ADRIAN SUTIL: Post Monaco Impressive Interview *SPOILER*

(from autosport)

Q. Can you put into words your feeling on that? To be so close to such a great result..

Adrian Sutil: I am just disappointed. It is hurting so much. We did a great race and we made no mistakes. We did a perfect strategy, everything went well. We did fastest laptimes during the race, and the performance was great for this car. For Force India this was an absolute highlight over the past few years.

So it just ended very, very sadly. Everybody was close to crying because it is just such a bad situation. Kimi had problems and crashed into my rear and destroyed my race. All the work we did in the race was for nothing in the end.

Q. Did Kimi talk to you about what happened?

AS: He apologised, so he is a great sportsman. He is a very good driver and I have to accept it. It was not done on purpose and it can happen to everybody. I have to live with it and just go on to the next race.

Q. Was it just a racing accident?

AS: Yes, it was just a racing accident. Absolutely. It was not like he was braking too late and crashing into my car. He lost the car, the conditions were very tricky so we cannot say he made a mistake. He just lost the car.

Q. What were you thinking before the accident? That you were going to be in the points?

AS: Exactly. I just thought to myself that there were seven minutes to go - just bring it home and take these points. I thought it was close to happening. But it didn't.

Q. After the disappointment of the last few races, this must give you some encouragement though?

AS: Yes. Still, it was a big boost and a very good boost for me. I started the season with some problems. The last races went better and better, especially here in Monaco – my favourite track. Everyone was perfect. Qualifying was not that great but better than the last races – and the race was just fantastic.

Q. Did you think when you drove the car around to the pits that you might be able to continue?

AS: No, the rear suspension was broken – so there was no chance to go on. After the chicane, after he hit me, I thought I could go on. But then suddenly the rear suspension was broken and I had to try and get the car back to the pits.

Q. What was the feeling when you got back there and it was over?

AS: It was just incredible. And you cannot believe it. You think it is just a bad dream that you are in – but it is reality and it really hurts.

Q. What will you do tonight?

AS: I don't know yet. I have to go in my room and think about everything. I am still disappointed.

Q. Did you realise that Kimi Raikkonen was closing in on you?

AS: On the braking, you are more concentrated to get the corner. The braking was difficult for everybody – the tyres were cold and the car felt quite oversteery on the braking. In the end, I saw suddenly a red mirror and it was too late. He crashed into me as I had no chance to go anywhere else.

Q. Were you scared?

AS: During this incident? Well it was a surprise really because when I turned into the corner I didn't expect he would hit me. I saw something red and thought it was normal. But he was too fast and he crashed into me.

Q. Monte Carlo seems to be a good track for you?

AS: Yes. I was first in free practice last year. I have good memories here, and I still have the F3 record here when I drove with Lewis in 2005. It is one of my favourite tracks, especially in the rain. It is just a driving circuit here, you can show your potential even with a slower car. That was the case today and I think we did quite well.

Q. Do you think there is more chance of points in the future?

AS: These were special conditions. I think it will be very difficult again in normal conditions in the dry – we don't have a chance at the moment and we need to find some updates to improve the car. That is where we have to concentrate on. Just try to forget this race. There were many positive things, go on with our work and try to get to the front.

Q. Is it a boost to your confidence?

AS: For sure, yeah. This was an amazing race for myself and it was a big boost. It was like last year, but this one was even better. I had so many laps, I was racing other cars and doing fastest laps. It was one of my best races.

Q. Do you take some heart from the fact that the crowd were applauding you when you got back to the paddock?

AS: Yeah. It is nice. I think my fan club was here! They were very happy about it, so it is nice. In this situation you need the fans, you need the help to survive and to come up again. I think our team is strong, we are holding together and it is confident.

Q. Will it be easy to move on from this?

AS: I have to go on. I have no other choice. For sure in the next week I will think about, and will be very sad about it. I have to try and forget it and take my next chance.

Q. Do you think you could have kept Kimi behind you?

AS: Yes, I think so. Actually, my pace in the dry was quite competitive and there was just a dry line. So you could not go side-by-side. If you try to overtake, you go on the wet and you lose the car. I think we would have brought it home for sure – there were only seven minutes, five laps to go.

 

so, the man himself said it was a racing incident, and ppl are kicking a fuss over this?

 

Thanks for posting this. It was very hard luck. chance for points for this team are so slim under normal conditions, it was very hard to see this loss.

 

They shouldn't anymore. Kimi apologized, the world has seen Sutil's excellent performance, time to move on.

 

He's a class act.

 

+1

 

Would you ever expect, say, Alonso or Kimi to even notice there are fans? Sutil really is a nice guy. Very calm and polite, I hope he'll continue to drive like he did yesterday!

 

Sutil is a real sportsman, I hope, that team manager have noticed these. He defiantly has earned a gold star in Monaco’s race. Would like to see him in a more competitive car next year!
wolfman

 

a class act indeed! of course he is disappointed but just like any ascend there are many failures and disappointments. not everyone can be gifted with a great ride a la Hamilton or Massa. what matters most is how you handle these disappointments. just look at how Miss Danica Patrick keeps her composure!

 

I didn't think Kimi was at fault really for the accident either and I'm glad to hear that he apologized and there are no hard feelings from Sutil. I really hope this guy gets an upgrade next year after watching his race in Monaco, it certainly shows that he has the talent to deserve a better ride.

 

I don't know what the ruckus was all about in the first place. Kimi did his damnedest to save that car and mostly did. It was a racing accident and that it. Terrible for Sutil but no one was at blame. BTW holy crap does Kimi have some quick hands.....

 

The smart folks in the paddock and around the world noticed.

 

Sounds like a very mature and classy guy, and his remarks sounded genuine, not programmed. The sport needs more of that. I hope he does well.

Jack

 

Well, Kimi made a mistake, just like every single racing driver that has ever existed. Unfortunately for Sutil, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kimi admitted it, apologized, and Sutil isn't being a whiny little brat like, say, Alonso.

Good job Sutil. Here's to better luck in the future.

 

This weekend Sutil showed he really can drive and handle the pressure. Not a bad or negative word towards Kimi, he's very mature and cool headed (even if he cried!). Quite a difference from Danica Patrick.

I hope Sutil gets to drive a better car in the future.

 

I for one, am glad he understands the situation. I may have been slightly hard on him when I ragged on him for crying like he was, but I guess I can understand a little more after seeing this quote from him; he knows he'll likely never be running that far up again in the ride he's currently driving.

 

In the mean time, Force India remains without points. Sutil's fourth place points would have given the team many millions worth of travel money and increased television rights. I feel sorry for them. They really deserved some points.

 

I damn near cried with him when I saw that. I always root for the little guy in F1 because it is so predictable. What a huge deal it would have been for Sutil and Force India. A real shame they couldn't hold on.

 

+1 .. it was a great shame for the team and I really felt sorry for AS seeing him doubled over in the garage afterwards .. but what class .. I think he earned a lot of respect for the way in which he handled himself .. afterall he didn't have to be restrained after charging up pit lane like a certain lady did this weekend. I for one am now a fan!

 

I think the wreck might be a good thing to happen to Sutil.

If he finished in 4th he would make a couple headlines for maybe a week or so then probably drop out, Vettel and Webber are unheard of at the moment. This will STICK with people. Next year people will REMEMEBER where he was and what happened. His fan base alone has increased 10 fold. Noone ever cheered for the guy before, now EVERYONE both on TV and at the race was rooting for him and felt for him. Everyone is going to be 2nd hand rooting for the kid to gain points now. Fans and driving skill will get you a good ride with F1 and thats where the money/points are at. I think he will certainly get a better ride next year.

 

Ferrari should get an option on him!

 

+10

 

I think most folk love to see a underdog do well, I sure do, and this was the certainly the case here, this is why there is a big fuss.

Adrian showed impressive skill and full credit to him, this will have been noted even more so now, so he can take that as a positive out of it, he was humble in his interview and understanding, it must have taken some restraint not to go and smash his helmet in to the nearest red thing..

The big shame about it, was it had to be Kimi, he dropped the ball, the positive thing he can take out of it, is that it should shake him up enough to get his racing head firmly back on, as now Lewis has the WDC lead all IMHO.

 

Kimi was basically at sea last year at this time too. He'll hit his stride in the summer, all isn't lost. The biggest difference is that he's not as far behind as he was at this point last year. Kimi seems to lose his motivation sometimes, heaven knows why. Maybe it's a finnish things, didn't the same happen to Mika from time to time? I was actually cheering for Massa (if you can believe that). He has raised his game but was hampered by a mistake he made and bad pit strategy by the team. Not meant to be, but a good drive either way. Felt really bad for Sutil, he's obviously one heck of a driver in the rain.

 

+1 excellent post, I was cheering for Massa as well at this race, they kept him out to long on the Intermediates, I thought Massa was going to get 2nd for sure, what impressed me was the fact that he got Pole the day before. Ok you guys that is enough eating crow from my end.