once whenever you retire, and is there extra motivation to kind of compete with the guys who grew up watching you, like, how does it feel with seeing all this new blood and new generation of drivers?

LH: I don't really get in a competitive, competitive like mindset with it. It's more, I think, just remembering, and as I said, I remember when I first started, I remember the excitement. I remember being on track. Maybe, I don't know if this going to be the same for Kimi, but maybe for one of them. But I remember being on track with Michael Schumacher back in the day, and he being ahead of me, and I'm like, ‘Oh my God, that's Michael Schumacher’, and I just followed him for lap as many laps till he came in, basically, and, and it's a very, very… it's just, it's very surreal. It's very hard to believe it's true what you're seeing, because you're growing up every day, every weekend, you know, make a bacon sarnie, and sit and watch the Grand Prix come on and watch him have that success. So I think when I'm looking at the youngsters coming through, I think I always really do try and want to make sure that I'm trying to set a good example in what I do and kind of look at them and I want to protect them from all the incoming bombardment that they will experience, because it can be a cruel world and they just need time. The pressure is, it takes a long time to create diamonds. Diamonds created over time. And I think just I hope that they have time and space to grow and be themselves and not have to conform and not have to rush. You've obviously some drivers come in and then get booted out straight away. I hope they're just given leeway and time to make mistakes, because that's what we've all made so many mistakes in our lives, and it's just that we do it in front of the world, and that's a really difficult space to do it, so I hope that you can all go easy on the youngsters and if anything, just take it out on us older guys.

Q: (Phil Duncan – PA) Lewis, the anticipation about you driving for Ferrari making a debut, just seems huge. Have you sort of understood that buzz around it? And you know, do you feel like the eyes of the world are on you more than perhaps ever before? And I know you spoke about pressure and perhaps not feeling it, but you feeling those, the nerves and just perhaps the weight of expectation of you driving for Ferrari,

LH: I'm not, because I'm not really. I don't really read the news, and I don't really… I go for long, long periods of time without social media. So I'm not like being bombarded with all the stuff that's on social media. So I'm kind of living in my own little bubble in my head. For me, I'm back at kind of square one. I'm really just putting all the time I have in. I've been at the factory, like four days a week. I've been given absolutely everything to training, to push my mind and my body further than I have before, trying to see if I can excel, and just squeeze more juice out of this, that I have, and I’m under no assumptions that it will be easy. It is not. But I don't feel the pressure, just like the outside pressure is just nonexistent for me. The pressure is from within, and what I want to achieve, I'm not here to prove anything to anybody. I don't feel I have to do anything. I've been here a long, long time and done it time and time again. So I think for now, it's more I know, as I said, I know what it takes to do a good job, and that's what I want to deliver for myself, for myself and for my family, for this team that that I really believe deserve success. And I can see, like Carlos is experiencing in his new team, just when you see such a group, large group of people that are clearly so passionate and driven and maybe have not had as much success as they would like, more than they deserve. You just want to work towards and contribute to doing that.

ENDS