Sutil-Trulli Combat Continues Pre-Abu Dhabi

You have to hand it to the Formula 1 bosses. While they couldn’t tell the Internet from a hole in the ground, essentially refuse to engage the fans in any meaningful way, and will flip a classic track such as Silverstone for a flat, boring track in the middle of a money-field, they at least know how to seat drivers next to each other during pre-race interviews.

Today, we had Adrian Sutil and Jarno Trulli next to each other. (Oh, and in the front row, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.)

It took questions from the audience to get to the topic we all wanted Sutil and Trulli to discuss: Brazil. And, oh, did they discuss it. Note that at one point Fernando Alonso turns to Kimi Raikkonen and makes a comment:

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Q: (Ian Parkes—The Press Association) Question to Jarno and Adrian: I’m just wondering if you two guys have settled your differences after your exchange of words following your first lap accident in Brazil?

JT: I think we’re going to discuss it probably tomorrow in the drivers’ briefing and in the GPDA briefing. Obviously it was very disappointing to end the race like that, especially on the first lap. Obviously I think I had every reason to be extremely furious. I’ve got all the evidence to show that I was there, I was next to him, so I think tomorrow we are going to discuss it.

AS: I think there’s nothing to discuss. It was a quite obvious incident. In the end it was very disappointing for myself, even more, I think, because I was the one who was just driving and he lost control of his car and crashed in my back, so it was not my problem, it was his problem. I don’t know why he’s freaking out like that, to be honest.

JT: (Laughing) If you want, I can show you some pictures (like the one above). I don’t know if you’re blind but they clearly show you that my front wing is next to your front wing, so…

AS: Yeah, but you’re trying to overtake me on the outside on the kerbing. There was not a problem…

JT: So you mean… you didn’t move there…

AS: No, you were just not going off the power. The same happened in Barcelona where you lost control again and crashed again into a Force India car. You just have to sometimes also…

JT: I just lost…

AS: …expect the limits of the car. If there’s no way to go, you have to back off, that’s how racing is, and I don’t know how long you want to learn it.

JT: In Barcelona I spun and he hit me because he tapped the kerb, he completely cut the circuit and he didn’t slow down, so basically… Anyway, I think it’s better…

FA: (to KR) Shall we go?

AS: No, no. Watch the race in Barcelona. I didn’t hit you, you hit me. I don’t know what’s the problem, but maybe your eyes are a problem.

JT: I don’t have any feeling about him.

AS: I don’t understand, really, sorry.

Q: (Alan Baldwin—Reuters) I was actually going to ask a similar question, but maybe the two of you can agree on what you said after the incident in Brazil, because obviously Jarno was seen to be gesticulating and saying quite a few things. Could you just tell us what was said at the time?

JT: I was furious because I said ‘didn’t you see me?’ I mean, I was next to him and he kept pushing me going outside until I was obviously on the kerbs. I couldn’t believe…

AS: …the kerbs, not a problem to be on the kerb, I think. Where’s the problem?

JT: Ok, no problem, it’s OK. As long as we know the rules.

AS: I know the rules.

JT: Fantastic.

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Fantastic indeed! We need to watch these two all weekend, and especially during the start of the race. (Plus, I think if Sutil has another crash, there could be a little explaining for him to do.)

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