Juan Pablo & Ralf Interview

Ralf: I think the single timed lap is spectator- and sponsor-friendly. We will no longer see qualifying sessions where nobody ventures onto the track for the first 20 minutes. And, as in ski jumping, the cameras will now be on every driver. That's particularly important for the small teams, who hardly get into the frame otherwise. If the changeable weather conditions occasionally lead to unusual grid line-ups, so much the better. Although I'm sure I'd be really upset if I had to draw the short straw because of the weather.

And what's your opinion of the new points system?

Ralf: Also positive. As far as Michael is concerned - and I anticipate Ferrari dominating again in 2003 - it will make it more difficult for him to streak ahead in the championship as quickly as before. The later the title is secured, the greater the interest levels in Formula One. And that's what we all make our living from, after all.

What are your personal hopes for your seventh F1 season?

Ralf: Hopes for our team are high, as are my own. I hope that the chassis lives up to its promises, that the new BMW engine will be the best in the field again, and that both will lead to race wins. In 2002, I achieved the only victory for our team. There should be more wins in 2003. The team will continue to benefit from the fact that the performance of Juan Pablo Montoya and myself are on a par. Naturally, collisions within the team such as the one at Indianapolis should not happen again.

Where do your strengths lie?

Ralf: I regard myself as a pretty good analyst. That's why I very rarely miscalculate on the car's set-up for the race and often manage to pick up points even from a modest grid position.

What do you still hope to learn?

Ralf: A bit more patience and a dose of nonchalance would make my life easier.

What do you think of the new qualifying rules?

Juan Pablo: Having just one timed lap favours mentally strong drivers who can unleash all the necessary forces at the decisive moment. I think I can do it. The luck factor in terms of the weather and so on isn't worth losing any sleep over.

You always turn up with your personal retinue. How important are they to you?

Juan Pablo: I have had, and still have, a very close relationship with my family - my father, my mother, my two sisters and my brother. My Uncle Diego and his wife sometimes turn up as well. My family, a few very close friends, and Connie, of course, simply like coming along to the races. And I like to have them around me, especially Connie.

Colombia with its crime rate doesn't enjoy the best reputation. But you're familiar with its good sides as well. Do you see yourself as a kind of ambassador?

Juan Pablo: I am an ambassador! I love it when I see the Colombian flags flying on the terraces. I think I can give something to my country. I'm giving the people there a reason to be happy. When I'm racing, it's as if they're paralysed. Everything really does come to a standstill over there.

How do you deal with mistakes made by others and by yourself?

Juan Pablo: It's much easier for me if it's other people's mistakes. In Formula One so much depends on how well you work together with the team. I don't place myself above the team. If somebody makes a mistake we have to analyse it, learn from it and move on. With some mistakes I really take myself to task. Once or twice at most have I said to myself, "You've done a really good job there." Normally my reaction is always that it could have been better - even if I've earned a pole position.

What's your target for 2003?

Juan Pablo: My last win goes back to September 2001 - I'm hungry. I want to win some GPs and hope that I've got the technical possibilities to do that.