Here’s the senario. You get to attend a Formula One Press conference. What would you ask Brendon Hartley?
We have the transcript of Thursday’s press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix, which included drivers Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes), Kevin MAGNUSSEN (Haas), and our own Kiwi Brendon HARTLEY (Toro Rosso).
The first couple of questions are asked by the F1 media representative running the conference. After talking with Hamilton, Magnussen and Raikkonen, he turned to Brendon Hartley.
Thank you. Brendon, coming to you, it’s your first time here in Formula 1, so can you just talk us through the preparations you’ve done for this Grand Prix. It’s hot, it’s a long race, just talk us through what you’ve done?
Brendon HARTLEY: Yeah, so everyone has told me that it’s the most physical race of the year, not only because of the heat but also the focus and stamina it requires being a long race and not many breaks on the tracks. In terms of training, not much changes. I think all of us drivers are very race fit. We’ve had a long season already and many races to warm up to a tough one like this. I’d say most of us drivers did a bit of heat training over the last week or so and for me it was just adding a couple of extra layers on when I was training on my bike. I came out a couple of days early as well, just to get used to being here. Actually, it doesn’t feel as hot as I expected. I think in previous years it’s been hotter, but nevertheless it’s going to be a tough old race. On top of that I spent some time in the simulator, learning the track as best I can before hitting FP1 tomorrow.
Q: Expecting a few Kiwis in the crowd I guess?
BH: Yeah I actually me a few already on the streets of Singapore. It’s reasonably close for us, it’s half way, so I’m kind of half way home. There should be a few expats around and the Aussies always seem to give me a few cheers, so I think they try to adopt me as their own as well.
Q: We’ve heard from Kimi about his move to Sauber next year. What can you tell us about your plans for 2019? Have your talks progressed with the team?
BH: Not really chatting at the moment. I have a contract going forward. Obviously there are always options and whatnot. I’ve been saying it for a while that the best thing I can do is focus on one race at a time and doing the best job I can. I know, and I’m confident about the job I’ve been doing behind the scenes with the team. I know I’ve got stronger every race during the season. The results don’t exactly show that, but I know that I am strong and I have been strong in the last five races and there have been a few circumstances which meant I wasn’t able to score points. I seem to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time a lot of the time but I’m also looking at myself, and what I can do better there. Honestly, I’m just focusing on doing the best I can one race at a time, and I hope that I’m on the grid next year, which is my goal.
Q: (Beatrice Zamuner – Motorlat.com) Question to all four drivers. What are your thoughts on the idea of fielding a third car to the grid.
KM: I think it’s kind of… it sounds quite exciting. I think it would be great to see three Mercedes and three Ferraris, but then from there, I don’t know whether it would be good to have 30 cars on the grid. I think the pitlane would be quite tight as well. It could be good, it could be bad. I don’t really know.
LH: I quite like the idea of more cars. More teams maybe, rather than three drivers in a team – would be a handful.
KR: I think if would be nice to have a lot of cars but then, I don’t know. So many things that it will change. It’s pretty difficult to work it out.
BH: From a drivers’ point of view I think it would be great to have more cars. From a team’s point of view and all the other logistics that would entail, I don’t really know, it’s not my place. It would probably make 2019 contract negotiations a bit easier! But yeah, actually, from a drivers’ point of view it would be cool. I’m also used to having a few more team mates than maybe some of the other drivers on the grid.
Q: (Don Kennedy – Hawkes Bay Today NZ) Brendon, there’s been a bit in the media about what Dr Marko has said about possibly ten drivers looking for a seat at Toro Rosso. Obviously you’re one of those and that you need to improve. Have you been given any idea by him what he means by improvement or by the team, what they mean by improvement?
BH: Actually I’ve been improving all year and I haven’t really had a direct discussion about an exact result but it’s clear I haven’t finished in the points enough times, when you compare with my teammate. Some of that was out of my control, some of it part in my control but honestly, like I said before, I’m just focused – one race at a time – on doing my job and I’m very confident of the job I do behind the scenes and also I know that I’ve been improving the whole season. Yeah, just focused on Singapore this weekend. It’s a big opportunity actually for us at Toro Rosso. Historically the team’s done very well here. Last year they took fourth place with Carlos in some tricky conditions but if we take the last two races, we think this would be a strong opportunity for us. Everyone can see that I’ve been strong in certain scenarios but haven’t been able to capitalise so I think if what you’re referring to what he’s saying – I haven’t been following the press – but probably I need some more results in the points.
Q: (Don Kennedy – Hawkes Bay Today NZ) Some more luck, maybe?
BH: There’s a bit of that too but I need to try and create as much luck for myself.
Why is it that we just seem to focus on whether Hartley will have a F1 seat in 2019? In my opinion, it is pretty disappointing for a Kiwi journalist who gets to a F1 media conference to ask a couple of questions like that! We (that’s a collective ‘We’) in NZ seem to think that the story is about the drama of getting or not getting dropped!
It is not easy to get F1 accreditation, extremely difficult. Hence, would it not have been better to ask a question like ‘….what goes through your mind when you step into your driver’s seat and head out to race a Grand Prix? Are you aware of the small but successful Kiwi history that has gone before you?’
Or, what about…’Have you given any thought to the Kiwi motorsport history that you are creating driving for Toro Rosso?’
Brendon has got a very good level of maturity. He knows what is required, what is the task ahead and he is simply applying all his skills and resources to accomplish it. Why ask a question that we know the answer too?
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