GP3 Series: Firstly, big congratulations Matias on your first victory in GP3, tell us about the race?
Matias Laine: "I think my start was very good and I got into the lead. At the beginning I was pushingh really hard as if I was doing qualifying laps and I built up a gap. Once I had the advantage, I didn't need to push to the maximim every lap. It was really nice to drive."
GP3 Series: Did you feel the pressure at all especially when Felix Da Costa was coming through the field near the end of the race?
Matias: "No not at all. Antonio was still too far back at the very end so I didn't have any problems."
GP3 Series: How were the tyres out there today in the cool temperatures?
Matias: "Yes they were ok. For me they worked very well. The drop-off was normal so no issues."
GP3 Series: Tell us about what happened yesterday in Race 1...
Matias: "I made a good start and got into the lead like I did today. At turn one Mitch (Evans) was behind me and tried to pass me on the outside of Eau Rouge. We braked at the same place but it was a bit too risky and I went a bit too fast and went off the track. It was my mistake."
GP3 Series: How much does it mean to take your first win? You had a podium in Barcelona but it must be nice to try and finish the season on a high?
Matias: "Yes I have been close so many times but the problem for me has been qualifying. Now I have got it right, I feel very confident for Monza. I think it's been more about me improving in qualifying, about putting all three sectors together on the right lap."
GP3 Series: One round to go, are you looking forward to Monza?
Matias: "Yes I love the food there" He says laughing.
GP3 Series: Congratulations Antonio, another podium and fastest lap! Tell us about the race...
Antonio: It was the fourth time in a row that we get the fastest lap. Like I have said before we have a really good, quick car in the race and I can drive well during the race. My start today wasn't that great but I had a good first lap putting myself into P5. Mitch was in fourth and I was a bit quicker than him. We fought for three or four laps, which slowed us down compared to the top three. I eventually got past him, we touched wheels and it was a bit too much I think. I then used my speed to catch the top three. I had a few clear laps where I could really push which was good and post the fastest lap of the race.
"At the end I got past Williamson and Daly, it was good to have a double podium again this weekend. Ok it wasn't P1 twice, it was P2 twice but unfortunately with the half points given yesterday, I actually scored more points today than yesterday. In the end it was another good weekend. We are still closing in on the championship with one round left, 21.5 points behind. My approach is going to be exactly the same as it's been the last three or four weekends, which is just pushing as much as I can and see what happens."
GP3 Series: So you think being behind Evans at the start of the race cost you a potential victory today?
Antonio: "Yes for sure because at the end of the race I was half a second quicker than anybody else. After I got past Daly I was around two seconds behind Laine so with another few laps I would have been on him but the race was finished by then."
GP3 Series: You said you touched wheels with Evans, can you explain in more detail what happened?
Antonio: "I tried to pass him on the outside of the Bus Stop chicane and he moved a little under the brakes when I wasn't expecting him too. So we touched and I was forced to cut the chicane but fortunately I didn't have any big damage and I was able to keep going. Before that, I had dropped back because he was very slow and defending too hard and I lost a lot of time. When I got past him, I was a long way back from Williamson and Daly. I was quick so I could catch them but to have had a chance to win the race I would have needed to pass Mitch straight away."
GP3 Series: How were the tyres out there today in these 'fresh' conditions?
Antonio: "Because of the cold conditions you always slide a bit more, so you had to look after them a bit but I could still match my fastest lap of the race on the last lap so I think I had the tyres under control."
GP3 Series: You won at Monza last year, that must give you even more confidence going into the final round next week?
Antonio: "To be honest Monza is crazy. You can qualify P10 and with the tow you can still win the race which is what happened last year. Monza is the kind of track where you can say anything can happen. It's the cleverest guy that will win the race and not the fastest. I still want to win this championship, that's what I am here for, but to win that you have to win races and that's what I am going to do."
GP3 Series: Congratulations on another podium. You started P2, finished P3, how was it today?
Daly: "It was good, my start was ok, not the best. I was about the same as Williamson but Laine had a really good start, really, really good. Williamson was a bit aggressive trying to stay alongside him in Eau Rouge, I thought they were going to hit each other. I slowed down to fourth gear whilst that happened which is pretty slow and that backed everyone else up. I got a good run on Williamson down to the big braking zone, I got him there. He was running zero degrees downforce, so I knew he was going to catch me on the straight.
"He passed me and I was going to try and push him to get up to Laine, but he was just too quick down the straights. He was very rough on his rear tyres and they went off. Unfortunately, I flatspotted my right front behind him, I was trying to catch Laine but it wasn't going to work. I could see Felix Da Costa was quite fast and I just made a mistake into the Bus Stop, my right front never stopped smoking itself. It was unfortunate but it was my mistake. We are still on the podium so its ok. I definitely wanted another win so we'll try in Monza."
GP3 Series: You mentioned flatspotting the tyres, how were they apart from that today?
Conor: "They were good since it was pretty cold. They lasted a pretty long time. It's very strange as for me as I've had a couple of flatspots in the two years I've raced and it only takes one lock-up. It's very difficult as soon as you lock that tyre once, you go the rear on the bias and it just keeps going and you kill yourself. It's unfortunate but our tyres were quite good today, Pirelli does an excellent job and I'm happy to race them."
GP3 Series: What do you think you can achieve in Monza?
Conor: "I think it will suit our car, we have been quick everything. I don't think we have been ultimately quickest. My car had quite a strange feeling in that race today and I think we better sort out a few things ready for Monza. I think MW Arden have us by a little bit overall on times. The Lotus GP guys are really tuned into winning so I am sure they will figure it out. We've got one round left so its a case of go big or go home for me. I was quick in Monza last year and had one of my best races there so lets see what happens. It should be fun, Monza is a tow fest so it will be exciting."
GP3 Series: So the aim for Monza: victory?
Conor: "Two wins!" He said with a massive grin...