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DRIVERS:
Jenson Button (BAR Honda), David Coulthard (Red Bull Racing), Giancarlo
Fisichella (Renault), Mark Webber (Williams BMW)
Q. Giancarlo, Renault's form here in past races hasn't been fantastic, what
are your feelings? Is a podium as much as you can hope for, as Fernando has
said?
Giancarlo Fisichella: I think it's too early to say. It wasn't too bad
during the last test we had here. I think McLaren's pace was really strong.
I think that apart from McLaren we are there, so we can fight to score
points, to get on the podium for sure. Yeah, the characteristics of the
circuit are maybe not perfect for our car, but I think we are still able to
do a great result.
Q. What about your own personal performances? It's almost as though if you
qualify sixth or seventh you have a really good race; if you qualify at the
front you don't have such a good race.
GF: I have had a lot of trouble this year. I have been very unlucky, even in
the last race I had a couple of problems during the pit stop. It's not easy
on that side of things. Even in Canada I was the leader of the race and I
had a lot of problems, so apart from the problems, if I carry on like
Melbourne, I won the race. I have a great car, I have a great team. But it's
been a very unlucky period for me. I hope to change that lucky period on
Sunday, already.
Q. There's still 50 percent of the season to go.
GF: Yeah, yeah. We have a lot of races ahead. I'm looking forward to them.
We have a very good car, the team is pushing really hard to develop the car
in any way, the package, so I'm sure I will have other chances to win some
races.
Q. Mark, how's your bum, how did this burn happen during the French Grand
Prix?
Mark Webber: It wasn't my bum, it was my hip anyway! Basically where the
loom comes into the chassis, from the outside into the cockpit is normally
sealed off, but it was open from about lap seven and the guys could see on
the telemetry that the box got a lot hotter inside the car, and that was
flowing onto my right hip which has been substantially burnt and which isn't
very happy at the moment but we will see how it goes tomorrow.
Q. Had you actually dislodged something when moving in the car?
MW: No. The seat is quite a long way away from that part, but obviously
there is a lot of flow going over the cockpit so then you get a negative
pressure which pulls the air through the car quite heavily, so I was getting
the temperature from especially the radiator but also the exhaust going
through the car. It was frustrating to have it so early in the race.
Q. And it hasn't happened in previous races?
MW: No, no. We knew that with the new bodywork that the flow inside the car,
the pressure can be a bit higher when you change things externally, the
pressure can be higher so there was a problem on Friday when both Nick and I
made adjustments. We made them but it wasn't enough.
Q. What about the consistency of the car; it seems to have been very up and
down so far this year?
MW: Yeah, it has been very difficult for us so far this year, no question
about it. The pace hasn't been where we expected it to be, and clearly not
at the level that Williams is after and we're progressively trying to get
back to the front as soon as possible. Magny-Cours for both Nick and I was a
very tough weekend. We both did the best job we could in the race but
clearly we are a long long way away from where we expect to be, so hopefully
at Silverstone we can drag back a lot of that performance and get towards
the front again but it was only four days ago, so I don't expect any
miracles.
Q. And also, of course, the rhythm at the moment is just so fast with
another two Grands Prix coming up and then the testing moratorium.
MW: That's right. This is the time of year when you want everything in your
favour, not to be trying to dig yourself out of performance related
problems, so timing is everything and at the moment we need to find more
pace very quickly.
Q. David, it's a little bit the same with Red Bull Racing, isn't it?
David Coulthard: Yeah, the actual pace in the race in Magny-Cours was
comparable with Nurburgring but for the qualifying performance, we put
ourselves in a bad slot. I think I had sixth fastest race lap which in
previous parts of my career I wouldn't look at too much, but I think it's
significant that we were quicker than Williams, obviously, as Mark has
explained his problems, quicker than the Ferrari in the race, catching those
guys so the car shows good pace in certain circumstances.
Q. So what about here, is this going to be one of those certain
circumstances?
DC: Well in the test we weren't that quick here relative to the others, so I
think it's very much down to how the tyres perform, the track temperature on
that day. We will just have a better picture on Sunday.
Q. Not until Sunday?
DC: Yeah, because even if you've had a good test, there's no points, there's
no result yet. It's in the races that you judge so we shall see.
Q. And since last weekend we've had the news that you've signed for 2006… Is
that a relief? How do you feel about that?
DC: No, relief was December last year when I signed for this year! I am
delighted, I am very happy that Christian has taken steps to sort that out
early, it's much earlier than I've had in previous years. It gives us a
clear direction, we've made our bed and let's get on and do the best we can.
Q. Jenson, was there a bit of relief after last weekend?
Jenson Button: Yeah, there was. It hasn't been the easiest year for us and
it was nice to actually show our pace. We are not on the same pace as the
McLarens or the Renaults, but I think it was nice to show that we're
reasonably competitive and to get something back after the whole team, for
me doing a great job this year in difficult circumstances. It was nice to
finish fourth, just a pity we were so far from the Renaults.
Q. We keep hearing, perhaps unofficially, that you're really going to be
performing well for the rest of the year and then you come here and say
‘well, actually we don't think we're going to be all that competitive here
at Silverstone.'
JB: I don't think anyone's got a chance compared to the McLarens here, from
what we've seen of testing. But I think that we can still have a good race.
I think we will probably be a bit closer to the Renaults here and Ferrari
will be very good competition and you never know what's going to happen with
Red Bull and Williams. It's going to be a competitive race, and I'm sure we
can put on a very good show, but it's just what the end result is.
Q. So your money is on McLaren.
JB: Definitely. They are going to walk it, I think. I don't really want to
say that but I think it's true.
Q. A question now for all of you, particularly David and Mark: we notice
that the drivers and the FIA seem to have a bit of conflict at the moment.
Is there anything you want to say about that, what's it all about?
DC: I think that what's in the public domain is quite clear and doesn't need
to be interpreted, the letters that are there, you can all understand and I
think that in terms of the drivers having sent something out, it was just to
show disappointment with the events after Indianapolis and we obviously want
to sit down and discuss that and we thought the best way was to do it
face-to-face but that's obviously not possible. Personally, I'm a little bit
disappointed that my views on… it was only my opinion of how the current
rules are, are being confused as being part of the GPDA safety initiatives.
They are completely separate. I'm sure you all have opinions as to what your
favourite qualifying set-up was over the years and what you think should
happen with the regulations so that is disappointing, but nonetheless we
obviously got an indication that we can meet at some point in the future and
discuss it.
MW: I think that on the GPDA side, we all strive to get to Formula One as
the pinnacle of our sport and we all love the sport as well, and we all want
to represent the sport in the best light for ourselves as well. Safety is
something which is clearly at the top of our list as drivers and we're
always looking to improve that. Clearly there has been a bit of friction.
There have been open letters which sometimes are a bit of a quiet voice and
I think that the open letter just stated the fact that when we do have
opinions we get criticised and we are all together, we support David, David
was the one that got the ‘phone call but we all, as drivers, you saw clearly
that we are all together, we are supporting each other for the benefit of
the sport and to make it safer. The invitation is still clearly there for
Max to come to the meeting with us tomorrow, he can still come and meet us.
We want to talk about safety, we don't want to talk about the regulations.
We want to talk about safety. I think that the obligation from the GPDA and
myself as one of the directors, is to look at making the sport better, short
term, long term so kids can have a sport that they can look up to and have
some respect for the sport at the end of the day, for the drivers. We don't
want to run the sport, we just want to have something that young kids can
look up to and a sport that we all aspire to.
JB: They've said pretty much how it is. All that's left really is to say
that we are all in the same situation here. We all are looking at improving
the safety and it's great that we can all stick together because we all do
have the same feelings when it comes down to safety.
GF: I agree with them. We just invited Max to have a meeting and to talk
about safety and we don't know why he doesn't want to meet with us.
Questions From The Floor
Q. To all the drivers, how does it feel to start a weekend on a day like
this, with all the events in London?
JB: I think I speak on behalf of everyone involved in Formula One, that we
are obviously deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened in London
today. My heart goes out to all the victims and the victims' families that
have been involved. It is obviously a difficult way to start the weekend for
everyone, but we are going to try to put the best show on we can for the
fans in the situation we have.
Q. (Peter Windsor F1 Racing) It looked on the onboard cameras at
Magny-Cours, and I think in Canada as well, that Michael (Schumacher) did
virtually all the race with his overalls unzipped about 12 inches at the top
and his collar flapping in the breeze. I just wondered, what is the
regulation about that, is it in any way dangerous, and have you guys ever
done a race with the overalls on in that way?
DC: It is fairly logical that the suits are designed to be raced zipped up
but I guess sometimes it is possible for things to come undone, in the same
way that seat belts, you have to tighten them during the Grand Prix, because
as you lose fluid and sweat you start to move around in the car. So you have
to adapt as you go through the races. I am sure I must have (done the same).
I have done so many races, there are all sorts of things. I have done races
with the seatbelts half undone because they have popped out and you haven't
got a choice. Ideally you wouldn't have that happen, but things happen from
time to time.
Q. (Bob Constanduros) Any other experiences on that?
JB: My helmet came loose in Hockenheim last year, but I felt it was safe
enough to continue so I did.
Q. (Bob Constanduros) So, there is no safety issue with that?
MW: We have fireproof underwear as well, obviously, and sometimes the top
collar might not be particularly comfortable in very hot conditions, so it
might be open a little bit for a bit more flow onto our undergarment, which
is also fire resistant, and then the balaclava, which is also tucked in. So,
yeah, maybe it is just a bit more comfortable for the driver.
Q. (Andrea Cremonese) A question about the role of Michael in the GPDA. Is
it true you want to dismiss him from the role of director?
DC: The members of the GPDA are all very clear. Michael's role is clear as a
director and there is no change in that, so there is no point saying any
more on that.
Q. Did you have any problems coming here today?
DC: Yeah, for sure, it was a lot busier coming out of town, understandably.
JB: I stayed here last night.
GF: I stayed here last night.
Q. Can you explain what the GPDA does for safety inspection of each track
before a GPDA meeting?
DC: We take it in turns to be responsible for looking at the circuit.
Obviously the FIA and Charlie are doing that as well, but at this stage of
the GPDA, because it has been going for several years, a lot of it is just
if there has been a significant change to a barrier we have an observation.
When you go back to ten years ago, when it first started, one of the members
of the GPDA would fly to the track before the Grand Prix, which obviously in
places like Canada was quite a commitment from the members, but that isn't
necessary now. We compile a report after every Grand Prix which is sent to
the FIA, to Charlie, to Bernie, with our comments. And any other issues that
we had, that we learned during the weekend, that we hadn't seen from walking
the track, we discuss in the drivers' briefing on Friday.
Q. Jenson, last year you had such a good season, so this year must be a
horror. How have your feelings been this year?
JB: It's obviously been a tough year, not just for myself but for everyone
in the team, but the good thing is that I am with a very strong team in
Formula One and I think they are going to go on and achieve a lot in the
future. So it is not such a big issue, and I think if I was with a team that
would not achieve whatever they do, it would be a lot more difficult. It has
also not been just one issue why we haven't scored any points this year. We
were unreliable at the start of the season, which we solved, the problems,
then we got disqualified from three races, and obviously Indy, and Montreal
I put it in the wall, so all our bad luck and our mistakes have come at
once. The biggest thing, as I said, is that we are a very strong team and we
will turn it around. I am not saying we will be winning races in the near
future, but we will close the gap to the top teams.
Q. If you said you are going to have success with this team in the future,
it means you are staying…
JB: No, no, I said the team will have success in the future.
Q. To all drivers, as far as we know, your teams don't want to see Max
Mosley re-elected as FIA president next October. What is your opinion?
MW: I think the sport should be run, at the highest possible level, in terms
of the responsibility. And, I cant talk about the teams, but we need to
someone at the highest possible level to run the sport.
GF: No, it is a question maybe for the team principal. Obviously we had
problems after Indianapolis and now there is a big mess, so everyone is a
bit disappointed about what is going on in Formula One. And maybe because of
that problem in Indianapolis, they don't want to see Max Mosley as the head
of the FIA.
JB: It is very difficult to comment on, but as Mark said I think it needs to
be, um, yeah, not much to say really. I think it is more for the team
principals to comment on that subject. I am sure they all have slightly
different views, but it is something for the future.
DC: Well, I have had my phone number changed and I am ex-directory but I am
not convinced that certain people might not have connections with BT, so I
am not going to say anything.
Q. (Peter Windsor F1 Racing) Just another offshoot from Indy was the
apparent thought that the FIA and team owners are now getting together to
try and have one tyre supplier next season. What do you think about having a
single tyre, a rock hard tyre, that is a control tyre for everyone?
JB: I think it is going to help Ferrari, because I think the Michelin is a
superior tyre.
Q. If Ferrari were on Michelins now, where would they be?
JB: I think they would be more competitive.
Q. (Bob Constanduros) Any other thoughts on that?
DC: It is tricky one, because on the one hand I think Formula One should be
at the pinnacle of technology, and that includes obviously that the tyres
are very influential. I have raced with one-make tyres and you still see a
spread between the teams. So, if you think of just pure competitive Grand
Prix racing, then I think you should have more than one manufacturer, in my
opinion. But to control speeds and avoid issues that we saw in Indianapolis,
I think it is unquestionable that one tyre manufacturer can control that
better.
MW: I think David is right. The competition between the tyre companies is
going to push the boundaries down. Of course, with safety issues, for us, it
is very important that the tyre manufacturers are doing a good job. They
have both had tyre failures in the last three or four years, that is what
competition does, and one tyre, it would be nice and resilient, and hard. It
is a tricky one, yeah. Competition would be good. It is part of the race to
have a few different manufacturers out there, but as David said, you still
get the spread on one tyre anyway, so it's not easy.
JB: If slowing down cars is the aim it is definitely the best way if it is
just one tyre company with a controlled tyre.
GF: Yeah, I think that just one tyre company would be a bit better for
safety, we would slow down the car with just one compound, it could be an
even harder compound, but obviously Michelin did a fantastic job this year
and it would be nice to carry on with them. |
