Q: Gentlemen,
first of all questions to you all. Are there any particular
preparations you have made for this race? Who would like to start?
Sebastian. You have prayed for rain obviously.
Sebastian VETTEL:
Yes, successfully today. No, we will see. Nothing special really. I
have been here a couple of times and I like the circuit. It is up and
down but preparation-wise nothing special.
Q: Jenson?
Jenson BUTTON: Not
really. I’ve been spending a few days in the sun which is quite
nice before coming here. I arrived here on Tuesday to get used to the
time zone but it is really strange with the weather. Tuesday it was
cold, yesterday it was really hot and today it is raining. It is very
up and down with the conditions and it is going to be the same for
the weekend. There is a very good chance of rain but also there is
the possibility of it being dry, so it’s a tough one. It’s
the same for all of us and I am sure we will make the best out of
every situation.
Q: Rubens? A few
laps with the children?
Rubens
BARRICHELLO: I have been spending my time booking churrascarias for
friends of mine. I got into Brazil on Tuesday morning after Japan, so
just my normal life. Exercising, picking up the kids from school and
just being at home exercising nicely. It was a day off last Monday,
so we had time to stay away from Sao Paulo a little bit more which
was good.
Q: Any particular
efforts your team has been making or any modifications coming here?
SV: We had a very
good package for Singapore. If you look at the last two races we have
been very competitive even though the circuits are very different to
each other. For here we have got another couple of things in the bag.
As you have probably seen from Japan, Mark (Webber) tested another
kind of front wing, so it should be another step forward, so it
should be good.
JB: We have got a
few changes which should help us here. It should help us around a
circuit like this quite a bit. I don’t know if you’ve
noticed but in Suzuka we were very quick in sectors two and three. In
qualifying I was actually purple but the first sector we struggled
massively. Mid-speed changes of direction we really struggled and
that’s where we lost all of our time in Suzuka. But the changes
that we have got for this race should help out a little bit but also
the areas that are crucial on this type of circuit should be a good
step forward.
RB: It is good. We
know where the problem was the last few races, so we kind of
addressed the problems and the track should suit us very well. The
weather is the only thing that we should pay attention to but I am
quite optimistic for the home grand prix.
Q: All of you have
got races that you look back at and think ‘if only such and such
hadn’t happened’. Do you do that as the championship gets
tighter and tighter?
SV: It doesn’t
help. I mean, it’s done. Looking back I had five races where I
didn’t finish, so of course it doesn’t help. But we cannot
change it now, so nothing to regret. I think it is still a good
season for us, the best one we have ever had, so very positive and we
can still do it. Of course it is a couple of points in between us and
the leader but anything is possible and we are here to win.
JB: I think it is
the same for all of us. That’s the way it is over a 17 race
season. There are races which you are very happy with and other races
which you are not. As Sebastian said it is all in the past and it is
about making the most out of the next two races. There are the most
important two races for all three of us this season and I am coming
into this race looking forward to it. This is a circuit I enjoy.
After here we have Abu Dhabi which is new for all of us, so it is
going to be a challenge. But there is no point looking back. Mentally
I don’t think it is good looking back. I think it is better to
look forward and that is exactly what I am doing.
RB: Since I have
changed my brake material for Silverstone I have been very happy. In
terms of performance it has been quite good and I am just driving a
car that I think has been very fast and consistent. The season showed
ups and downs for everyone. I think Brawn is the one that when it has
been down it has still been okay. I have been very happy. The second
part of my season has been quite good and I just hope I can keep it on.
Q: Sebastian, it
is a big mountain to climb. Two wins. Surely the pressure is great or
would you say the pressure is not great at all?
SV: I mean the
only thing I can do is win. The pressure is on the two people in
front of me. For me it is pretty straightforward. You don’t have
to be a genius to work out that from now on we simply have to win the
two races and hope that those two mess it up.
Q: And after Japan
are you riding on the crest of a wave?
SV: I think so.
Both the last two races, Singapore and Japan, were very good for us.
Obviously, Singapore should have been a bit better but it is in the
past now and I am just hoping those three points are not missing in
the end. But we will see. Japan, obviously, was fantastic for us. The
car was great all weekend, so looking forward to the next two races.
Q: Jenson, has it
been car confidence? Has it been this change mid-corner or has it
been starting behind Rubens? What has been the problem over the last
few races?
JB: The last race
was obviously difficult because of the starting position and the
mistake on Saturday with the yellow flags and in Singapore the
qualifying was difficult. We were trying to find the maximum from the
car but we went a little bit too far and the car was running a bit
low and I hit the brakes and locked up. But the race pace has been
very good. I think I have got the most out of the car, what there has
been to take in the races and the pace has been good especially in
Singapore. But it is always very difficult when you are starting far
back. It is very difficult to overtake these days in F1 and every
opportunity there is to make a move I have made this season. But
starting where I did made it very difficult for me to pick up good
points. But the couple of races before that I was happy with the car,
I was happy with the balance and the results were reasonably good, so
coming into the last two I am reasonably positive. I have a good
feeling with the car and our upgrades should help us quite a bit. We
will see what happens. Sebastian is saying the pressure is on us. I
don’t think that is quite the case. It is the same for all of
us. We are all excited about the next two races. It means a lot to us
for sure. We are all fighting for the championship. It is the first
time I have been fighting for a championship in F1, same for
Sebastian and maybe the same for Rubens, so it is an exciting
situation to be in but I am the one that has got the lead.
Q: You are
team-mates but at the same time rivals with Rubens. Here you are in
his backyard with tens of thousands of his closest friends.
Aren’t you going to be the villain as it were here?
JB: No, I
don’t think so. If we were people that didn’t get on and we
hated each other’s guts I think it would be a very different
situation. We have worked well over the last four years we have been
working together and this year is no exception. Rubens beat me in
Silverstone, in my home country, and I would like to do the same to
him here. It is a nice feeling when you get beaten by your team-mate
in your own country.
RB: Not.
JB: But I think
they understand the situation and we are all fighting for something
that is far greater than we have achieved in the past. I think they
will respect that.
Q: Rubens, is
people power an advantage or a pressure? They are all expecting so
much of you and they have been thinking that for years.
RB: It has been a
long road coming to Brazil and at the beginning, feeling the pressure
but learning, more than anything, how to deal with it and changing to
get that positive energy and just using that to your advantage. I
feel so great to be here. It is really nice and like I said, for me
it is a winning year already. I put my hands into the sky to thank
for the car I have and for the wins that I have and for the chance I
have to win in Brazil. Something that I have been dreaming of for a
long, long time, so hopefully the car will be back into the
performance that we wish. The second part of the season has been a
little tough in terms of getting the performance, especially because
the Red Bulls and some other cars are going quite fast but hopefully
here I can just put everything out and go for the win as I need it
and because I want it so badly.
Q: So is wet
weather a good thing for you?
RB: The wet
weather has always been good for me. Looking at the forecast it looks
like Friday and Saturday could be quite wet and Sunday a little bit
better. That’s the first impression that we have. I think the
Red Bulls are quite fast on the wet and we could be a little bit
better in the dry but having said that it is all the same for
everyone and we have got to be prepared for the situations.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Juha
Päätalo – Financial Times Germany) Jenson, it has been
kind of a strange season. You have won six races but the last one
goes back to Turkey. Since then you have more or less kept the
distance to the other. How is it going towards the end and having not
won for a long time but still having that lead?
JB: As I said this
is not a one race series. It is 17 races and as you’ve said
I’ve kept the lead over the last few races. If you look after
Monaco I had a 14 or 16 points lead, I cannot remember what it was,
and I still have a 14 point lead now. If I knew I would have the same
lead after Monaco I would have been very happy at that point of time.
I am not in such a bad situation. That’s it.
Q: (Joris Fioriti
– APF) Would you say that you have been controlling the whole season?
JB: I have not
purposely gone out to finish in the points but not win the race, for
sure. I go out to get the best out of the car at every race that I
compete in. I have led the championship all the way through the
season, so it is a different situation to the people chasing. It has
to be. They need to be more aggressive than I am. I don’t want
to just finish in the points. That has never been my objective but
there are situations that you don’t want to put yourself into
and you can have an accident. You have got to be a bit cautious in
some areas but also in other areas you need to be aggressive,
otherwise you are not picking up points at all. I think I have had a
reasonably good balance of that.
Q: (Frederic
Ferret – L’Equipe) Sebastian, firstly how do you rate Sao
Paulo for your car and, secondly, do you think Mark could be helpful
for you in the battle for the championship with the trial he made in
Suzuka and the fact he is no longer in the race?
SV: This circuit
should suit us. You still have a lot of corners where you need the
downforce and it seems that is our strength, so we are looking
forward to it. On the other hand you don’t really know what to
expect as this year has been very much up and down. You have seen
different teams at the top. I think this weekend the teams with KERS
will be also very strong as you have got places when you a have a
steep uphill and you need the acceleration. It will be exciting to
see that. For your second question, I think first of all it is a good
thing not to have the situation they (Brawn) are facing, they have to
race each other. It is a shame for Mark that he is not any more in
the race for the title, but we are a very strong team. We are working
together hand in hand and I think if the situation should come up,
then I think he is the last one to deny any help.
Q: (Ian Parks
– The Press Association) Rubens, you announced earlier in the
week that you were in discussions with Williams and you’re also
speaking with Brawn. Is it a distraction having to discuss your
future while you’re trying to fight for the title and is it also
a disappointment that you’re having to look for another team
potentially, despite your best season in Formula One with Brawn?
RB: It was a
distraction last year when I got here and I had no jobs; that was a
distraction because it was tough going in not knowing if I could come
back, wishing that I was there all the time. So to be able to talk to
teams and just to see myself in a competitive car next year is all I
wish. My focus has been a long, long time into this season. In a way
I’m so proud that after the race in Silverstone I have kind of
turned things around a little bit and I was able to really get a lot
of speed out of the car, with the car working for me as well. So no,
I’m fine, it’s no distraction, it was really a distraction
last year to see if I had to consider it as my last race or not. I
didn’t want it to be, but things were tougher than they seemed
to be.
Q: (Andrea
Cremonesi – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Sebastian, you have used
all your eight engines; which kind of engine are you going to use
here? Have you already chosen at the previous race? It could be a handicap.
SV: I don’t
know exactly which one; one of the ones that we have left. I think
the last couple of races were good for us, because it was often wet
on the Friday, for instance Spa or Suzuka, and in the wet you have
less running, so everyone does less mileage and so did we. So we
saved mileage without paying too much of a price. So it shouldn’t
be a problem here. Interlagos has always been a circuit that in dry
conditions is improving quite a lot. On top of that, we don’t
know if it will be wet or dry, so we will see how much and how many
cars are running tomorrow. But it shouldn’t be a problem.
Q: (Joris Fioriti
– AFP) Jenson, do you think you would have been able to control
the season this way five years ago – in other words is it thanks
to your maturity or your experience that now you have been able to be
in such a good position?
JB: It’s
always a difficult question to answer because I wasn’t in this
situation five years ago. In 2004, we had a pretty good season with
BAR. We were the best of the rest after the Ferraris. In that
situation, we had nothing to lose for sure, but the consistency was
very good then. I think I got ten or eleven podiums back in ’04,
actually more than I’ve got this year so far. But for sure it
was a very different situation, because, as I said, I had nothing to
lose. I could really go all out because I knew there was no real
chance of taking the championship, we could be very aggressive in
every race. It’s difficult to know if I would have been the same
five years ago. Nobody really knows. I think that people are at their
peak at different points in their career. Lewis won the World
Championship in his second year in Formula One which you wouldn’t
think most drivers could do, so it’s your experience through
other formulae and the situation that every single person is in is
different. For me, this feels like the right time, for sure, but
I’m going to say that&ldots;
Q: (MC) You talked
about aggression and caution just there; how much has that balance
changed this year from the start to now, given the situation?
JB: I think
it’s when you’ve got a reasonable lead, you think that you
need to be a little bit cautious in certain situations. I think you
need to have a balance. For sure you can’t just drive round
waving people past, hoping that you’re not going to crash. There
has to be a balance there and I think that normally with racing there
is anyway, none of us want to crash at turn one, we all want to get
through and have a good result, but it’s just making sure that
you’re not doing anything stupid and maybe a little bit out of
character. It’s nothing extreme, it’s just different than
maybe I would have thought five or six years ago.
Q: (MC) But have
you been aware of that balance changing throughout this season, as
it’s progressed?
JB: Probably a
little bit more, I think, when you get a bigger lead, I think it
changes a little bit. It’s not suddenly night and day, it’s
the smallest of margins, but as I’ve shown in a few races of
late that I’m not just going to sit back and hope for the best
result. For example Monza with Heikki (Kovalainen), with (Robert)
Kubica at the last race. You need to make the moves when you can and
that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
Q: (Thierry
Wilmotte – Le Soir) Rubens, you’ve experienced a lot of bad
luck in your races at Interlagos. Firstly, are you thinking about
this bad luck this year before the race, and secondly, what are your
best and worst memories of this Grand Prix?
RB: Well, first of
all I don’t believe in bad luck. I just think that this is&ldots;
there was a famous phrase from a driver saying that ‘the more I
work, the more luck I have.’ It depends on your work and all the
problems that I’ve had here in Brazil have sort of been human
failures. I’ve actually gone off a few times, so for me it’s
not bad luck that I finish a race without fuel in the car. I
don’t believe that is bad luck, so I’m fine. I think in
life we have what we plan or what we dream, so I have all the
possibilities to have the best race of my career here and now and
that’s what I’m prepared to do. Obviously, I don’t
live in the past and like I said, I don’t care about the results
in the past. I care about what I can change and maybe next year you
come here and you see that it’s very positive and then you won
the race and this and that, so for me it’s more on those terms.
I have plenty of
good memories here, because, if you remember, I qualified in the top
three with the Stewart and I remember all the people coming down the
tribunes. I finished on the podium with the Ferrari. I have plenty;
sure, I wish I had won here already but I have really good memories,
and I feel that I drive well on this circuit, so it’s just a
matter of time for someone who works.
Q: (Alan Baldwin
– Reuters) Rubens, you’ve known Felipe Massa for a very
long time. It’s seems that since he’s been on the sidelines
looking at Formula One from a distance he’s become a lot more
outspoken, he’s been talking about his new team-mate recently,
saying that he suspects he knew more than he’s been letting on
about Singapore. He’s been saying that he was robbed of the
championship, he’s been saying that Jenson might bottle the
championship. I wonder if you think that he’s changed at all
since his absence?
RB: No, I
don’t think he has. I think he’s been the same person and
all my wishes, when I was at the hospital, were that he was the same
guy. And after I saw him with my own eyes and I saw that he was the
same, I wished that he could drive the same way, and he went to
Fiorano and did that. From all the people that I’ve spoken to
and to himself, it looked like he got into the car and on the third
lap he was on the pace. But there is one fact that in Formula One if
you’re not travelling with everyone all the time and not hearing
what the same people are talking about, you just get different ideas
and maybe you’re flying on your own ideas. He’s been out
for a month and then he comes back in and talks about something and
it becomes a lot more important, so it’s not like what we hear
every fifteen days or sometimes every week, we talk about the same
things and we’re prepared to talk about the same things that you
guys are talking about for the whole week. So maybe that’s what
causes us to be so much more&ldots; for us to give it so much more
importance to what he says, but for me it’s just the fact that
he’s been out and not living the world that we’re living in.
Q: (Livio Oricchio
– O Estado de Sao Paulo) Jenson, do you feel anything different
in yourself when you wake up and know that this weekend you can be
World Champion, and, if it’s easier to control your emotions
when you are inside the cockpit?
JB: Well, I woke
up very happy this morning. I had some pretty good dreams. So I woke
up with a smile on my face, sweating, yes. No, I woke up happy and
looking forward to the weekend. I don’t think it adds to
pressure, knowing that you could win the World Championship that
weekend. I think it adds to the excitement, for sure. It’s not a
negative, it’s a positive. I’m excited about the weekend,
as I’m sure these two are. Inside the car? I don’t know. I
haven’t got in it yet. On the way in, I didn’t have any
unusual excitement, but we’ll see tomorrow. The exciting thing
about this weekend is the weather: it could be wet, it could be dry,
so it’s going to be important to make the right decisions over
the weekend and not make it too complicated.
Q: (Alan Baldwin
– Reuters) If I could just ask Rubens and Jenson: leaving aside
your own personal battle, it looks almost inevitable that you’re
going to win the Constructors’ Championship this weekend. I
wonder if you could just say a few words on just how extraordinary
that is for a team in its first season, given what happened in
January and February.
JB: It’s an
amazing story and it is a Hollywood movie, for sure. If it happens.
It’s not a hundred percent yet. I would like to say that it is
but it’s not. Taking us out of it, not talking about ourselves,
I think the team has been through a lot this winter and it’s not
just whether they could compete in Formula One, it’s whether
they had a job that could pay for their kids’ school and what
have you. It was a very difficult situation for them over the winter
and I think a lot of them found it very tough but they had good
leadership and that’s what counted and it gave them hope and it
gave them a positive outlook for the future. In the end, we got the
deal done and we were able to come racing. I think when everyone saw
the car drive for the first time in Barcelona they were very
surprised by the pace of the car. They had obviously worked very,
very hard over the winter but nothing went wrong. Everything that
could have gone wrong didn’t. It was perfect, a perfect test.
The bodywork – everything fitted together just so nicely, there
was no burning bodywork after the first running in practice, the
reliability of everything, it was just a perfect first test and you
don’t get those tests unless the season is going to be good. So
if we come away with the Constructors’ Championship this season
in the first year of Brawn GP, I know it’s not a completely new
team and there are a lot of very experienced people in the team, but
it will be a very emotional moment for everyone, as it was in
Australia when we finished one-two. It’s the first time I’ve
seen Ross (Brawn) speechless and if it is going to happen here or in
Abu Dhabi I think it will the same situation. Ross has achieved so
much in this sport, but to win a championship with his own team is
far greater than what he’s achieved in the past, I think. And
that goes for everyone within the team. They’ve worked so hard
with this team, whatever its name was in the past, they’ve
worked very, very hard and they deserve whatever we achieve this season.
Q: (Sarah Holt
– BBC Sport) Similar question to Alan’s: you were talking
about the team effort from Brawn, and in that sense, Jenson, would
you be able to comment if the title went to Rubens, and Rubens, if it
went to Jenson would you able to comment on why it would be
deserving, because you guys have both been battling for a long time
and I guess both of you would like to win the title?
JB: Wow,
that’s an interesting question. If Rubens won the championship I
would absolutely hate him! We come here for one thing only and
that’s to win the World Championship. That’s our aim in
life since we were an eight year old kid or even younger. Your aim is
to be the best and to win a championship in Formula One over a
season. That’s what we’re all here to do. We are working
well together and I think we’re good friends, aren’t we?
RB: Yeah, just here.
JB: Just a little
bit. But you come here to win with very competitive people, and if
Rubens won I would be very disappointed, for sure. But I would also
respect the fact that he did a better job over the 17 races and I
would also respect the fact that he’s worked as hard as I have
or maybe harder in that case and he’s the better driver over
those 17 races.
RB: I think it
makes the situation a bit more comfortable because, like Jenson said,
we haven’t won the Constructors’ just yet but I believe
that it’s very, very close and it should be done, and hopefully
this weekend. And by doing that, we have this feeling that we’ve
both worked for that, and it’s what we’re giving to the
team and the team gave us. So in the other championship, we just have
to work for ourselves to win, like Jenson said, we don’t want to
lose the chance. I feel that particularly it’s my very first
chance, that I really have the chance to&ldots; it was put this way,
somebody gave me the chance to go for the title and win myself. So
for me it feels comfortable that we are working hard to beat each
other, but it’s comfortable for the fact that we both work very
well together for the Constructors, so the team should be very happy
and proud with that.
Bridgestone
Bridgestone heads
to Sao Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix on October 16-18, where the
medium and super soft compound Potenzas will be put to use around the
undulating anti-clockwise Interlagos circuit.
This is the
penultimate race of the season and the final time that this
allocation will be seen. The combination of medium and super soft has
been seen previously this year in Australia, China, Bahrain and Germany.
Hirohide Hamashima
- Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, said:
What are the
challenges of Interlagos?
"This is a
very challenging and exciting circuit. The first corner comes at the
end of a long straight, and it goes downhill, meaning that finding
the correct braking point is difficult. We expect to see some
overtaking and brake locking here, and this could damage the tyres.
The circuit surface often starts very dirty and we see a lot of
improvement over the weekend. As we saw last year, the weather can
also be a very big challenge."
What are the
primary tyre performance considerations?
"Interlagos
is a circuit where high grip is a priority. We have the stiffness gap
in our allocation, so teams will have to work out the best set-ups
for both tyres, and there should be many strategy considerations and
possibilities. Traditionally we would see a lot of graining here, due
to the initially dirty surface and the twisty infield section,
however this will be less of a factor this season, due to slick tyres
being more resistant to graining relative to the grooved tyres we
used before."
Brawn GP
The Brazilian
Grand Prix, Round 16 of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship,
takes place on Sunday 18 October at the Autodromo José Carlos
Pace in the city of Sao Paulo.
Known as
Interlagos from its location between the two man-made lakes that
provide water and electricity to Sao Paulo, the track first hosted
the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1973. The 4.309km circuit is the highest
of the year at 800m above sea level and one of only four
anti-clockwise circuits on the current Formula One calendar.
The track’s
inner city location, combined with the passion of the Brazilian fans,
makes Interlagos one of the most atmospheric venues of the year and
the involvement of Brawn GP’s local hero Rubens Barrichello in
the title fight will only add to that.
Brawn GP will be
sponsored by the Brazilian brewing company Cervejaria
Petrópolis for their home race with the Itaipava and TNT
Energy Drink brands featuring on the Brawn-Mercedes car and the
helmets of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button.
*ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL
Q. What are the
main challenges of the Interlagos circuit?
“With the
Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships still to be
decided, the Brazilian Grand Prix should be a fascinating and
exciting weekend for the fans at the circuit and viewers around the
world. Interlagos provides a great challenge for the teams and
drivers with the high altitude location and the notoriously bumpy
surface as two of the key considerations when setting up the cars for
the weekend. The reduced atmospheric pressure causes a loss in engine
power and aerodynamic performance while the cars have to run with an
increased ride height to cope with the bumps which are particularly
noticeable in the braking area for Turn 4, the Descida do Lago.
Interlagos is a great venue and the lap is characterised by long
straights with flowing left-hand corners and a twisty infield
section. The changes in elevation give the circuit an almost
three-dimensional feel and the electric atmosphere from the Brazilian
fans always makes for a spectacular occasion. The weather has been
known to play its part in races at Interlagos over the years so we
will be keeping a close eye on the forecast for the weekend. Brazil
will be an important race for the team and our drivers and we’re
looking forward to getting the track action underway.”
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Q. Are you looking
forward to your home Grand Prix at Interlagos?
“The
Brazilian Grand Prix is always a special weekend for me and I am very
proud of my home race. I was born very close to Interlagos and used
to visit the circuit as a young boy and began my karting career there
when I was six years old. I really enjoy having my family and friends
around for the weekend and it’s fantastic to race in front of
the Brazilian fans and receive so much support over the weekend. The
circuit has become almost like a second home to me over the years but
it still retains a real sense of challenge. Our car should suit the
layout of the track this year and you really need to have full
confidence in your set-up to maximise the quick corners, the tight
infield section and the bumpy surface. Interlagos has some great
corners such as the Curva do Laranjinha and there are real overtaking
opportunities into the S do Senna at the start of the lap and under
braking for Descida do Lago at the end of the back straight. I will
be giving it my all this weekend to achieve the best possible result
here in Brazil and hope the fans enjoy a fantastic weekend of racing.”
*JENSON BUTTON
Q. What are your
thoughts ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend?
“This year
will be the first time for a while that we’ve been to Sao Paulo
for the Brazilian Grand Prix when it hasn’t been the final race
of the season but it’s still going to be such an exciting
weekend. There’s always a great atmosphere at Interlagos and the
Brazilian fans are so passionate about motor racing and particularly
Formula One. Interlagos is quite an unusual circuit and it’s an
enjoyable challenge for the drivers. The anti-clockwise direction,
changes in elevation and bumpy surface all keep your attention fully
focused and the high-speed left-hand corners add an extra physical
challenge. It’s an important race for me and for the team in
terms of the Championships and we will be working hard to get the
best results possible from the weekend. It’s going to be a
challenge but one that we are all looking forward to.”
Toro Rosso
Notes From Faenza:
Build-up To Brazil
Jaime’s
chassis had to be shipped back to Faenza after the Japanese Grand
Prix, unlike the rest of the freight which went straight to Brazil.
The chassis has
now been repaired and will be shipped out to Sao Paulo to be the
spare one for the remaining two races, while Jaime will use another
one for the race. The chassis Jaime will use is identical in
specification to the previous one. The repair involved a lot of
work&ldots;and a lot of money! However, we have been able to restock
all parts, so we go to Brazil in good shape in terms of the equipment
available to us.
Despite the
crashes in Japan, the team took several positives away from the
Suzuka weekend: both drivers, Sébastien especially, showed a
very good pace, getting into Q3 for the second time this season and
overall, with Jaime getting into Q2 for the first time ever, it was
our best qualifying result of the season.
The important
thing now is to continue this trend over the last two races. Much of
the improvement came from the technical upgrade introduced in Japan,
even though it has to be admitted that the characteristics of the
Suzuka track suited our car very well.
Equally
encouraging is the fact that Sébastien proved adept at
learning a new circuit very quickly, given the very limited amount of
free practice time spent in the dry. If he can maintain this level,
it will be a great help for him and the team in coming races and
represented an obvious step forward in his learning curve.
This weekend? The
Interlagos track is quite quick, but it does not feature so many of
the high speed corners that suit the STR4 so well. However, the
updates introduced recently should have a positive effect in Brazil too.
Tyres will be an
interesting factor this weekend, running the Bridgestone Supersoft
and Medium compounds. With ambient temperatures quite low in Sao
Paulo at the moment – around 20ºC – and possibly cool
track temperatures, because of the high chance of rain, it will be
interesting to see how these two tyres work.
In the cold, the
Prime should struggle to get up to temperature, while on the other
hand, past experience shows that the Option actually works better the
hotter it gets!
Red Bull
Seb Looks Ahead To
Sao Paulo
Following his win
in Japan, Sebastian travels to the Brazilian circuit where he battled
through the rain to claim fourth place in last year’s race. We
caught up with him to ask about Suzuka, Sao Paulo and shaving&ldots;
Now the dust has
settled, how did the victory in Japan feel?
A win always feels
fantastic. To win in Japan is very special because of the fans. I got
goosebumps when I saw how many fans were left at the grandstands and
cheered for me. On top of that it is such a special circuit.
How does it rate
compared to your other three victories?
Every single
victory has the sweet smell of success. They are all great!
There's a lot of
travelling in a short space of time between Suzuka and Sao Paulo,
have you had any time to relax or has it all been sleeping and training?
It has been a lot
of sweating this week so far - cycling, tennis etc. but due to
travelling through different time zones I have to give myself a bit
of time to relax as well.
You drove a hard
race last year in Sao Paulo with a great result for Toro Rosso - is
Interlagos a circuit you're looking forward to competing on?
Yes I am looking
forward to go to Sao Paulo. The circuit is great, the fans happy and
cheerful and the city offers nice restaurants. For now we are looking
forward for the last two races, the Championship is still open; we
will try to do our best and try to win the last races! It’s a
long way but we are here to fight.
Have you shaved
since Sunday?
No.
Mark Looks Ahead
To Brazil
After a cruel
weekend in Suzuka, Mark is looking forward to the passionate crowd
and undulating track of Interlagos&ldots; and some points on the board.
“Although
I’ve yet pull off a good result in Brazil, I enjoy driving
there. As a team, we’ve had a lot of ‘firsts’ this
year, so I’m looking to having another first in Brazil by
getting a good result there.
“It’s
always a fantastic atmosphere, especially when the Brazilian drivers
are towards the front of the grid. Felipe’s been there during
the last few years and Rubens was there in the past in the Ferrari
and now he may well be back there again with the Brawn.
“The crowd
are always great and it’s very intimate little circuit, which
has a lot of detail. It’s one where we expect our car to do very
well. It’s good to go there, there’s a lot of history with
all the past famous drivers, such as Senna, a lot of quality has came
out of there, so it’s a good place to go.
“It’s an
undulating track, the cars do a lot of climbing and then you break
downhill in a few areas there too, which is good. The weather can
play a role there; it can rain there pretty hard, so you have to be
ready for everything.
“The team
have done a good job in recovering from tough weekends in Monza and
Valencia. We looked much better in Singapore, which was a good
indication that the rest of the season should go well. We always knew
we’d be fast in Suzuka, but we now have the belief that we can
be strong at all the remaining tracks, so we should be able to see
the year off in a good way.
“I’m on
the hunt for some points because I missed a few with the
drive-through penalty in Spa and then at the last two races –
Suzuka in particular was a tough weekend for me – so I’m
looking forward to getting back on the scoreboard again.’
Force India
The Brazilian
Grand Prix held from 16 – 18 October will be the penultimate
race of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship. Held at the
classic Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city,
it usually produces a charged, scintillating race that can see
championship hopes fulfilled or dashed.
The Force India
Formula One Team will be looking forward to this event following an
ultimately disappointing Japanese Grand Prix in which Adrian Sutil
and Tonio Liuzzi finished just out of the points. With Interlagos
being a low to medium downforce track the team hopes to capitalise on
the strong performance of the VJM02 on this circuit configuration and
add to its World Championship points’ total.
Team Q&A
Dr Vijay Mallya,
chairman and team principal
There are just two
races left in the championship now – what will the aim be for
this final part of the year?
We will be giving
it everything we have. Brazil should suit us, our car has performed
well on tracks with a similar configuration, and now we’ve got
the taste for points we want to get some more. BMW are 11 points
ahead of us in the constructors’ championship so if Tonio and
Adrian push hard we could at least close that gap. It’s going to
be difficult but we have everything to gain and nothing to lose by
making this our aim.
Have you been
satisfied with the team’s performance during the double header
in Singapore and Japan?
We expected it to
be very tough in Singapore but we had high hopes for the Japanese
Grand Prix. To a certain extent we got there as we qualified well,
ran towards the front of the field and raced with larger teams.
However of course we missed out on points again so ultimately it was
frustrating we could not capitalise on this. Based on this form I am
however very optimistic we can make up ground in Brazil. Adrian and
Tonio both know the track and the car is at its peak so I’m
confident we should again be Q2 or higher and again racing for the points.
Driver Q&A
Adrian Sutil (car
20, VJM02/01)
How did you feel
about the results of the Japanese Grand Prix?
I’m actually
pretty disappointed with the results of the race as I really thought
this was our chance to get some more points. All weekend it was
looking good, from practice through to qualifying and it was so good
to be back at the front in qualifying. The penalty didn’t help
but I still thought that we could have got into the top six.
Unfortunately the coming together with Heikki [Kovalainen] early on
really compromised the result but I had a good battle with Fisichella
so again we showed we are competitive.
What are your
thoughts looking forward to Brazil?
Japan was a bit of
a missed opportunity so I’m definitely looking forward to
getting to Brazil. Interlagos is a great track, not that long, but
with a lot of camber and undulation that makes it a bit like a
rollercoaster – particularly with the bumps. There’s a
twisty section and then that long, uphill straight that needs a
set-up somewhere between Spain and Belgium so there’s a chance
we could perform well there. I’m feeling confident about going
well there.
Tonio Liuzzi (car
21, VJM02/04)
How are you
looking forward to the Brazilian Grand Prix?
I’m
definitely optimistic about this next race in Brazil. Japan was
pretty tough because of the rain and the lack of track time on
Saturday due to our gearbox problem, so we were always fighting an
uphill battle. I am now really looking forward to Brazil. I like the
circuit and I’ve been pretty fast there in the past so with the
combination of this confidence and the car performance I think we
could be really competitive. I’m looking forward to being in a
strong position.
And how do you
feel about Interlagos as a track?
It’s a good
circuit, perhaps not one of my favourites, but it has a lot of up and
downhill sections with a lot of banking so it’s interesting to
drive. The Brazilian crowd is also wonderful and the atmosphere
pretty much unique. It’s a fantastic event.
Force India
Brazilian Grand Prix points of note:
Although Adrian
races under a German licence and holds a German passport, he is half
South American on his father’s side. Dad Jorge Sutil was born in
Uruguay and moved to Germany to play violin with the Munich
Philharmonic orchestra. Adrian speaks fluent Spanish and some fans
from Uruguay are likely to make the short journey up to Sao Paulo to
support him.
The Japanese GP
was Adrian’s 50th Grand Prix. He made his debut at the 2007
Australian Grand Prix. So far he has scored five points, secured one
fastest lap (Italy 2009) and has started on the front row once
(Belgium 2009).
Tonio has raced in
two Brazilian Grands Prix, finishing 16th in 2006 and 13th in 2007.
Dominic Harlow,
chief engineer :
Interlagos is the
third anti-clockwise circuit in the calendar, and situated in the
city of Sao Paulo around 800m above sea level. This altitude means a
normal atmospheric pressure of around 930mb and so a loss of nearly
10% of an F1 cars aerodynamic and engine performance.
The layout
features a relatively tight infield section with gradients unsighting
some of the corners, for example the double right Ferradura, combined
with a long curved flat-out section uphill from Juncao, probably the
most critical corner on the lap.
It’s quite
testing mechanically as the circuit can be bumpy and the apex speeds
low in places, but sectors 1 and 3 require a lower drag set-up
between somewhere like Barcelona and Spa. It’s always an
exciting race with a football stadium atmosphere, and we’re
looking forward to another race where we believe the VJM02 should
perform well.
Ferrari
Brazilian GP - A
good circuit for Scuderia
And so we come to
the penultimate round of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix. That
in itself is an unusual statement, as the race at Interlagos has
brought the curtain down on the Formula 1 calendar every year since
2006. In the past three years, the fact this was the final round has
added to the buzz, but even so, the current championship situation
means that the weekend should provide the usual Brazilian mix of
tension, drama and excitement.
In the past few
years, Felipe Massa has been very much at the centre of this
excitement, so it is appropriate that, for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro,
this week started under the sign of the Brazilian flag, when our
driver came to Maranello and on Monday, got behind the wheel of a
Formula 1 car for the first time since his accident during qualifying
for the Hungarian Grand Prix back in July. Running a privately owned
F2007, fitted with tyres used in GP2, the session went well, despite
being interrupted by heavy rain. “The moment I got back in the
car, it was exactly like before the accident, as if nothing had
happened,” said Felipe. “It was important to demonstrate to
the people who work with me that nothing has changed, that I can be
competitive and that I can contribute to what will be the new car and
to next year’s fight for the title. I knew that everything was
95% alright and after the test I can even cancel out the last 5% of
doubt I had.” Felipe’s absence from the cockpit creates an
unusual statistic in that this will be the first time since 1999 that
Ferrari has not had a Brazilian driver lining up on the Interlagos grid.
Felipe will be
back home in Sao Paulo to support the Scuderia this weekend and
although he will of course not be racing at the track where he stood
on the podium for the last three years, including two wins, he will
get closer to the chequered flag than any of the drivers actually
competing in the race, as he has been asked by the organisers to wave
it at the end of the Grand Prix. Having returned home from the Far
East and Japan, part of the Scuderia has already made the journey
west to Brazil, with the remainder arriving in the next few days. The
cars and equipment were flown directly to Sao Paulo from Japan, after
the race cars had been rebuilt in the Suzuka paddock on the Sunday
night after the race.
The Interlagos
circuit has been good to Ferrari in past years and has provided the
backdrop to some significant moments for the Prancing Horse: 2006 saw
a fantastic win from Felipe Massa, dressed for the occasion in
overalls bearing the Brazilian national colours. That day, Michael
Schumacher did not make the podium, but emotions ran high as it was
the German’s last F1 race. The following year, it was Kimi
Raikkonen who clinched the win and the world title, with Felipe
joining him on the podium in second place. Last year produced
possibly the most exciting race and championship finish of all time,
when Felipe crossed the line as winner of the race and for a short
moment as winner of the Drivers’ title, only for Lewis Hamilton
to snatch it away in the final few hundred metres.
While the
atmosphere at Interlagos will surely be as intense and emotional as
ever, Ferrari arrives here in a very different situation to those
past years, fighting for the more modest aim of finishing third in
the Constructors’ championship. Perhaps the team can take heart
by looking back to 2005, another difficult season for the team, as
back then, the cars were more competitive here than at other tracks.
This year, when again the team is struggling to match the quickest
cars, the F60 will benefit from the use of KERS, which should make a
significant difference on the uphill sections to the main straight,
as well as the shorter back straight. However, as other teams
continue to develop their current car, the challenge facing the
Scuderia, whose technical focus has long since shifted to 2010, gets
ever tougher.
The famous
anti-clockwise track demands a large degree of compromise in terms of
car set-up, as it is fast in parts, but sufficient downforce is also
required to deal with the slower middle sector. However, in order to
improve the chances of overtaking and defending position, maintaining
a good top speed level is important for Sunday afternoon. A further
factor for the engineers to take into account is that the circuit is
around 800 metres above sea level which saps power from the engines.
At 4.3 kilometres in length, this is a very short track: last year,
Massa’s pole winning lap time was a very short
1’12”368, which means the qualifying times are invariably
much closer here than elsewhere. When one considers that close lap
times have been a season-long feature, it could be a case of the
difference between a place on the front three or back three rows of
the grid being decided by hundredths of a second, therefore a perfect
lap will be required to ensure a chance of delivering a reasonable
result the following afternoon.
In recent races,
Bridgestone have brought tyres that stand next to one another in the
list of compounds, but for this race, the supply reverts to the
previous practice of bringing two types that are significantly
different and here the choice will be between the
“Supersoft” and the “Medium” which has
occasionally proved problematic this year, especially in the opening
round in Melbourne, although less so in Bahrain and at the
Nurburgring. The Supersoft could come under severe strain because of
the characteristics of the track, which would then impact on
strategic choices regarding when to run it and for how many laps
during the race. The weather could also play its part, as at this
time of year, almost every day sees rain at Interlagos, although its
time and duration is hard to predict.
Between them, our
two drivers have two wins and five further Sao Paulo podiums. In
fact, they are very closely linked in one instance: the 2003 race
ended in rain-induced chaos and after the chequered flag, Kimi was
declared the winner. It was only a few days later that it was decided
there had been an error and that the real winner was Giancarlo
Fisichella, then driving for Jordan. In an amusing ceremony on the
grid at the following round in Imola, the two drivers duly swapped
their second and first placed trophies. Kimi, who will celebrate his
thirtieth birthday this Saturday, won for real in 2007, with three
second places and one third since 2003, while Giancarlo finished
second in 2000.
Raikkonen:
"A place on the podium as a present”
Traditionally the
Interlagos circuit has always been favourable to Ferrari and we
really hope that this will be true also this year, although we know
that it will be difficult. The crucial point will be the aerodynamic
downforce, but at the same time it’s important to have a stable
car while braking. The last corner is very important, because it
leads onto the long uphill straight leading to the main straight: the
KERS should help us a lot there.
There’s no
doubt that this track is connected to the most wonderful memory of my
career. Two years ago I won the Drivers’ title here in Brazil,
but I did well many more times, gaining five times a place on the
podium. Usually Brazil is the last race on the calendar, but this
year we’ve one more, the one in Abu Dhabi. I really like the
classic circuits like Spa and Suzuka. Maybe Interlagos is not as
technical like the other two, but it’s very demanding
nevertheless. We’re driving anti-clockwise, which is not very
common and the weather conditions can change in a second.
My goal is to gain
a place on the podium, which might not be easy. Every race things are
more and more difficult for us, because the other teams continue
improving their cars, while we have been using the same car for a
couple of months. We have to be perfect and benefit from eventual
weak moments of our competitors
I’ll
celebrate my 30th birthday on Saturday. A place on the podium would
be a great present, but as I just said, also our competitors have to
contribute to it somehow. We’ll try to keep the third position
in the Constructors’ standings. For my birthday celebrations
I’ll wait until I’m back in Europe to celebrate with my
friends and my family.
Williams
The third
anti-clockwise circuit of the campaign, after Istanbul Park and
Singapore, Interlagos features a long, long uphill left-hander that
places a tremendous strain on drivers’ necks – and tyres.
In ordinary circumstances, this is yet another two-stop race: McLaren
gambled on a three-stop strategy when trying to revive Lewis
Hamilton’s title hopes in 2007 and the Englishman dropped more
than half a minute to the pace-setting Ferraris.
Hamilton and many
others subsequently made unscheduled third stops in 2008 because of a
torrential downpour, almost a daily occurrence at this time of year
in São Paulo.
Talking technical
Car dynamics
Average turn angle
indicates the average angle of a circuit’s corners expressed in
degrees. The higher the average turn angle, the more acute the
corners in the circuit’s configuration and the greater
propensity for understeer to compromise lap time. Average turn angle
at Interlagos is 1220 - which is above average as the second sector
of the lap comprises a mix of long, high speed corners.
The end of
straight (EOS) speed at Interlagos was 305kp/h in 2008. The Brazilian
track ranks as having the 8th highest EOS speed on the 2009 calendar,
and this is one indicator of the wing level typically selected to
optimise the downforce/drag ratio. Meanwhile, Interlagos also has the
7th highest average lap speed of any of the tracks on the calendar.
Pitlane &
refuelling strategy
The pitlane length
and profile contribute to the determination of the optimum fuel
strategy. The pitlane loss at Interlagos is approximately 21.0
seconds, which is the 8th most penalising pitlane in the
Championship. To complete a normalised distance of 5km around
Interlagos requires 2.29kg of fuel against an average of 2.42kg per
5km across all circuits this season, ranking the circuit as the 3rd
least demanding in terms of fuel consumption.
Safety car
Another key
contributor to the determination of race strategy is the likelihood
of safety car deployments, which are influenced by weather
considerations, the availability of clear run-off areas that allow
racing to continue while recovery takes place and the circuit
profile, especially the character of the entry and exit into turn one
at the start of the race. There have been eight safety car
deployments since 2000, so the circuit’s character is very
likely to induce a safety car period.
Temperature,
pressure & humidity
As an example, it
is a long observed tradition that drivers arriving at Interlagos
complain about a lack of grip and an absence of engine power. Having
become acquainted with a baseline of engine and aerodynamic
performance during the season, the climb to 750 metres above sea
level for one of the final races can, courtesy of the reduction in
air density, rob a Formula One car of engine power, aerodynamic
performance and cooling.
The losses can
come close to double digit percentages and thus have a very real
impact on car performance.
Air density is a
factor of the prevailing ambient temperature, which varies most
significantly by season, air pressure which is closely linked to
altitude and, to a much smaller degree, by humidity. Thus if races
are run at the same time each year, the factor that tends to have the
greatest bearing on air density is elevation. Interlagos is 750m
above sea level and has the lowest average pressure (927 mbar) of any
race venue in the 2009 Championship. As a consequence, the
circuit’s ambient characteristics will have the largest
reduction of engine power of any race this year.
What the drivers say
Thoughts on the
Japanese Grand Prix
Nico “It was
a strange weekend in Japan. The weather on Friday made things quite
tricky as we didn’t have much time to prepare the car, then all
the incidents during qualifying made for an interesting session as well.
What happened in
Q2 obviously affected qualifying for me, but then I benefitted from
all of the grid penalties. In the end, I started from 7th and ended
the race in P5, collecting more points which I was pleased about
after Singapore.”
Kazuki “Japan
was just disappointing for me really. I really went there hoping to
score points as I was back home at Suzuka in front of my home fans
but it wasn’t to be.”
What we did after
Japan Kazuki “Work didn’t stop when the race finished for
me. I went straight back to Tokyo on the Monday for a driver
appearance for AT&T in the evening, then I had another event on
Tuesday for Accenture. Marketing duties ended on Wednesday and I have
spent the week in Japan with my friends and family as I get to see so
little of them during the season. I’ll travel straight to Brazil
from here, so it’s been a long trip!”
Nico ”I went
straight back to Monaco after Japan. As it was a back-to-back with
Singapore, it was a long trip away so it was nice to get back home.
I’m heading out to Brazil a little earlier, on Monday, as I have
a driver day for Allianz in Brazil on Tuesday.”
About Brazil
Kazuki “Brazil
is very different to Japan so it’ll be a complete change going
there next week! I like it though. The fans are always amazing;
they’re really passionate about Formula One, so it’s nice
to experience the atmosphere. On Wednesday I’m with AT&T, so
hopefully I’ll get to experience some proper Brazilian culture
with them before the weekend begins.”
*Nico “I love
Brazil. It’s such a vibrant country and São Paulo is
cool. It’s normally the last race of the year so there are a few
parties, but I imagine it will be different this year now it’s
not the last race on the calendar. Either way, it’s a great
place to have a race so I’m looking forward to it.”
Interlagos from a
technical perspective
Kazuki
“Interlagos is a fairly challenging track because it’s so
bumpy and goes in an anti-clockwise direction, but it’s really
exciting to drive. There are some good overtaking opportunities,
which is good because the grid will no doubt be tight because of the
shorter lap time and it’s important to qualify well. We’ll
have to do lots of work on Friday to find the right set-up and
achieve a strong mechanical balance to cope with the track’s
layout, but I’m looking forward to it.”
*Nico
“Interlagos is a really fun track to drive as it has a bit of
everything – gradient changes, a complete mix of corners and it
runs in an anti-clockwise direction which presents a different
challenge for the drivers, especially for our neck muscles. Last year
wasn’t so great for us because of the rain at the start of the
race which left us towards the rear of the field, so I really hope we
go there and do well this time.”
Renault
The Renault F1
Team prepares for this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.
Fernando Alonso:
“Interlagos always has an amazing atmosphere”
*Fernando, after a
disappointing race in Japan, how is the mood of the team ahead of the
Brazilian Grand Prix?
Although we
didn’t get the maximum from the race in Japan, the mood in the
team is still very positive. We know that the car is quick, but we
were just unlucky in qualifying, which was a shame as I think I could
have scored some points if I had started the race in a better
position. We know that we have a very tough battle in the
championship against Williams and BMW and so any points I can score
in the final two races will be very important.
What memories do
you have of racing in Brazil?
Interlagos is a
circuit that will always be very special to me because I won both my
world titles with Renault there. It’s one of the most enjoyable
races of the year because the fans are so passionate about Formula
One and there is an amazing atmosphere all weekend.
Talk us through
the challenge of racing at Interlagos...
The track surface
is usually very bumpy so you need a car that can ride the bumps. As
the circuit is anti-clockwise, it’s more demanding for the
drivers because there are several long left hand corners, which put
high g-forces on your neck. To find the right set-up is not easy as
there are quick corners, slow corners and a very long straight. The
secret of a good lap-time is to have an efficient aero package and a
car with good mechanical grip for the middle section of the lap.
Romain Grosjean:
“Interlagos will be a great experience”
Romain, after five
races, how are you finding life in Formula One?
I’m just as
happy as I was when I made my debut in Valencia in August. Being a
Formula One driver has always been my dream and each time I get in
the car still feels very special.
Interlagos will be
another new experience – are you looking forward to it?
Yes, I’m
really excited about racing in Brazil and I don’t want the
season to end. Interlagos is probably not the easiest circuit, but
it’s a famous track and driving there will be a great experience
for me.
How do you prepare
for a new circuit?
There are two
aspects to my preparation for Brazil. Firstly, because Interlagos is
anti-clockwise, I have done lots of training, especially on my neck,
to prepare for the physical demands of the track. Also, as I have
never driven there before, I have been watching lots of videos to
learn the circuit layout. I plan to arrive in Sao Paulo at the start
of the week so I can walk the track and experience it for myself.
What are your aims
for the weekend?
My objectives are
to continue learning about Formula One and to gain experience so that
I can improve and be as close to Fernando as possible. Hopefully I
can have a trouble-free race, the car will be competitive, and I can
score some points for the team.
*Bob Bell: “We
will take an aggressive approach to the end of the season”
Bob, after the
podium in Singapore, the team was out of luck in Japan. Sum up the
weekend for us...
It was
disappointing that we came away without any points, especially as
Fernando drove a very strong and aggressive race to make up six
places. Ultimately we were hampered by the problems we encountered in
qualifying, which meant Fernando started back in 16th place. Despite
missing out on points, the team still did an excellent job and we can
be reasonably satisfied that we got as much out of the race as we
could given where we started. Our focus is now on the next couple of
races and I believe that if we can qualify well, we can convert that
performance into points.
The team faces a
close fight in the constructors’ championship – chasing
Williams and defending against BMW. Does that alter the approach to
the final couple of races?
I don’t think
so. We go to every race determined to win and at the very least
aiming to finish on the podium, and we’re not going to alter our
fundamental approach by being defensive to try and protect our
position. The only way that we can come out on top relative to both
those teams is to take an aggressive approach and try to maximise our
finishing positions.
Interlagos is
renowned as a bumpy and challenging track for the cars and the
drivers – what’s the secret to going well there?
It’s a
demanding track for drivers as it’s anti-clockwise which puts a
lot of demands on them physically. In terms of the car, we will run
with quite a lot of downforce and it’s important to have a
well-balanced car with good stability which gives the drivers
confidence. We’re also racing at altitude as the circuit is
about 800 metres above sea level, which impacts on the power of the
engine, so we will need to work on the mapping to optimise engine performance.
It was recently
announced that Robert Kubica will drive for Renault in 2010. What has
convinced you that he is the man to fulfil Renault’s high
ambitions for the future?
First and foremost
he’s a very quick and consistent driver who has clearly
demonstrated his ability. He’s also a real fighter who never
gives up, which is a characteristic that fits well with our approach
at Renault. Looking to the future, he is definitely somebody who is
going to push the team and his hunger for success and leadership
qualities on the racetrack will help motivate the team. Finally, on a
personal level he is a genuinely nice guy who I believe will work
well with our engineers and have a good relationship with the team.
Interlagos: Tech File
Interlagos is a
circuit of contrasting extremes, combining slow hairpins with one of
the longest straights of the season. Sitting in a natural bowl, it
undulates throughout its 4.309 km length, and is notorious for its
bumpy surface – although this has improved with resurfacing in
recent years. The physical demands of the bumpy circuit are
intensified by the fact that it runs anti-clockwise, subjecting the
drivers’ necks to the opposite loadings experienced at a normal
clockwise track. It’s a circuit where overtaking is possible,
particularly on the entry to turn 1, and the set-up compromise
therefore tends to favour straight-line speed over optimum lap-time,
to ensure the drivers can make up positions, and defend them, during
the 71-lap race.
Aerodynamics
The contrasting
nature of the Interlagos circuit makes very different demands on the
cars. The first and last sectors are made up primarily of long
straights, where good top speed is necessary to maintain
competitiveness and protect position; this means a low level of
downforce is required. However, the middle sector requires the
opposite: high downforce to ensure good grip under acceleration,
braking and cornering through the twisting series of hairpins.
Balancing these requirements gives an optimum downforce setting for
achieving the fastest possible lap-time. However, this optimum is
then skewed by the demands of racing with other cars. To do so
successfully requires competitive end of straight speeds – and
achieving these may drag us away from our optimum downforce to a
slightly lower setting which allows the drivers to overtake and
defend their position into turn 1.
Fernando explains:
“It’s very important to get a clean exit and carry good
speed through the final corner so you don’t come under pressure
down the long straight, which is also uphill. The end of the main
straight is the best opportunity for overtaking and if you can get in
the slipstream you have a good chance to get by at the first chicane.”
Mechanical set-up
The combination of
high and low-speed corners means it is hard to find a suitable
mechanical compromise at Interlagos. Just as with our choice of aero
level, we prioritise certain sectors of the circuit over others. The
most important corner at Interlagos is turn 12, as it determines your
speed along the uphill main straight – a full throttle period
lasting over 15 seconds. We therefore pay special attention ensuring
the car gets a good exit from this corner, even though this can
generate some slow-speed understeer in the middle sector. However,
any losses incurred with this understeer are outweighed by the
benefits in lap-time and competitiveness achieved in sector 3. The
second important factor for the mechanical set-up is the track
surface. This was traditionally very bumpy, but the recent
resurfacing allows the teams to run lower ride heights. The circuit
is relatively easy on the brakes, with just three major braking
events, and overall braking energy similar to somewhere like Barcelona.
Fernando explains:
“The section from turns six to eight is a difficult part of the
lap and shows the contrasting nature of Interlagos. You have to treat
turns six and seven as one long corner, but it’s important to
take a very smooth approach and stay off the curbs. It’s also
bumpy which can unsettle the car and you have to be careful not to
oversteer. Then after a high-speed corner, you have turn eight, one
of the slowest on the circuit. This time you have to be aggressive
with the steering and use the curbs as well as fighting understeer.”
Tyres
Interlagos
includes relatively few high-speed corners with high lateral loadings
on the tyres. Coupled with a track surface that is not particularly
abrasive, this means we can use relatively soft tyres. Consequently,
Bridgestone has made available the medium and super-soft compounds
from its 2009 range for this weekend.
Engine
The long main
straight at Interlagos means engine power is a critical factor at
this circuit, and the longest single period at full throttle is over
15 seconds. All the engines, though, must contend with the effects of
running at altitude, as the circuit is situated around 800m above sea
level. The reduced atmospheric pressure costs the engines around 7%
of their power output; as a result, the 62% of the lap spent at full
throttle is equivalent to 56% at sea level. While this reduces the
demands on some components such as the pistons, other parts of the
engine, such as the crankshaft, are still subjected to significant
loadings. Driveability is also an important factor, especially
through the winding middle sector. The drivers run in the lowest
gears at this point on the circuit, with sudden changes of direction
and significant brake and throttle inputs. Smooth power delivery can
make a real and significant contribution to maintaining a stable
balance, and optimum driving lines, in this part of the circuit.
Toyota
Panasonic Toyota
Racing makes a trans-Atlantic trip this week for the penultimate
round of the 2009 season, the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos; the
only Grand Prix of the season in the Americas. There will be a
different driver in the car with Kamui Kobayashi replacing Timo
Glock, who is suffering from a cracked vertebra sustained in his
qualifying accident at Suzuka. The team arrives in Sao Paulo on the
back of consecutive second place finishes and in the midst of a
battle for third place in the Constructors’ Championship. Jarno
Trulli’s second place at Suzuka equalled the team’s record,
from 2005, of five podiums in a season and the target this weekend
will be to set a new mark and close the 12.5-point gap to third
place. Toyota has enjoyed competitive performances at Interlagos and
has scored points in three of the last four Brazilian races,
including Timo Glock’s sixth place last year, while Jarno has
qualified in the top three on two of the last three occasions.
*Jarno Trulli -
Car 9
“This season
has flown by so quickly; it’s hard to believe we are already at
the penultimate race of the year! It’s always enjoyable to be
racing in Brazil, and particularly at Interlagos which is a tough
circuit. The track is quite unusual because it is anti-clockwise, but
also because half of it is extremely fast and the other half is very
technical, so you need to compromise to find the right set-up. Toyota
has usually been quite strong at Interlagos and I’ve generally
been very quick there too so I’m hopeful that will be the case
again this year. It was fantastic to be on the podium in the last
race, especially in front of all our Japanese supporters, and I hope
to be fighting at the front again this weekend. Last year I was on
the front row in Brazil and I believe this year’s car will also
be quite well suited to the track so I am optimistic. I am determined
to end the season as we started it; on a high note.”
Kamui Kobayashi -
Car 10
“This is an
incredible opportunity for me to make my Grand Prix debut but of
course it is a pity for Timo as I know how much he was looking
forward to getting back to racing. Fortunately for me I had some time
in the car on Friday in Suzuka and, even though that was in the wet,
it will be very helpful for me this weekend. I have never driven at
Interlagos before but I know the lay-out from computer games and
television so I don’t think it will take too long to learn.
It’s going to be a tough weekend but I feel ready for the
challenge and I know the team is supporting me 100%. A few days ago I
wasn’t even expecting to be racing this weekend so it’s
impossible to set any targets. I just want to do myself proud and
complete the race without any problems; anything after that is a bonus.”
*Pascal Vasselon -
Senior General Manager Chassis
“After the
most recent work, Interlagos is now no bumpier than any other track
so what we are left with is a very interesting lay-out which presents
quite a challenge, with low, medium and high-speed corners as well as
a long straight. This means you have to compromise in terms of
downforce and drag level to get strong performance on the infield and
give yourself a chance to pass at the end of the start-finish
straight. We have always been quick in Brazil so we expect to be very
competitive. In terms of aerodynamic efficiency Interlagos is close
to the baseline configuration we run in the wind tunnel so our car is
very well optimized to this kind of track. We go into the Brazilian
Grand Prix after finishing on the podium in the last two races so we
have high expectations and I am confident we will be strong.”
Q & A with
Toyota's Pascal Vasselon
Q. What are the
characteristics of Interlagos?
Pascal Vasselon: A
few years ago we used to say it was extremely bumpy and we would
spend the weekend working on the suspension to absorb the bumps. But
we saw in the last years that after the latest work, Interlagos is
now no bumpier than most other tracks so that is no longer a feature.
What we are left with is a very interesting lay-out which presents
quite a challenge, with low, medium and high-speed corners as well as
a long straight. This means you have to compromise in terms of
downforce and drag level to get strong performance on the infield and
give yourself a chance to pass at the end of the start-finish straight.
Q. Will Interlagos
suit the TF109?
PV: We have always
been quick in Brazil so we expect to be very competitive. In terms of
aerodynamic efficiency Interlagos is close to the baseline
configuration we run in the wind tunnel so our car is very well
optimized to this kind of track. Last year we definitely had the pace
to finish on the podium after Jarno qualified second with quite a lot
of fuel on board. We had the race pace as well but it turned out to
be a little bit difficult because of the rain. In the end we missed
the podium and Timo did very well during those famous last laps on
dry tyres when it was raining. Overall he gained a position and
finished sixth but we were a little bit disappointed because we had
the speed to be on the podium.
*Q. Will you take
any special steps to help Kamui Kobayashi?
PV: We saw already
in Suzuka that Kamui is a very capable driver so we are confident he
can meet this challenge, but of course we will be giving him
additional support this weekend considering it will be his Grand Prix
debut. He is very familiar with a Formula 1 car from all the testing
he has done with us, where he has shown speed and consistency.
However this weekend we will pay special attention to areas which are
not his priority in testing; race pit stops, race starts and low-fuel
qualifying for example. We will take full advantage of the practice
sessions to familiarise him with every aspect of a Grand Prix weekend
and we are sure he'll do a good job.
Q. Now we are
nearly at the end of the season, what is your assessment of the TF109?
PV: This season we
have been competitive on virtually every kind of track. We had a
one-off drop in performance at Monaco but, as you can see from our
second place in Singapore, we have understood the issue and recovered
our low-speed performance. However, we have been inconsistent so at
the end of the season we haven't scored all the points we should have
considering our raw pace. Several times we have either qualified well
and faced issues in the race or been extremely competitive in the
race after a difficult qualifying. This has affected our final points total.
Q. What were the
strengths of the TF109?
PV: All in all the
TF109 has many strong points which is why it has been competitive on
many different kinds of circuits this season. If I have to select
specific areas, I would say aerodynamic efficiency is very good in
the mid-range of downforce and we have good stability, particularly
in terms of braking stability. This has meant the drivers are very
confident in the car and it is relatively easy to drive.
Q. Were there any
weaknesses with the TF109?
PV: Very early in
on winter testing we found out the car was generally good so we had
no specific problems to fix. Since then it has been all about
development; just getting more performance and improving global
aerodynamic efficiency. The only significant issue we had to address
was Monaco as this weekend highlighted a lack of low-speed grip and
downforce, which we have now solved.
Q. How would you
assess the development rate of the TF109?
PV: For sure we
have been pushing hard and the development rate has been significant.
We started the season very competitively and we are ending the season
at a similar level; this demonstrates we have certainly not been out-developed.
We have put a lot of performance on the car throughout the season
despite the testing ban which has really been a good effort from
everyone. Obviously we have seen some changes to our relative
competitiveness during the course of the season. The main reason is
that the field is exceptionally tight so better or worse adaptation
to a given track or slight preferences have resulted in unusually big
changes to the order.
Q. How important
have tyres been as a performance factor this season?
PV: This season's
tyres have been a bit more difficult to manage than last year's. They
are one step more peaky and more difficult to use, which is a
characteristic of the slick compound. The slick uses its compound
much better than the grooved tyres but as a consequence it makes the
compound working range much smaller. These tyres have been more
sensitive to ground temperature and warm up which created a situation
where drivers were sometimes surprised from one outing to another by
the level of grip. We have spent a lot of energy to find out early in
each race weekend the exact thumbprint of each specification and what
issues relate to them.
Q. Has the movable
front wing made a difference to performance?
PV: It is
something that, despite costing some weight, you would like to have
for two reasons. Firstly it helps to tune the balance, and
consequently performance, of the car during a given lap. When you
have a balance difference between high and low speed sectors of a
track you can tune the balance once per lap. This is particularly
useful on a qualifying run or during the race when you can adjust to
compensate for tyre degradation so for pure performance it is a big
help. On top of that it makes the set-up process quicker. In the past
when we were changing suspension stiffness or weight distribution, we
had to anticipate the correct aero balance and, if you got it wrong,
you had to pit to correct it. Now the driver tunes the aero balance
himself on the out lap which really speeds up the set-up process.
McLaren
*Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2008 Qualifying -
4th, 2008 Race - 5th
“I’m
really looking forward to this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix - it
will be the first time I’ve travelled to Sao Paulo without being
in contention for the world championship, and I’m actually
looking forward to taking in a bit more of the city and relaxing and
enjoying the experience of driving on one of the world’s
greatest racetracks. My highlights are Turn One, braking into the
long left-hander which bends right and takes you out onto the back
straight; Ferra Dura, which is a fast right-hander where you body is
squeezed hard into the side of the car, and the main straight: you
accelerate hard uphill and you can even hear the crowd and the
Brazilian drums playing in the grandstands. One of the greatest
things about racing at Interlagos is the crowd. There’s such a
great atmosphere; the fans have so much energy and life. It’s a
party while you’re working, and it’s great to see everyone happy.”
*Heikki
Kovalainen, McLaren
2008 Qualifying -
5th, 2008 Race - 7th
“The
Interlagos circuit is quite a challenging one for the drivers because
it’s anti-clockwise, which, after a season of racing on
clockwise circuits, puts quite a strain on your neck muscles. But you
quickly forget that once you get out on the circuit - it’s an
incredible racetrack, really demanding - but very satisfying when you
get a lap right. Interlagos hasn’t traditionally been a circuit
where we have excelled, but we feel that we’ve resolved quite a
few of the issues that affected us at this race last year, and using
KERS Hybrid - particularly up that long hill out of the final corner
- should be a considerable benefit both in qualifying and the race.”
Martin Whitmarsh,
McLaren team principal
“Nobody on
our team will ever forget the dramatic final laps of the 2008
Brazilian Grand Prix - they are memories that will live with us
forever. Of course, the defining moments of the last two world
championships have both taken place in Brazil and, as a result, the
race has become an unusually colourful and intense occasion for us.
Travelling to Sao Paulo this year with our focus solely on achieving
the very best result will allow us to attack the race weekend without
any additional considerations, and we are very much looking forward
to that challenge.”
“Lewis has
been the most successful driver of the last two Grands Prix, which
took place within the space of one week in Singapore and at the
Japanese Suzuka circuit. During those eight days, McLaren scored more
points than any other team, a trend that fortunately has continued
for the last six Grands Prix since Lewis’s first 2009 victory in
the Hungarian Grand Prix. We started the season and had to make do
with a minimum of points, so it’s pleasing to see the upward
trend we’ve had since our home grand prix at the Nurburgring in
the middle of July. We try to continue this trend with Lewis’s
two wins and two additional podium places in the last six races - a
gain which hasn’t been achieved by any other driver in this
period of time. In the last six races of the season’s second
half, Lewis has beaten world champion candidate Jenson Button four
times, Rubens Barrichello and our German friend Sebastian Vettel
three times each, and each of the three title candidates has scored
less points than Lewis, who managed 34 whereas Rubens scored 27,
Sebastian 22 and, with 17 points, Jenson, who, at the top of the
table, achieved only half of Lewis’s points. The world
championship fight is open and electrifying - I know from my own
experience what I am talking about when I say that with a 16-point
deficit of Sebastian to Jenson, nothing has been decided yet. With
regard to the constructors’ world championship, Brawn GP should
have already done it with half a point still missing.”
BMW Sauber
*Robert Kubica,
BMW Sauber
2008 Qualifying -
13th, 2008 Race - 11th
"Brazil was
the season finale in the past years. With Abu Dhabi new on the
calendar, the situation is different this year. The Interlagos track
is very nice to drive. Especially Sector One with the first three
corners is quite challenging. Turn 1 is blind and therefore it is
difficult to find the ideal braking point there. The final sector
goes up a huge hill and consists of a couple of left turns. In Brazil
we drive anti-clockwise, which is physically quite tough as we are
used to driving the other way round. If it rains in Interlagos,
driving will be very tricky as there is lots of standing water on the
track. So I'm hoping for good weather."
*Nick Heidfeld,
BMW Sauber
2008 Qualifying -
8th, 2008 Race - 10th
"Interlagos
is a fantastic and very challenging track. Because you drive it in an anti-clockwise
direction, it puts a real strain on your neck muscles. The circuit
used to be full of horrible bumps. Having it resurfaced before the
2007 Grand Prix made a huge difference, but by 2008 the track wasn't
as good. I'll be interested to see what kind of condition it is in
now. In the last two years we had some exciting championship deciders
there, with the weather always ready to tip the scales. There could
be a repeat in 2009, even though Brazil isn't the final race this
time. I'm looking forward to seeing Felipe (Massa) in the paddock again."
*Mario Theissen,
BMW Motorsport Director
“It's the
final spurt for the 2009 Formula One season. Brazil marks another
traditional circuit on the calendar, whereas in the final race at Abu
Dhabi we'll all be broaching new territory. While in 2008 BMW Sauber
was still in contention for both world championship titles up to the
penultimate race of the season, in 2009 it's a case of making the
best of the situation and taking away as many points as we can. The
results of the recent Grands Prix show that our development work is
bearing fruit: we made it into the points in five consecutive races.
Nevertheless, in Singapore and in Japan we fell short of our
potential. Interlagos is about 800 metres above sea level. Due to the
thinner air, all engines lose around eight per cent of their output.
This makes the engine wear a little less as the loading on the crank
assembly is slightly reduced. That will not only suit our team. Nick
will keep running his ninth race engine which was fitted in
Singapore, and Robert his eighth also from Singapore. Naturally we
want to avoid fitting another new unit, which would mean being
relegated ten places on the grid."
Willy Rampf, BMW
Sauber head of engineering
"Interlagos
is one of very few circuits that are driven anti-clockwise. The key
stretch is the middle sector, where it's just one turn after another.
Plenty of downforce, good traction and good balance are crucial here.
With the car's set-up you also have to allow for the fact that the
air is thin because of the altitude and so the engines lose output.
In the final sector particularly, with its steep uphill start/finish
straight, high engine output is critical. Since the track was
resurfaced, it has been a lot less bumpy than before. That makes the
mechanical set-up of the cars somewhat easier. The weather can play a
decisive role in Interlagos with the likelihood of rain at this time
of year being pretty high. Heavy rainfall causes rivulets of water on
the track, which leads to aquaplaning. After experiencing compromised
race weekends in Singapore and Japan, in Brazil we will do everything
we can to fully exploit the potential of our heavily modified car and
achieve a correspondingly good result."