This Sunday August 15, 2021, Fabio Quartararo answered questions from journalists from the Red Bull Ring circuit, at the end of the Austrian Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver, who for lack of a podium in Austria can still be satisfied to see his lead increase a little further over his closest opponent in the championship.
As usual, we report here the words of Fabio Quartararo without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).
Mir said that Austria could be a turning point in the championship, because you have lost a few points compared to him, but also because all of Yamaha's attention will now be focused on you, and that could therefore be a source additional pressure on your shoulders. What is your opinion on this?
" That makes no difference to me. In this race I already had all the pressure from Yamaha on my shoulders, and it didn't affect my race. I think these comments are just a strategy to try to put a little pressure on myself. It's a fun game, but rest assured I'll be there to fight for victory at Silverstone. »
“I will be there to fight for victory at Silverstone”
What are your expectations for the next round, which will take place in England at Silverstone?
" During In my first year in the category, I experienced two moments that shaped my career: The first was at Jerez and the second at Silverstone. These are two places where I was much faster than usual, and if the conditions are good I'm sure I can fight for a good result. »
You seemed very comfortable in normal conditions, but afterwards it was a different story in the wet. How important were these last few laps spent in the rain for you?
" These last laps took away my confidence! I had very good feelings in the dry. I just waited, and I think I had saved my tires very well in order to get a much better result at the end of the race. We were ready to fight for victory in the dry, and I think that was something very important. This race will count, because in the end there must only be seven races left, which will have to be taken one after the other. But the fact is that the next one is one of my favorites, so we'll see. »
“This race will count”
Before the race you explained that you didn't want to take too many risks, but in the end it was tough at times, for example in the braking of turn 3. At the same time, we really had the impression that you were in control and that you took pleasure in the fight. So are you happy to be able to manage yourself like that at this level of competition, on a circuit which on paper is still supposed to be unfavorable to the Yamahas?
" I I think that today, apart from the result, I made quite aggressive attacks without ever really going into contact, and with that I am happy. I was there to fight for the podium, that's for sure, but also for the victory. I'm really able to do great things on the Yamaha, and here we're going from one of the most unfavorable circuits to one of the most favorable in England, so I'm really looking forward to the next round . »
There were already drops at the start of the race, and these are conditions where usually you are a little more hesitant. But what made you do so well, and that in the end you are apparently as happy as last week when you finished on the podium?
" I am happy because last week in dry conditions we finished almost ten seconds from victory, and today I was there to fight for victory, so I am very happy to have been in the mix on a circuit where I really thought the Ducatis were going to take a step forward. But in the end it was us who made the biggest progress, and I'm very happy with that. Afterwards, it's true that we lost time on Pecco Bagnaia and on Joan Mir, but as far as the dry race was concerned we were very fast and that's especially why I'm happy. »
When the rain intensified, did you make the decision to pit on your own, or were you influenced by the other drivers who were racing with you?
" I have made this decision because it was the first time I thought about the championship. In a race like this I think it was very important not to make any mistakes. We registered nine newcomers in the championship, it's certainly not huge but it still counts. »
What were you thinking in the pit lane as you returned to the track in the rain?
" I have had a bad feeling in the rain all weekend, so I told myself I had to do my best, and that's what I did. In the end I managed to get a seventh position so it's not so catastrophic. I think it was in races like this that last year I was in difficulty, but this time I managed to get a good result. »
“It was in races like this that I was in difficulty last year”
You say that you are not thinking about the championship at all, but the timetable for the end of the season is uncertain to say the least. At what point will you tell yourself that you really need to manage certain situations “just in case”?
" That will depend on the situation, but I think that until Misano it is not the time to think about the championship. There will still be circuits where we will have difficulties, like in Aragón, and I think that on the contrary it will be very important for us to widen the gap a little on the others to try to keep a very good pace until 'at the end of the season. But I don't want to think about the championship until at least Misano. »
“I don’t want to think about the championship until Misano”
MotoGP Austria Race Ranking:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
