Australian Grand Prix - Post-race press conference - Pt.1

Drivers: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing), Kevin Magnussen (McLaren)

Podium interviews
(Conducted by Alan Jones)

Q:
Well Nico, well done. I couldn't think of a better start to the season. What a great start to the 2014 championship. A great start to the new era of Formula One.

Nico Rosberg:
Yes, I mean, already it's been an amazing time here in Melbourne. Thanks to all of you, you've made it all the more special, all your support has been fantastic this weekend. Even though Daniel got a little bit more support than us. Anyway that's normal. It's been an amazing day. I'm just over the moon really. It's incredible, everybody has worked so hard over the winter and now to have such an amazing Silver Arrow to drive is just unreal. This thing was unbelievably quick today and the reliability was good also, so it was just the perfect start to the season. I'm really thankful to Mercedes, they have done an amazing job over the winter.

Q:
Well, all your hard work has paid off well and truly.

Nico Rosberg:
Yeah, for now yes. Today, definitely.

Q:
Daniel, g'day. You were thinking you may not even finish, let alone be on the podium.

Daniel Ricciardo:
Yeah. Two or three weeks ago I would have bet pretty everything I have that we would not be standing up here. Full credit to the team for an unbelievable turnaround. I don't understand how they did it but they did, so thank you guys. And, of course, the Aussie fans. Wow, completely overwhelming. No words. I'm trippin' balls right now.

Q:
There's a bloke up in Noosa that'll be very happy too.

Daniel Ricciardo:
Yeah I thought I'd do a stack just to commemorate Mark as well. It's an Aussie thing, but yeah, really pleased to be up here. First Aussie on the Aussie podium, so that's really nice to have. Thanks everyone.

Q:
Well you've done us all proud. Good on you, mate. Kevin, well done. First Dane on a F1 podium.

Kevin Magnussen:
It's hard to believe really. It just seems so unreal. What can I say. The car was so much better than it's been at any point. We just keep improving the car. I had just exactly what I need the whole race. The preparation we've done this winter has been fantastic. I've never done a Formula One and testing is so limited, so big congratulations to the team for doing such a good job.

Q:
Well, your father is racing on the other side of the world this weekend as well, so he's got something to live up to.

Kevin Magnussen:
I think they did the race already, so I'll need to see how it went. I wish he could have been here. It's a great day.

Q:
So you're looking forward to the next one obviously?

Kevin Magnussen:
Yes I am - great things ahead.

Q:
Nico, what are you going to do now between here and the next one?

Nico Rosberg:
We'll definitely evaluate everything that we've learned now from this weekend because for sure there's some way to go. We still can improve a lot. We must, because our competitors aren't going to be asleep. Definitely they are going to try to catch up quickly, So just try to learn as much as we can, improve the car, go on holiday a little bit next week and then get ready for Malaysia.

Press conference

Q:
Nico, what a start, what a race, what a win.

Nico Rosberg:
Yeah, the start was just... off like a bullet - or off like a Silver Arrow - thanks to Evan he did a great job on my start - my engineer who's responsible for that. And then after that the car was just really, really quick today and the whole team did such a good job on it. Engine: really good engine, not much of a problem with fuel consumption, didn't have to worry much about that, pretty much as usual. It just all worked perfectly. Reliability was great. So, fantastic. I'm just so happy for everybody. They work so damn hard, I don't think people can really imagine how hard everybody works in my team and I'm sure in other teams too - so that's just the best reward possible. To dominate in such a way the first week, the first race out.

Q:
Big winning margin, obviously a lot of pace in the car and there was a lot of radio communication about extending that middle stint - which you seemed to be able to do quite comfortably.

Nico Rosberg:
Yeah, got into a bit of a strange situation in that middle stint because I got graining on the front and then somehow I was losing temperature and somehow it started to get really difficult out there. So, I thought I was going to have to come in soon and they just said try to stay out, try to stay out and I did and then the graining cleared on my tyre and I was off, I was able to go again. It was a bit of a strange period but then it was fine again after that.

Q:
Dan, as you said on the podium, what a turn around - does this exceed your wildest expectations of your first race with Red Bull?

Daniel Ricciardo:
Definitely. If I look back at where we were three weeks ago - or however long ago it was, definitely. We've never done a race distance up until today, so we didn't really have much confidence we'd see a chequered flag, let alone see it in a podium position. Obviously, as Nico said with his team, the same for ours. They really worked hard over the winter and really clawed back a massive margin. Obviously we still don't have the pace of the Mercedes but it's a result that we will definitely take today and we can make a lot of progress from here. So, pretty happy. It's a bit overwhelming for now but an unbelievable day.

Q:
I think we could hear your smile over the team radio at the end there but talk about the support from this Australian crowd here today - and the whole weekend.

Daniel Ricciardo:
Yeah, it's been a lot. It's been a crazy amount. The support for Formula One in general. They've been really behind this event and always when the drivers rock up at the circuit, everyone's cheering for everyone and wanting autographs. Obviously there's been a bit more for me, being the only Aussie on the grid this year and that's just been more than I could have possibly expected. At times a bit embarrassing. Everyone knows who I am now - but it's cool. Very positive.

Q:
Kevin, no podium for McLaren in 2013. You go on the podium in your first appearance in Formula One. You were pinching yourself in the press conference here on Thursday to be in the company of world champions and race winners and stars. You're a star yourself today.

Kevin Magnussen:
Yeah. Nico was just saying, 'Mate, you're on third!' I can't believe it. It's not a win but it definitely feels like a bit of a win because, as you said, the team is coming off a difficult season and they really wanted to come back and they've worked so hard over the winter. And working with a rookie as well who hasn't got experience. It's been tough for them, for sure - but they've done such a good job, made me feel really at home and made me feel comfortable with everything. Yeah. I couldn't have asked for more.

Q:
Just talk us through the final stint because you started closing up quite a bit on Dan, then you started pulling back a bit, then it was a bit erratic.

Kevin Magnussen:
I think me and Dan had pretty similar pace but obviously you can do stuff with the engine to try and push for a few laps and then you have to back off because you have to harvest the energy again. And you're fuel saving as well and then stop for a few laps and then you begin again and you have to do more and catch that up. I guess it makes it exciting from the outside because it creates opportunities for overtaking but it just wasn't enough today. I didn't have enough pace to get past Dan.