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TEAM OFFICIALS: Gerhard
BERGER (Toro Rosso), Norbert HAUG (Mercedes), Christian HORNER (Red Bull),
Adam PARR (Williams)
Q: Gentlemen, first of all give us your impressions of the circuit and
Singapore as a whole. Gerhard BERGER: I think it was a great experience
today. Different things came together and I think the lighting is very
spectacular and going between the houses makes a really fantastic show for
the people. The other positive thing is we have seen a lot of people today
at the circuit. The grandstands were already quite full and it seems that
Formula One can become very popular here. So overall I think it is a great
place to be and it is going to be a great place.
Q: And from a technical point of view, Christian?
Christian HORNER: First of all I would like to echo what Gerhard has said.
The guys here have done an absolutely unbelievable job. The effort that has
gone into this circuit in the last 12 months is nothing short of phenomenal.
I think the spectacle of a night race, but not only have we got a night
race, we have also got a great circuit, a really challenging circuit. We
have already test driven the
barriers today and we can see that it is pretty unforgiving out there. I
think it is going to be a real challenge of a race and I think it is going
to be a fantastic weekend. Hats off to everybody involved. I think they have
just raised the bar considerably for a new circuit and the spectacle of
racing at night in a big city such as Singapore is really exciting.
Q: Adam, your feelings? Perhaps from a commercial point of view?
Adam PARR: Well, like Christian and Gerhard I think what has been achieved
here is absolutely amazing. I was here between Australia and Malaysia and
there was the beginnings of a circuit and the building of the pit lane but
what has been done in six months is incredible. From a commercial
perspective and from
a sporting perspective I think it is just an extraordinary experience and
spectacle and that is fantastic for Formula One, so it is very exciting.
Norbert HAUG: Basically the same. First of all thank you to everybody who
was involved to make this happen. I think it is a big, big step forward for
Formula One. The pictures, the atmosphere is really one of a kind and this
gives a completely new experience to all the viewers worldwide but also to
the spectators. As Gerhard pointed out, an impressive amount of spectators
here today for free practice. That is very positive and the whole scenery I
think is unreal. It is like in a movie and I think it is a big, big step. I
think Bernie (Ecclestone, FOM President) pushed very hard, so thanks to him
and FOM. It is really a good step forward and I am sure that Singapore will
be watched throughout the world over
the weekend. The track is very challenging in addition, so it is not going
to be an easy one but so far I think we have really gathered the best
impressions so far.
Q: Gerhard, how has the win affected the team since Monza?
GB: They are still all drunk. No, I mean it was an unbelievable experience
to have the first win with Toro Rosso. I think it was a big push for the
team and gave us even a bit more confidence. It was a great day for Red
Bull. I think to win in Monza with Toro Rosso was just unbelievable. I think
it shows we are going step by step in the right direction. It shows our car
is a good car. It is quick and
reliable and now we have a very good experience. We have seen an
unbelievably big step from last year to this year. I still believe that in
the last four races we can do something good. I know if you go and win
people expect it to go on like this. It is very clear our goal is to put one
car, and if everything runs fantastic, both cars into the first 10 in
qualifying and then collect the big points. But I think we are going to
remember for a long time our win from last week.
Q: Christian, perhaps you looked on that win with mixed feelings. But what
has it meant for Red Bull Racing?
CH: I think for Red Bull, as Gerhard says, it was a fantastic result. Toro
Rosso, the whole weekend, did an excellent job. They did a better job than
anybody else. Everybody in Red Bull is very proud of the result that they
achieved. We have got 600 people back in Milton Keynes that form part of Red
Bull Technology that are supplying both teams. Under Adrian’s (Newey – Chief
Technical Officer) leadership they have done a good job this year and as I
say, Toro Rosso did a superb job. Sebastian drove the race of his life and
demonstrated that he is a real star of the future. It was a bit of a
fairytale. For Gerhard, I remember watching as a kid his win 20 years ago at
Monza and I don’t think on the podium he looked so much different to what he
did 20 years ago.
GB: Thank you, Christian. But I also want to say (something) about Red Bull.
Our car comes from Red Bull Technology and thanks to them and, as Christian
said, thanks to Adrian we have got the base to do something, so it is a
great thing to have this car.
Q: Adam, how did the independents feel? What was the atmosphere within
Williams and the fact that Williams can win a grand prix?
AP: Well, as an independent constructor we looked on with great feelings.
You cannot take away from them what they achieved over the weekend and
congratulations to them. I think what it means for us is simply that we have
to do the things that we do better. Not a great take away from that weekend
but we
have got to do better.
Q: Norbert, do you feel the World Championship is a two horse race now?
NH: No, I don’t think so. As long as the mathematical chances are existing,
they are existing. I think everybody learned their lesson last year, not
least us. There are more involved than two guys which is good for the sport,
We should have some more points but it is what it is. I think it is a
thrilling season. We have had great races so far, very, very exceptional
with rain and now a new track in
Valencia and this particular track, a night race. I think it is going to be
remembered as a remarkable season, whatever happens. It is close and the
championship starts right here because it is very close together between the
top guys.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (John O’Brian – Reuters) Do you think that the global credit crunch will
have an effect on teams in the future?
GB: For us it doesn’t make any difference, as we don’t get anything. I think
it is going to affect all of us. I think it is going to be difficult times,
no question, and if you look at new sponsors coming into Formula One, it is
very seldom, especially the big ones. As I see it, it is not going to be
easy the next two years.
CH: I agree with Gerhard. The global economy at the moment isn’t in great
shape and it affects all areas of the pit lane. It is down to the teams to
work collectively with the governing body to make sure that we are
responsible in what we do to control our costs. But, on the other hand,
venues and races such as this one are so powerful and strong for Formula One
and demonstrate Formula One in such a
strong and fantastic light, excuse the pun, I think there are other very
positive aspects as well and I think this race, certainly this weekend, will
be a big boost for the series in general.
AP: I think that it would be foolish to think that the external environment
doesn’t affect our business but I think what is important, as with any
business, is to prepare and we are trying to do that, some perhaps harder
than others. I think that we need within FOTA (Formula One Teams’
Association) to get on and identify ways to reduce our costs. I think we
need to work with the Commercial Rights Holder, with Bernie, to continue to
grow the sport and I think this weekend is a testament to what FOM has
achieved in terms of creating something absolutely phenomenal. Our partners
and our sponsors are absolutely riveted by this event and they are here in
force. I think that in spite of the global environment we are in rude good
health but we will only stay in rude good health if we prepare for the
future because the world is changing right now, very, very fast, faster than
anybody could have imagined even a month ago. I think it is time to get down
and change a few things.
NH: Pretty much the same. If we concentrate on this venue, I think this is a
great chance. Of course, in whole financial world, all the surroundings are
really challenging, probably more so than ever, but if you look at what was
invested here, and what will be the outcome, what will be the exposure
worldwide… Singapore is known for being a metropole for financial business
for example, and I think that sends out really positive signals. I think
this is an enormous chance, and the more you are under pressure, the more
you are under pressure to sell your products, the more you need advertising,
but very specified and very special examples, and I think Formula One can
deliver that. I think that, remarkably, in the middle of a period where it
is really difficult everywhere, to have a race like this is remarkable.
Again, I think we should be mindful that (the reason why) this is happening
here currently is that so many people put so much effort behind it. It is
not just another normal race, it’s a huge step and a really good chance for
Formula One, for the sponsor partners, for everybody involved, for the
media, for worldwide television viewers. I think it’s special and that needs
to be addressed on this occasion.
Q: (James Allen – ITV) Could you tell us something specific that you learned
about the track today, the way the grip levels changed or something unusual
that you hadn’t perhaps foreseen, perhaps Christian or Gerhard?
CH: We learned that crashing on your third lap isn’t the best preparation
for the weekend, and there is very little margin for error here. I think you
saw quite a few incidents today. You can see that the drivers are right on
edge and there is a very, very small margin for error which is the trait of
a street circuit. It’s bumpy, it’s quick in areas, it’s a challenge
set-up-wise. Obviously we’re running
the soft tyres here as well which presents a challenge in itself. We’ve
worked through our programme, which was compromised in some respects on one
side of the garage, but we’ve learned a great deal from today.
GB: Well, we have found the set-up direction very quickly at the last few
circuits on Friday but to be honest today we’ve been struggling a bit. We
were especially struggling with riding over the kerbs and not enough grip,
so overall we did not find our way today. Hopefully the engineers and the
drivers will find it overnight but it’s a bit more difficult than in the
last three races.
Q: (Will Buxton – Australasian Motorsport News) Adam, the FIA has announced
that the Formula Two tender has gone to Palmer and that Williams will be
helping out with that. Could you just let us know exactly what Williams’s
involvement will be and how you see the category developing into the future?
AP: We are designing the car for Jonathan Palmer. We have no involvement in
the F2 series beyond that, but it may well be that what we will do with
Jonathan later on is to introduce a sub-series using the same chassis and
the same format around the world as feeder series. That’s broadly our
involvement. In
terms of the way the series is going to develop, it’s a very exciting new
challenge because it is a difficult format to operate successfully but
Jonathan’s been doing it for eleven years with his Formula Palmer Audi and
our collective goal and ambition is to create a series which is really
accessible. You’ve seen the pricing of it, really fair, but also a fast
exciting car and that’s our responsibility,
so we’re hoping it will create an opportunity for people who couldn’t afford
some of the more expensive series to have a go.
Q: (Joe Saward – Grand Prix Special) The result in Monza was a fairy-tale
for Formula One and it did a lot of good among viewers around the world, but
in the Formula One world, a customer car winning is costing constructors
money. What are the attitudes of the four teams that we have here about
customer
cars, and do you think it will cause more opposition now that a customer car
has actually won a race?
NH: Well, I’m very open. I can understand a traditional constructor like
Williams. They have contributed a lot in the past and I think we just need
to find a way together. But concentrating on what is allowed currently,
whether this is a customer team or not, I think the guys deserve all credit.
I already pointed this out in Monza, and it is really what concerns me. It
comes from my heart, it’s
not just a sing-song, it is really great what they achieved and it just
shows how closely-fought Formula One is these days and it doesn’t come from
nothing. Of course they have a good technical package, but there are good
guys involved, there are good racers involved in Gerhard, like Franz Tost,
Ascanelli. They know what they’re talking about and I think it is pleasing.
They shouldn’t do it each
and every race if possible but they deserve their victory and their victory
was a positive message and it was a positive message for Formula One. We
could have done a better job, that happens sometimes but all credit to them.
I have to say I was pleased but at the same time, I fully understand a
traditional team like Williams for they have contributed a lot to Formula
One and where Formula One is right now is partly due to Williams as well. So
I think you just need to get the right balance and I think that’s internal
stuff which we need to discuss and that is currently happening and I’m sure
a solution will be in place in the future.
AP: I think actually Norbert has put it very nicely... We take our hats off
to Gerhard and his team for what they did over that weekend and we had an
opportunity to beat them, let’s face it, and we didn’t and so that’s our
problem. In the longer term, we believe that customer cars have no place in
Formula One. It’s ultimately a design and engineering challenge as well as a
racing challenge, and we believe that is the reason for example why this
event is going to be so incredible. There is no other motor sport series in
the world that could do what we’re going to do here this weekend, and that’s
been built on the back of not just teams like Williams but many teams. There
are 53 teams since 1970 that have
tried to design a chassis and compete in Formula One and have failed, which
is nine out of every ten teams that have tried. I think that what we are
doing here this weekend is built on a lot of history and we passionately
believe that that is the way forward for Formula One. Because of our respect
for Gerhard and Red Bull and what they put into the sport we’ve agreed an
arrangement for this period which is temporary but in the longer term we
must go back to being a sport of constructors, that’s our view.
CH: I think you have to look at a bigger picture. I think that today we have
ten teams, there are twelve potential entrants and there are only ten teams
here and I don’t see other teams knocking on the door to come into Formula
One because to come in as a constructor is hugely prohibitive to have any
chance to compete. With the global financial situation, and with the way
that Formula One is, with the
amount of manufacturers we also have in Formula One, whilst respecting
Adam’s and Williams’s position, I’m afraid I disagree and feel that it’s in
the interests of Formula One to have a mix. It is good for a team such as
Toro Rosso or Red Bull to win races. I’m sure Gerhard will answer the
question for you but for Toro Rosso to become a constructor is a massive,
massive undertaking and is it represented in the television audiences. Are
the people in the grandstands and watching television really interested in
how many wind tunnels we run, how many people we have working in R&D or CfD
or stress finite element analysis or all these areas? I think that Formula
One, at the end of the day, is a sport and secondly it’s a show, and I think
we need to address those issues and then concern ourselves about
constructors and non-constructors. That would be my take on it.
GB: Well, Christian, I think, spelt it out quite well. I have to say that
first, what is a customer car? The definition is still very wide, but
anyway, I fully respect the position of Williams, but I have to say that
times are changing; time is also changing in the normal automobile industry
where today there is co-operation between companies trying to use synergies,
because otherwise they have no
chance to survive in the market. Here in Formula One, we have ten teams,
nobody is waiting to come in. I think we have a bigger chance to lose two
teams than to get in another two teams. If we are sitting here and say,
well, we cannot think about synergies, getting costs down because Williams
have invested
into some areas some years ago, I think it’s the wrong way. I think Formula
One has to go on, to do what is right for Formula One and where Formula One
has the best chance to end up with 24 competitive cars again, not cars that
are running two laps behind just to fill the field, and making a good show,
because just as Christian says, nobody out in the grandstands is proud that
we have 600 people. They want to see a race, that’s what they want to see.
Q: (Ralf Bach – R & B) Christian, could you explain to ordinary people
outside Formula One, who are interested in Formula One but are not real
insiders, how it is possible that one team can win in Monza, and the other
team is in the middle of nowhere with the same car?
CH: It’s quite simple. Red Bull Technology provide the same car for two
teams and Toro Rosso did an excellent job during the weekend in running the
car and the driver also did an outstanding job. Obviously we have a
difference in our package of engine and driver and it’s always easy to point
fingers but it would be wrong for me to sit here and talk about those
differences. The key is that for
Red Bull it was a fantastic result. It’s probably harder for you to
understand because I think many of you see Toro Rosso as the old Minardi,
and it’s something very different from that. It’s a well-run team now, it’s
well supported technically by Red Bul through Red Bull Technology and I
think that the
achievements in Monza two weekends ago were not only positive for the sport
but I think that for the investment that Red Bull have put into Formula One
were significant. Obviously we want to see both teams up there and Toro
Rosso and Red Bull Racing are now only a point apart in the Constructors and
will race hard on a Sunday afternoon, but on a Monday the two teams belong
to the same family. GB: I would also like to say something. You have to see
it over the year. There have been a lot of races where we have not been able
to get the set-up in the way that Webber got it or Red Bull Racing got it.
This time we got it right and we also got the weather conditions right on
the right day at the right moment. We got everything right, and so we had
great success, fantastic, but if you look at it
over the year and if you look at the points we are at a similar level, so I
think it’s up to the daily performance. |
