PART ONE – Nico HULKENBERG (Kick Sauber), Franco COLAPINTO (Alpine), Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin)
Q: Nico, can we start with you? After that very memorable podium at Silverstone last time out. How have the last two weeks or so been?
Nico HÜLKENBERG: Yeah. Surprisingly, they’ve been very good. Nice to have a bit of time after and to enjoy the moment properly and not dive straight into the next Grand Prix. So that was good timing from that point of view. Obviously, just an incredible race. Those conditions were very tricky, but we made all the right decisions and rewarded ourselves coming from last, which was pretty crazy and special. The aftermath was also overwhelming — the feedback and responses we got, well over 700 messages. Took me a good week to work through it all, but obviously amazing and nice to feel and see all that.
Q: And you raced back to Hinwil straight after the race. What sort of reception did you get there?
NH: Also, a warm one. Obviously, a very happy one. I think it was important to go back and cherish the moment and share that with everyone in the factory, not just at the track. So it was good. Amazing memories, amazing emotions for us, and I hope that they can boost us for the rest of the season.
Q: Nico, you have scored as a team more points in the last four races than Red Bull Racing. Cast your mind back to pre-season testing in Bahrain. By how much are you exceeding your expectations at the moment?
NH: I think we’re definitely on a good run lately. Silverstone, set aside — special race, special circumstances. I think you also have to remember on Saturday, both cars were out in Q1, and it didn’t look that fantastic. Had it been a dry race, it would have been a totally different story and outcome. So, you always have to remember that too. But definitely from Barcelona, we gained some momentum. We made a big step forward with the car, especially in the long stints in the race on Sunday. We have a good race car now and we can do something even with not the best starting positions. I think that’s the best news of the season so far, but still a lot of work ahead and still a very competitive and tough fight in the midfield.
Q: Franco, let’s come to you. We’ve had a short break since Silverstone. Have you had a chance to reflect on the six races that you’ve done for the team so far? And what conclusions have you reached?
Franco COLAPINTO: Yeah. It’s been good. I think to have a break to reset and go back to the factory, work a bit with the guys, and really focus on what we need to improve. Keep working with the engineers and everyone back at the factory was good. Little break to reset as well. So, yeah. Ready for Spa.
Q: When you look at the data, in what areas of performance do you think you can still make the most progress?
FC: I think there have been different tracks, we have some different weaknesses, but especially in long runs, they’ve been quite strong lately. We are still focusing quite a bit on performance in low fuel and still lacking in the new tyre runs most of the time. So working with the car to find that confidence that sometimes I lack in the very high-speed corners. But I think generally it’s been improving. I started quite strong in Silverstone. Of course, it didn’t end as we wanted, but I think with some good progress.
Q: Goals for this weekend here at Spa?
FC: I think maximise the opportunities. It’s going to be a tricky weekend with the Sprint race, with the weather forecast as well. So I think try to maximise the car we have, the opportunities, and try to get on top of the weather.
Q: Fernando, it was a tricky start to the season for you, but you’ve now had four points finishes in a row. Do you feel you’re building some momentum with this car now?
Fernando ALONSO: Yeah. I think since Silverstone probably with the package that we introduced there. We are a little bit more competitive and on the edge of Q3 and the edge of points every weekend. So, hopefully, we can keep the momentum going.
Q: More new parts here this weekend. What are you hoping to achieve with them?
FA: First, I think the priority is to understand if the new parts are bringing performance. Always on a Sprint weekend it’s difficult to achieve that with only one free practice. Maybe the weather is not helping on that side. So, that will be the first priority. Then, yeah, try to score points if we can again this weekend. But in terms of car performance, I think understanding the new part will be the main difficulty and the main priority as well.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Tom Slafer – DAZN Spain) Question for Fernando. We start here in the second part of the season. After seeing what the team has performed in the first 12 races, what is the goal for the second part of the season in this transition year going to the new regulations?
FA: Actually, I think 80% of the focus is already on 2026, in a way. Not only on the engineers and the design team. It’s also the drivers’ head, apart maybe from the two McLaren drivers. The rest of us, we are just thinking a little bit and dreaming about what could be a good season next year, because this year is going to change very little, I think, in the second part. So, it is fun to see all the midfield so close, and maybe there is some action between all the midfielders in the second part of the season, and it will be a fight for fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth in the Constructors’ Championship. But apart from that, I think there is not much more to do. Try to learn, keep improving, try to work with the team in the best way possible. And as I said, in terms of points every two or three weekends, try to see the Constructors’ Championship and have some fun there.
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) Two-part question to Nico. First of all, well done — Silverstone was great. On that subject, had you given up hope of a podium? Did you think it was ever going to come, or did you actually just put that to the back of your mind? And secondly, now you’ve had a few months with Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal, what difference has he made at Sauber?
NH: The first part — to be honest, it was not something actively on my mind. You go out there as a driver, you want to maximise and get the best possible result every time. Of course, you’re still dreaming and want to achieve these things, but it’s not always in your full control. So, it didn’t really bother me. I’m confident and happy in my own skin and just enjoying the ride, enjoying the season, the challenge that’s ahead, and the project I’m part of. That’s the most important and main thing for me, to be honest. Jonathan — I think he arrived, and it’s still quite fresh. But coming from a team that has been so successful and dominant in Formula 1 and operationally very strong, I think he sees us with a fresh pair of eyes with his experience. Very quickly he saw possibilities to optimise here and there. It’s just shortcuts to performance and to a better and a more streamlined organisation and race operation. He applied some things in the structure of the team which are beneficial and helpful. Often, it’s just little tweaks, but many little tweaks are a positive contribution. And back at the factory, there’s a lot more work to do as we grow, to put the pieces into position and make sure they work productively in the future.
Q: (Mara Sangiorgio – Sky Sports Italy) A question to Nico. Nico, Fernando was telling about the fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ standings. Can your team aim for it, considering your improvement?
NH: Honestly, I think many teams can aim for that. Probably all the midfield teams have a crack at it and a realistic chance. It’s always going to be a little bit track dependent — maybe who’s going to be better, more competitive that weekend — but I feel that we are all in a very tight battle. We all have that possibility to fight for that position in the Constructors’ Championship. So, yeah, half a season to go and it’s going to go down to the wire, I think.
Q: (Laurent Dupont – Canal+) I have a question for Nico and Fernando because you have a lot of experience here. There’s some corners, very fast corners, even some flat-out corners on the dry. But how do you manage to read and feel the grip if it’s wet from lap one tomorrow in this kind of corner?
FA: You try not to go flat the first lap and then slowly you go a little bit faster and faster. But on a Sprint format, for sure, you have to go into Q1 quite soon and maybe with a circuit condition that you didn’t test in FP1. So, that’s the nice thing of the Sprint. But I don’t think that it’s a huge challenge. And actually, here, maybe we did more laps in wet than dry, so we know the circuit quite well. Especially, Eau Rouge I think, is quite dry, it never gets too wet there, it’s quite steep. But last year the circuit was resurfaced and I think it could be a little bit more standing water, and visibility will be a challenge as usual here. So, yeah, let’s see.
NH: Yeah, I mean, you obviously have past references. We go out and feel the grip — you start somewhere and build from there. You react to what you feel and to what the conditions are and just work your way in.
Q: (Diego Mejia – Fox Sports) Question to Franco. It was recently announced that MotoGP will race in Buenos Aires on the old F1 track with some changes. Just wanted to get your reaction to it and probably what you’ve seen from the changes to the layout, and if you see this as a first step towards trying to bring F1 back to Argentina?
FC: I think it’s great to have MotoGP back in Buenos Aires. It’s a country full of very passionate fans, and it’s great to see a sport coming back. Of course, Formula 1 would be a bit more tricky to go there, especially with the track changes. I think they are more for a bike than for a Formula 1 car, but it would be great in the future. If they can do something about that, it would be amazing for the fans and for F1 to see what they can actually achieve there. I would love that. Of course, it’s one of my dreams, but it still looks a little far away. A lot of work to be done for F1 to go there, but it would be great if in the future it can become a reality.
Q: (Tom Hoffman – RTL Luxembourg) We’re doing a feature about physiotherapists in Formula 1. How important are those persons for you during an F1 weekend? Thanks. A question for all three.
NH: Physio — yeah. I mean, they’re one of the people you work with probably closest and spend most time with on a race weekend. Maybe also off-track preparing the season and in between races. So, it’s usually someone important to you that supports you, keeps your body fresh, makes sure you’re in physical good shape, but also there for many other things mentally. They’re not just support crew — your personal one. They are very important.
FC: I think nowadays they are getting more and more important. We spend a lot of time with them on-track and off-track. Sometimes the cars start to be a bit harsh on the body, especially when the porpoising started, and it’s good to have a good physio next to you to fix the body a little bit — especially maybe for Fernando a bit more. We recover quick.
FA: Yeah, they’re important even though the cars are now very easy physically. So, it’s good for the young guys that they didn’t experience the full attack. We are, like, ten seconds slower in the race than in qualifying now, with fuel and degradation, so it’s quite easy!
Q: (Leonid Kliuev – Grande Premio Brazil) Question for Nico. The significance of the Lego trophy was challenged by Oscar in his question to you last time we were here. What is the final verdict? Are you happy with the trophy or would you prefer the classic one?
NH: It’s not something I thought about further or spent time thinking about. It is what it is, and I’ll happily take it.
Q: (Stuart Codling – Autosport) Question for Fernando. I’m curious about the timing of this new upgrade package — a weekend like this, with uncertain weather conditions, Sprint format, and also a step in the tyre compounds. Have the team explained to you the thinking behind bringing the upgrade this weekend and why they’ve done it?
FA: No. But I think the team is trying to bring the upgrades whenever they’re ready. Probably this was forecasted for Budapest or later in the season and they managed to bring it a little bit earlier, and we have a chance to test it here. There’s no guarantee that we will race with it if we have no time to test it. But at the same time, I think it was welcome — that there is this push from everyone in the factory to bring the new parts as soon as possible. So, let’s see if we can test it properly. If we do and we opt to race with it, we will have a better feel after the weekend. If we cannot test it in FP1, maybe we opt not to fit it for qualifying. At the same time, I think we have the parc fermé open after the Sprint race, so we could use the first part of the weekend as a test and then race on Sunday with the best spec. So there are plenty of possibilities. I’m not concerned.
Q: (Adam Cooper – Adam Cooper F1) For Nico and Fernando. You’ve both worked with Alan Permane at Enstone. What sort of qualities does he have? What are your thoughts on him as a Team Principal? And secondly, for Fernando: Jonathan Wheatley and Steve Nielsen have both graduated to Team Boss jobs recently. How special was that group of guys you worked with twenty years ago, and are you pleased to see them all making that kind of progress?
FA: Yeah. It’s great to see. Obviously, I worked with the three of them. And with Alan, particularly — I worked two times with him, also when I came back to Alpine. So, yeah, happy for them, happy for him. They have a lot of experience, but also, they have maybe the leadership capacity and qualities that you need these days. With Jonathan it’s well known, but I think with Steve and Alan it will be a good thing for them and a good thing for the team as well.
NH: Yeah, some time at Renault. Obviously, [Alan] has been around so long, so much experience — so, great opportunity for him to put that all to work. Happy for him and wish him best of luck.
Q: (Stijn Keuris – Panorama) Question for Franco. Almost a year in Formula 1 now. Could you give us an example of what you have learned in the past year, both at Williams and Alpine — what no junior class nor a driver academy could have truly prepared you for?
FC: I think, you know, Formula 2 is a great championship, but it still doesn’t fully prepare you for F1. I learned a lot of things over these last few races. Since I started in Williams, to start working with so many engineers — suddenly you’ve got 30 engineers in a room compared to two or three in Formula 2 — and that’s a pretty big shock. Being able to communicate, to learn and listen to what they have to say, work with so many people — it’s a massive team. You’re putting in a big effort trying to go quick to score points for 1,000-plus people that are in a factory building the quickest car for two guys, throwing it on track. So it’s a big job, and it’s a lot of effort that everyone is putting in to make the car go quick, whereas other categories are quite a lot smaller. Over the races, you just learn a lot of things. Experience matters a lot. That’s why Nico and Fernando are here next to me, they have so much knowledge. And when those special moments and special opportunities come — like last weekend in Silverstone — they are always a step up there. So, yeah, it comes with time, but it’s definitely quite different to F2 and F3.
Q: (Franco Marcos Real – Cadena 3) This is a question for Nico and Fernando. What advice would you give to the young drivers, like for example Franco, considering that sometimes Formula 1 is a little bit of a ruthless environment? And once you answer, I’d love to hear Franco’s opinion as well.
FA: You’re the driver manager now? No. Little advice, I think. For sure, it’s an extremely competitive environment — Formula 1 but also any elite sport. You have to be ready to deliver your best performance every day. And when you don’t deliver, you have to be ready to accept some criticism and try to get better. But in Formula 1, I think we have a lot of support from our teams, our engineers, the technology, the data. So, I don’t think that it’s a bad place to work and to try to get better every day. There’s not really any advice. We all have different ways of driving, different driving techniques, different ways of delivering the job. We are all enjoying our time here. It’s true that we all want to win. And if you get to Formula 1, it’s because in your past you had opportunities to win — in karting, in the junior formulas — and then you had the opportunity to get to F1. And when you get here, there’s only one guy winning, normally for five or six years in a row because they are dominating. So, this is the only thing you have to manage — you have to control that frustration. You need to still deliver 100% knowing that you will not win.
NH: Nothing to add.
Q: Do either of you have any advice on how a young driver should deal with social media?
NH: What kind of a question is that?
Q: Switch it off?
NH: I think it’s very personal. Everyone is different. Some like it and are on it, some less. I think you need to find these things out for yourself and then find the right balance, I guess.
Q: Franco, can we just get your response to what Fernando was saying?
FC: Yeah. I think Formula 1, we all know it’s a tough sport, and we all want to be here. There are only twenty places, and it’s always going to be very tricky how you get here. It’s a lot of effort, a lot of sacrifice in the past for all the drivers that go to Formula 1. And only 20 drivers get to be here, and there are thousands that want to be. So it’s the sport we all love, and we are very lucky to be able to do it.
Q: (Rodrigo França – Car Magazine Brazil) Question to Fernando and Nico. Following up on the question before — the last weeks were very good for experienced drivers: we had Nico Hülkenberg getting his first podium in Formula 1, and in the movie we have — without giving too many spoilers — Brad Pitt’s character winning a race. But now do you think new fans, the Netflix fans, can see Fernando winning races and Nico getting more points and maybe wins? So, do you think now F1 is getting ready for the experienced drivers to develop even more?
FA: Long, long question. But I don’t think there is a straightforward answer. Actually, I don’t think Nico… or think we both don’t care too much about what the next-generation fans think. We only try to win races, try to work with our team the best we can, and deliver the performance. The fans and the people outside watching TV, they don’t have the full picture of what is going on and the difference in performance between the cars. So, if next year Nico and myself have a winning car and we win eight consecutive races and fight for the championship, then they will think that we ate something different in winter or had a different training programme and we learned how to drive in the winter. This is not really the reality. We train every day, eat every day, travel every day, go to the simulator every day. We try to be better and better every day with our teams. When we achieve the result, we just try to share it with them and our fans around the world — but they are not in our priority. And it cannot sound rude to anyone — we love the fans — but we don’t think about of if they realise how good or bad we drive. That is more for the team and the technical aspect of the sport, I think.
NH: I’m not sure I understood the question properly. But I think there’s no correlation between the movie and between experienced drivers or older drivers and recent results. It just always happens circumstantial — what your relative car performance is, how your weekend goes. We just came out on the right side of it two weeks ago. But it could be very different here this weekend. It’s different every time, and you just try to optimise and maximise what you have, like Fernando says.
Q: (Noah Simon – SID) Question for Nico. What do you expect for the second half of the season, and how is the work between you, Sauber and Audi ongoing for 2026?
NH: Well, I don’t expect Silverstone Sundays to repeat themselves so easily or so soon. I don’t think that’s going to happen again quickly. I think it’s more, like I said earlier — the midfield battle is very alive and very real. Depending on the track, you’re in the points or you’re not. Everyone is very close together. The gap between P10 and P last is very tight. Small differences make the difference. We’ve had a strong race car recently — strong race pace, good tire management, good tyre life. So, I hope we can put that to good use in the remainder of the season and score more points. 2026 — well, for everyone, it’s ongoing in parallel to this season. Everyone is developing, pushing, exploiting the new regulations. Obviously, there’s no reality for us yet — the car is only going to be available in January next year. Maybe some simulator stuff, but it’s only starting to drip in a little bit with us drivers, at least in our case. But I know back at base, all the teams are flat out working on the future.