Mark’s Chinese GP Preview
Mark arrived at the Shanghai International Circuit on Thursday morning amid a flurry of camera flashbulbs. The world’s F1 media was waiting to quiz him about events at the Malaysian Grand Prix three weeks ago and Mark gave candid responses to their questions.
“It’s been a good break for everyone since the last race,” said Mark, “and I’m now hungry to get back in the car this weekend. But you need to understand that Malaysia was not the only scenario like this; we’ve had many scenarios like this in the past and that’s why my emotions were running pretty high after the race. You always have a lot of emotions when you’re in the car and it’s our job as drivers to manage them. There’s always stuff going down when you’re running at the front in F1 and it’s just a question of working out how much of that you’ve got to manage. This was one of those occasions.”
Before moving on to talk about this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Mark was keen to correct some misinformation that’s been doing the rounds over recent weeks.
“Some people have been questioning whether or not I’m going to finish the season with Red Bull,” he said. “I’m definitely keen to do that. I want to put together a strong campaign and challenge for more wins. My contract with this team has always been year-by-year and come the summer I will talk to Dietrich (Mateschitz, Red Bull boss) about the future.”
As for this weekend’s race, Mark is confident that the RB9 will be competitive. He’s led more laps than any other driver this season and he’s gunning for his 100th career points finish on Sunday.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car,” he said. “We proved at the first couple of races that the RB9 is pretty competitive. We didn’t dominate by any means, but no-one is doing that. We’ve put a lot of effort in for this weekend; the guys have been working hard and I’ve been doing a lot of work in the simulator, so we’re ready to go and hope to get a good result.”
// ends
63 Comments
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Flavio
on April 12, 2013Win..at all costs.
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Cathy Norman
on April 12, 2013Chookas for the weekend mate, as long as you do what you know is right, that’s all that matters.
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Davina
on April 12, 2013So proud of your aussie down to earth nature, Mark!!!! Drive hard and drive your best, that’s all we fans ask of you. Good Luck!!!
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David
on April 12, 2013Give it all your you have got mate show them who is boss good luck
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soraya
on April 12, 2013Us fans are behind you all the way. Very good luck for the week end!!
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Dan
on April 12, 2013I admire the fact that you are not shy to express what you are thinking and be honest about it. Its still only the 3rd race. I have faith. Give it ya best mate. 🙂
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TRICKO
on April 12, 2013just read the guardians interview with s.v nasty b….rd,what more can i say.bestest luck for china no team orders cant wait.go gettum.COME ON THE WEBBER!!! i’ll be shouting my loudest.
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Louis
on April 12, 2013Mark you are going to dominate this race and just hope no incidents this race! best of Luck from your biggest fan and supporter in South Africa!
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kathy
on April 12, 2013Mark, hope you get the chance to SHINE, and no one gets in the way of that. Best of luck as always.
Kathy x -
Kelvin Griffiths
on April 12, 2013Work hard mate and good luck mate.
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Jutta
on April 12, 2013Not all Germans are Vettel fans. I will as on all F1 race Sundays in the last years (since Jaguar) press my thumbs (that is crossing one’s fingers in German) for you to win!!!
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Cem
on April 12, 2013Good luck Mark. You have a fan even from Turkey!
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Jill and Brian
on April 12, 2013So Herman the German shows his true colours!! No team orders works both ways so go and get him, good luck for China and the rest of the season.
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Kerry walker
on April 12, 2013Still think you are fantastic and wish you all the best for China x
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Dylan Muir
on April 12, 2013Best thing to do and do your best and hope that this race you beat vettel fair and square. Show em the true Aussie fighting spirit old son. 🙂 sick em tiger. 🙂
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Dylan Muir
on April 12, 2013Show em the true Aussie spirit and let’s see if you can win this one hey. Show Vettel that there’s two in this team and this race is your turn to win. 🙂 ill put done a bet for you to win. 🙂
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Aki
on April 12, 2013Mark, stay calm and win the race!! I always admire your honesty and human nature. You never lie. You are my hero.
For these 3 years since 2010 Monaco I have been rooting for you. Sometimes I get mad and become sad about the way you are treated by the team, but watching you drive a car makes me so happy. You have a strong will and I am sure you prove it to us!!! We are always with you. Good luck!!!!
A huge fan from Japan -
Michael D.
on April 12, 2013Vettel is like a little bug. He can go from Point A to Point B. You have the class, the expertise and ability to stop him and out drive him. We believe in YOU! Good luck Mark!!! 🙂
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Marcus
on April 12, 2013Have at em mate.
Oh and feel free to tell interviewers that Vettel is a liar, [Site Manager Edit] and a coward.
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Dr Veranis
on April 12, 2013Go go go. You can do it…. show him what the real M 21 is all about. Wish You the best.
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Olga
on April 12, 2013Mark, good luck!)))
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Mark
on April 12, 2013Drive hard Mark, put Vettel back where he belongs following behind you!!! Its your time now Mark.
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Henri from The Netherlands
on April 12, 2013May the best of RB team win the chinese GP, not the arrogant german.
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Marcela
on April 12, 2013Mark, you’re the best…good luck for the race!!!
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Phil
on April 12, 2013Mark, you have great support in NZ, go hard, go strong and win
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Ferrari_Fan
on April 12, 2013Well Mark, you know the scoop now. Every man for himself in the RB team. If you get the chance, run him wide into the gravel. Teach the little shit some manners. Then watch him cry about sportsmanship.
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simon young
on April 12, 2013Us Aussie at home have your back, you will have the Australian Angels on your shoulders this weekend all the best mate do us proud buddy.
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jenny
on April 12, 2013Good luck Mark from all at Oz, lets see a podium xxx
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Maria
on April 12, 2013Really admire your professionalism and honesty in handling what’s happened Mark……..looking forward to seeing you on the top step this weekend :0)
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Debbie
on April 12, 2013Have a great race Mark!!!
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Judy Farrell
on April 12, 2013Go Mark, here’s hoping you have a very successful weekend in China!!@
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Craig
on April 12, 2013All the best Mark for China. If there really are no more team orders now I would love to see what would happen if a similar scenario to Malaysia were to occur again.
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Chad
on April 12, 2013Despite the actions and remarks of your arrogant childish “team-mate” there is no better motivator than beating Seb buddy-we know you and Alonso are best on track-GO GIVE EM SOME AUSSIE GRIT MATE!!!
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Iain
on April 12, 2013Vettel’s true colours come out again. Not even his team can trust him now. He’ll be remembered for this. Mark stay focused.
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John Spicer
on April 12, 2013Gopd for the win Mark you are a great driver and better than your German Team Mate
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stu
on April 12, 2013No guts no glory. The guts part is covered in spades – time for some glory. Good luck Mark, stick it to ’em!
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Anja Heeren
on April 12, 2013Hi Mark Good luck
Youre the best(thats what I think!!)xxAnja
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Rob W
on April 12, 2013Hope you have a good drive in Shanghai. I think most people were disappointed with how things unfolded in Malaysia. The best man doesn’t always finish first…..
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Derek
on April 12, 2013Back to the track at last! Time for some politics of the right foot instead of the bizarre justifications and contradictions from Seb and co. Good luck Mark.
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Alois Stockinger
on April 12, 2013Mark, give it all to stay ahead of Vettel, good luck, an Austrian fan.
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rob
on April 12, 2013Go mark you can do or
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NATALIA RINCON VILELLA
on April 12, 2013concentrate on this race and prove yourself, do not let the words “your teammate” affect you.
Mark mind you deserve win.
I send a lot of strength from barcelona -
Deborah Desborough
on April 12, 2013Thinking of you Mark and really admire how you have handled the whole situation.xxxxx
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Carol
on April 12, 2013Good luck Mark – you are not only the best driver, you are a man of honesty, integrity and grit. But please don’t sacrifice yourself for the team anymore, they don’t appreciate you. Seb and Red Bull are ‘the team’ as far as they are concerned, so just focus on yourself from now on. If you and Seb are racing, don’t worry about team orders or saving the cars, because Seb certainly won’t. Don’t give him any more chances to do the dirty on you – run him off the road if he is being selfish and if both the cars get damaged, well that’s what Red Bull deserves. Why should you sacrifice your own chances to give them the manufacturers championship when they don’t give a damn about you?
You have been more forgiving than a saint – just go out there and do your best regardless of what the team wants, and Seb will soon find out it is not that easy to beat you anymore. Good luck for China! -
Karin
on April 12, 2013You have my full admiration for staying calm in this situation and not playing Sebs game in the public (media).
I always respected him as a very good and professional driver. But now the lost my respect completely. He is a racing machine with bad habits. This whole story proves me in being a fan of you since you started in Formula 1. Good luck, Mark show them who you are – no 1.
I’ll be sitting in front of the TV and send you good vibes. Btw you have a lot fans here in Austria! -
stuarth44
on April 12, 2013IT is all out in the open now
So you both know where you stand
I know that you will move along, given the well rounded , even tempered man that you are
Race hard, race fair, stand tall
We admire and love Ya MW, you are a role model and inspiration to all people young and old
Meet you at Le Tour -
Kylie Harris
on April 12, 2013Nice work in expressing your view of what happened in Malaysia. The sporting world needs more articulate, reasoned gentlemen as examples and role models. I’m proud to say I’m a fan of one of them.
Good luck this weekend. I hope it’s the Aussie flag at the top and centre of the podium!
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Jonathan
on April 12, 2013Please Mark win. You put so much work in to be an F1 driver. Win at all costs and get that championship you deserve. I hope Vetel crashes or has engine problems every race for the rest of the season. Aussies fight fair now show them that the fair can win!
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christine (tasmania)
on April 12, 2013Go for it Mark. You,re the true champion. Put that little brat in his place. All the best of luck from Tassie.
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Doreen from Germany
on April 12, 2013Honesty and fairness are rare virtues. Good luck Mark! You deserve it to win. I keep the fingers crossed for YOU.
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matthew petherick
on April 13, 2013well mark the time has come to show who is boss, do it for yourself mate and us supporters will be cheering you on.
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Karen
on April 13, 2013As Australian’s we can be proud of our F1 sporting icon. Mark you’re an Aussie legend….fair, calm, collective. Not to mention the most the best F1 driver! What a great role model you are for not only our up and coming champ Daniel but all potential Aussie sports stars. Go for it Mark !
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Marion Hurst
on April 13, 2013I really wish I could be there in China to ‘boo’ the one finger weasel. Much admiration for your handling of the situation so far. Wishing you the very best of luck. A long time fan from the UK.
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john derwent
on April 13, 2013The best of luck in china mate, try & win this one for ‘DECENCY’ & ‘SPORTSMANSHIP’! You now know what you have to do, vettel has no class & is a disgrace!
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Mack Brabham
on April 13, 2013Mark, keep your cool. I’ll be mad enough for both of us.
Vettel showed what he is in the press interview yesterday. He is simply a liar and an arrogant puffed up prima donna who puts his personal interest above that of the team.
I say turn the wick up on the Red Bull cars , cancel all team orders, let them race and see who is best.
To the devil with Vettel. -
stuarth44
on April 13, 2013People change
I remember one LH whose ego was huge too
The ego can be hard to control SV has a huge one a psychoanalysts dream
Nico on the other hand is more like Mark, more balanced, rounded and likeable
I would advise the fans to be grateful for MW, just forget abt Vettel, getting upset will just spoil the race experience
There is no fee for this advice
Good luck MW fight hard. We know you can be on that top step, with you great and natural smile -
stuarth44
on April 13, 2013truly, words fail me at the Q2
I turned the box off, did not watch 3, what can one say
Later I read Vettel 9,
Well stranger things have happened MW can still get a Podium -
Derek W
on April 13, 20133 kgs of fuel goes missing? Someone in your camp is not with you Mark! you are going to have a series on unexplained events during 2013 to reduce your chances of winning the championship. Trust no-one Mark!
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Durin
on April 14, 2013Drive the balls off it mark . Show the world what you can do , and make sure seb eats your dust!
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pixipen
on April 14, 2013Mark – been on your side for a long time now. You are a sportsman and a gentleman, things lacking in f1. So many people are right behind you and always have been. I am one of them. Best of luck tomorrow and the rest of the season. X
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Suzanne
on April 14, 2013All the best for China and I love your new haircut. You know you can do it. All of Australia is behind you. Great racing in 2013.
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Innviertler
on April 14, 2013you have a lot of fans in Austria. We hope RB will come back to a fair Team without the disrespect of the little crying german boy.
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Rohan
on April 20, 2013So disappointed about China – I was devastated, just didn’t turn out (and, ok, maybe he got a little too excited when passing the vergne thing), great article…https://f1cut.com/china-the-almost-redbull-showdown/
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