European GP - Valencia
Drivers: Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Luca Badoer (Ferrari), Jenson Button (Brawn GP) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).
Q: Firstly, a question to you all. What have you been doing during the break?
Jaime Alguersuari: I was racing World Series by Renault, my other championship. I did a race in Portimao and it was really good. I won and after this I was back in Barcelona. I spent a couple of days in Ibiza with my family, that’s all.
Q: Luca, I suspect you have got quite a story to tell?
Luca Badoer: I did not have a holiday. I just worked very hard in a physical way because after Felipe’s accident and Michael tried to drive the car it was very clear for us that, if Michael was not able, then it was my turn. I kept really concentrating and thinking about everything I could do to be in the best position for the race. I did really a lot of training.
Q: So training every day in the gym. Any driving?
LB: I drove a go-kart because I think it is very good for general training. Obviously I did the special training for the neck with my special machine to improve all the muscle and the resistance of the heart, so I was pushing really hard.
Q: Lewis, what have you been up to since the last race?
Lewis Hamilton: Not too much really. Nothing particularly fancy. I spent some time with my family and then I spent the rest of my time in Los Angeles with my girlfriend, so just chilling at home.
Q: On the beach in LA?
LH: I did go to the beach on two days in LA but the water is freezing, so I didn’t go in the water. And otherwise I did a bit of training and just good food.
Q: But you haven’t put on any weight?
LH: No, no way.
Q: Jenson?
Jenson Button: I spent a couple of weeks in the South of France with my girlfriend and friends. I did a triathlon as well in the UK which was quite fun, the London Triathlon. I did the painful bit then I had some fun.
Q: And Fernando?
Fernando Alonso: Nothing really.
Q: You don’t look as though you have been in the sun?
FA: No, not much.
Q: Just at home?
FA: Yes.
Q: Jaime, your feeling after doing your first grand prix. How do you feel you got on?
JA: I got quite used to the car and at the end we managed to finish the race with no mistakes which was a little bit our aim, our main objective for that weekend. Now we are back to Valencia. For sure it has to be a little bit better step-by-step and hopefully we can get a little bit more in qualifying and also try to finish the race. That is the main objective again for the weekend.
Q: Were there any surprises in Formula One as far as you were concerned in Hungary?
JA: Well, I mean I expected to be very bad. I expected to be physically really bad in the race but at the end we managed to finish it. I think it was not as bad as I expected, so I am looking forward to the next races.
Q: And what are your feelings about racing in Spain, in your home country?
JA: I think it is always good to race here. I raced here last year with F3 and I have a good feeling for this track and hopefully we can do a good job this weekend. It is always good to be in Spain racing.
Q: Luca, do you remember your last race? When was it?
LB: I read in a newspaper that it was Japan 1999.
Q: So how prepared do you feel for this race?
LB: I mean my last race was 10 years ago more or less but I did in these 10 years close to 150,000kms with Formula One. I am used to doing two races in one day because of the tests, sometimes we did two races in a day, so it is not that really I am worried for this aspect of the situation. I am used to the race as before I did a lot of races. If you think for somebody who had never raced maybe it is a problem but I know what it was in the past, so I have an idea. I am in a better position than somebody who didn’t have a race, so at the moment I am very calm, very quiet.
Q: Not excited?
LB: Yeah, in a way I am very excited as this is my dream. To drive for Ferrari in Formula One was for all my life being simply a dream. Now I can have it and I am the happiest driver in the world.
Q: Do you think you have probably earned it after all the testing you have done?
LB: Yes.
Q: Lewis, after winning in Hungary how was that feeling for you?
LH: It was a great feeling. It was fantastic going back to the factory and seeing all my team in the red tops and being greeted by everyone and just to see the smiles on all their faces after clearly a very tough season so far. It was a great way to start everyone’s holiday as well. It was quite a good period for everyone to see everyone able to relax and go back and spend some time with their families. I think it was a perfect weekend to begin that.
Q: Give us some idea what it has taken for the team and yourself to get to that stage, to get back on top again?
LH: Well, I think before the beginning of the season, before the first race we were a good two-and-a-half, almost three seconds off the pace. For the first race we brought a huge amount of updates to the car. The team were pushing way beyond our means and way beyond the actual power that we had as individuals. Everyone was working way overtime and whilst we were making those changes to catch up, everyone was making a step forward, so perhaps you did not see the impact it had but in the car we felt it bit by bit get better. Clearly at the last two races we had made a much, much bigger step to be able to keep up with the other guys. That is really just due to the team never giving up and never thinking for a second I am going to leave that aside, I am going to leave it for another day. No-one lost the determination. Everyone just kept pushing and even I have been back to the factory and seen everyone’s determination and enthusiasm and it had an impact on me. It is just a family environment with us all pushing together and working to achieve our goals.
Q: And the chances of you staying on top now?
LH: I hope so. We are going to do the best job we can. Again we just have to take it race by race. We know we have got a lot of very competitive teams around us who will continue to improve during the season but it is just a great feeling for us to know that we have that competitiveness back in the car.
Q: Jenson, what has been going wrong? Do you genuinely feel that you can be back on top again?
JB: Well, you know we have got to hope. I think we understand the car much better than we did one or two races ago. It looks positive and we have got to hope when we get onto the circuit tomorrow that it feels positive and it is not just what we see in the data. We have made some steps forward since the last race and I think we have also looked at a few of the areas that we thought we had improved in over the last couple of races. We have looked at the possibility of going back on those changes. There has been a lot of work going on in the time that we have been able to over the break and we come here with a positive attitude. We have had a great season this year. If someone had said to me ‘you could win six of the 10 races’ I would have bitten their arm off. It is just they all happened at the start of the season. But we can be strong again. This car is not bad. I think that we have just maybe gone slightly in the wrong direction. But we will pick up our pace for sure. I really enjoy this circuit. I think it is a real buzz to get a good lap around here, so I am looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and seeing where we are.
Q: Is it operational or engineering changes that you have made in the past?
JB: The changes with the car that we have made, some of them are definitely positive. Some of them maybe aren’t so. It does make it very difficult in season if you do take slightly the long direction because you can’t test and you can’t do comparisons and it is very, very difficult going to a circuit that is dusty on a Friday. It is very difficult to do a back-to-back with a big change as it can take a long time to make that change to the car and you lose a lot of circuit time. But I think going through the date we understand the car which is the most important thing and as I said we have made some improvements which should help us a little bit. I know everyone is making improvements but we have got to try and stay on top of it as we need to get some good results. We can’t finish off of the podium. We need to be on the podium as often as possible but it is very, very competitive now. You haven’t just got the Red Bulls who are strong. You have got the McLarens, the Ferraris, the Renaults and even the Williams has been competitive. Nico (Rosberg) has finished in front of me the last three races, so we need to get back on top of it. I have got an 18.5 point lead but that could disappear very quickly. We are not going to get to worried, we are just going to stay positive and work out our issues as we do have an advantage. 18.5 points is quite a bit but we need to make sure that we go into this race and we have a positive attitude and hope that we can get back to the front again.
Q: Fernando, how confident were you that you were going to be here at all at this race?
FA: 99 per cent.
Q: So you didn’t think that the penalty was going to stay?
FA: I was hoping not as I think the penalty was too hard on us. I was confident that at the end everything was clear for us and we were ready to race in Valencia. I think the team was quite optimistic on that and they sent the trucks and everything one week before the appeal, so I think in our heads it was 100 per cent racing in Valencia.
Q: Your race here last year was pretty rotten. How are you feeling about being competitive this year?
FA: We will see. Obviously it is going to be a tough weekend. I may say now that I think the times are very close and it is so competitive now. From second to 12th it is only two or three tenths, so we will try to be in the front part of that pack. At the Nürburgring we were the fastest lap in the race or in Hungary with the pole we try to do some good races and try for a good performance here in front of the home crowd. We know it is going to be difficult. Last year it was a bit difficult as we only did one corner before Nakajima hit me, so hopefully this year I can finish the race as I said in front of your own people the worst thing that can happen is if you have to retire.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Rodrigo Franca – VIP Magazine) Fernando, you said about the home crowd. In Barcelona in 2001 you were just like Jaime. You had no pressure in the Minardi and Pedro de la Rosa was the centre of Spain’s expectations. Do you miss something about that time or do you prefer being a champion?
FA: No, not much. I prefer to be in this position. If you are the centre of attention it is because you have some possibilities and you have some performance in your car that maybe you are able to do some good things. To have no pressure is okay for one race, two races but we are all competitive people and we want to win.
Q: (Andrea Cremonesi – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Luca, in a recent interview, Nicola Larini said one of the worst things for Luca is that he’s not used to racing any more. It’s a long time since he raced, that the start is a very critical moment, then overtaking, fighting with other drivers. What do you think about this?
LB: I will be very careful but all I can say is that we will see.
Q: (MC) Is it something that a racing driver loses, the ability to understand the whereabouts of other cars?
LB: In a way, yes, but as I said before, I’ve done a lot of races in my life. I did F3000, F3, go-karts, so this was just a pause. I’ve raced in the past, I can race again in the future, so honestly, for me Valencia will be a race in which I have to learn everything. I have to get used to being back in the car because it’s a long time since I drove – it’s not so long but it’s enough. So I have to drive a lot on Friday. I have to get used to this kind of qualifying and I have to get used to being at a race again, so if I had only Valencia, only one chance, I would be very worried, and I would try to do everything, and maybe with a lot of pressure and maybe with a lot of mistakes but that’s not the case because until Felipe comes back, the car is mine, so I have some time in which to improve, to develop the situation.
Q: (Ed Gorman – The Times) Jenson, Ross (Brawn) talked after the last race about having to work back through the data to see what changes had been made, to perhaps try and pinpoint where they might have taken a wrong turning. Have you got any sense from them that they might have indentified the point at which the car went slightly off the rails?
JB: Yeah, for sure. All the way through the season, at every race you arrive at you bring something new and you try something new, be it aerodynamics or mechanical set-up. There are lots of different things that you can try throughout the season and you have to do it at the races. And we know – we think we know where we went wrong. You never know a hundred percent, for sure, unless you go down to the circuit and you do a back-to-back which we will be doing here but we think we understand the car and the issues that we have and hopefully they will be solved at this race. As I said, in the data we think we know a hundred percent where we’ve gone wrong but until you get on to the circuit and test it you never know. A driver’s point of view is very important.
Q: (Ed Gorman – The Times) In a very general sense, you can give us any indication of actually what that area is, just so that we can get a sense of what you’re talking about?
JB: I think it’s better for us to leave it as it is at the moment and just get on with the weekend. After the weekend we might tell you.
Q: (Livio Oricchio – O Estado de Sao Paulo) Fernando, what didn’t you have from your ex-team-mate that you can expect from your new one?
FA: I think that I always had a good relationship with Nelson. I consider him to be a very good driver and a very nice person. I’m sure he will have more opportunities in Formula One because I really think he has the talent. Obviously something went wrong with him, with the team or whatever. Technically speaking, I think we always had the same car; this has to be clear because there was a lot of information this summer. But maybe on the other side, on the human side with the team he was maybe never very happy with the team or whatever, so it was difficult. I also remember my time in 2003/4 with the team, it was not so easy when you arrive in Formula One and being a hundred percent confident and happy with the team, so I think this was one of the problems with Nelsinho unfortunately. We will see with Romain (Grosjean). I think it’s a good opportunity for him to come into Formula One now, to arrive in Formula One without too much pressure and for the future, for next year, all the races that he does this year can be a big opportunity to consolidate his Formula One career. I hope the best for Nelsinho as I said and I also hope the best for Romain to do well in these races and help us to score more points in the Constructors’ Championship because we’re now a little bit behind.
Q: (Joris Fioriti – AFP) Luca, you were not Ferrari’s first choice in the first place. Were you frustrated by that? And then a question which is linked: everyone was expecting Michael Schumacher to be on track this weekend; does that put more pressure on you?
LB: Honestly, I’m a big fan of him as well. It was also fine and good for me to see him again on the track. I have spent a lot of time with him over the last 20 days. We trained together, we drove go-karts together. As I said before, I have a great relationship with him. We are very good friends. So we live this time together. It was funny because we knew immediately that it was him or me and honestly, I don’t feel that to replace Michael Schumacher is like a second choice or a bad choice because I’m replacing the best champion in the world at the moment.
Q: (Andrea Cremonesi – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Luca, could you describe to us what you felt this morning when you arrived here in the paddock? You are the first Italian for 15 years to race a Ferrari.
LB: I just tried to understand the circuit. It’s the first time I’ve been to Valencia, so everything is new to me: the car parking, the entry, the pits, so I was looking around for all these things and then I went out onto the track. I did two or three laps of the track, to better understand physically the corners, the kind of asphalt, the walls at the side of the track, everything, with my engineer. The feeling at the moment surprises me but I’m very calm. It’s like being in a test situation because a lot of the time, at the test, I was with all the team and we are pushing very hard in every way, also at a test, so until I’m not in qualifying or on the starting grid, I don’t think I will feel a big difference. Tomorrow will be like a normal test day, all the team together, at the track.
Q: Carole Capitaine (L’Equipe) A question for all the drivers except Luca: a question about Michael Schumacher. Do you believe it’s a shame Michael can’t race in Valencia, and are you curious, like many people, what he could have done in the race after two years off?
JB: I’m sure everyone was very excited about Michael Schumacher racing again. He’s achieved more in the sport than anyone and having someone who’s achieved as much as he has back in the sport is for sure very good for the sport, and also another World Champion. For him, I’m sure he’s really, really disappointed that he couldn’t be here as well but he can’t race, so we move on and I think we have a very competitive field anyway without Michael. But I think the most disappointed man, forgetting all of us, has got to be Michael himself. He’s had his neck injury and he’s not able to be on the grid but as I said, life goes on and we’ve got a couple of World Champions on the grid at the moment – well, three World Champions on the grid at the moment – and it’s a pretty competitive field.
FA: Same.
Q: (MC) Jaime, would you like to have raced against Michael Schumacher?
JA: Yeah, I think that it was unbelievable for me, a great opportunity especially because I have just upgraded to Formula One and I think Michael has always been a reference for young drivers and especially for me. I think it was really good, but now, as Jenson said, the situation is like this and we accept it and we race and we have fun all the same.
LH: These guys have commented quite well, I think. He’s a racing legend and it would have been a real privilege and an honour for all of us to have competed against him. Obviously you guys have, I haven’t, but to see him back, I think, would have been great for the sport and I think all we can do is wish him well, wish him a strong recovery and look forward to us racing together.
LB: If I can say something as well, because I spent a lot of time with him, I can let you understand that he was really pushing very hard. He was training a lot, he spent a lot of time (doing that) because he wanted to come back. He did everything, he tried everything, he lost three kilos in seven days, he was really pushing one hundred percent because it was sort of his dream to come back and drive in Formula One again. You have to keep in mind that he was missing something; he really tried everything but it was not possible because of the neck problem.
Q: (Rodrigo Franca – VIP Magazine) Question for all, starting with Fernando, so he can’t say ‘same’! Where will you guys be in 2010? I know it’s difficult to say anything about that at the moment but what can you tell us?
FA: The same, they will say! I don’t know, in Formula One for sure.
JB: You hope! The same for me, yeah, basically.
LH: I have to say the same.
JB: You’ve got to stay, haven’t you?
Q: (MC) Haven’t you got a contract?
LH: Absolutely.
Q: (MC) Jenson, have you got a contract?
JB: No.
Q: (MC) Fernando, contract with Renault?
FA: Same.
JB: Same us.
JA: Yeah, I hope it’s the same.
LB: I was talking with Ferrari before Hungary to renew my contract for next year but after Hungary everything is&ldots; I don’t know, I honestly don’t know what will happen next year. We will see.
Q: (Naoise Holohan – Manipe F1) Luca, what’s going to be your aim for this weekend, is it for points or are you just aiming to finish the race?
LB: No, I have no objective for this weekend. As I told you before, it’s a sort of test for me, so it would be nice to finish the race.
Q: (Carlos Miquel – Diario AS) Fernando, do you think it’s possible to fight for the podium or is it a poor track for your car?
FA: I really don’t know. Looking at the last two races, as I said, we have to be optimistic because the car has improved a lot and we look more competitive now but I think the competition is also quite difficult at the moment. As Jenson said before, it’s not only the Red Bulls, it’s the McLarens, the Brawns, the Williams, Ferrari, so there are a lot of cars in a very close gap, so if we have a perfect weekend, why not? We can fight in the top five maybe, and hopefully, possibly the podium but if we make any little mistake, we can easily be twelfth, eleventh position. So that’s the good thing about the championship at the moment; everything is so close, so competitive. You have to be really perfect all weekend and we will try to be so. I think it will be more difficult than in Budapest which was maybe a circuit that was a little bit better for our car. I think here in Valencia we might have a few more problems with all the braking and things like that but we will try our best anyway.
After the summer break, Formula One returns to action this week with the second visit of the season to Spain. The European Grand Prix, Round 11 of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, takes place on Sunday in the coastal city of Valencia.
New on the calendar last year, the Valencia Street Circuit uses the permanent roads surrounding the Juan Carlos I Marina which was the base for the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007. The 5.440km (3.380 mile) track closely follows the water’s edge for the majority of the lap and uses a specially constructed swing bridge to cross between the north and south sides of the marina.
The lap has a challenging and innovative layout with 25 turns giving it more corners than any other circuit on the Formula One calendar. Surrounded by high concrete walls and with average speeds of 200kph, the Valencia Street Circuit has a very different feel to somewhere like Monaco, with top speeds reaching in excess of 300kph.
ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL
Q. What are the engineering considerations of the Valencia Street Circuit?
“Valencia presents an unusual engineering challenge as the circuit is quite different from anywhere else on the calendar. It’s not the type of street circuit that we have been used to racing around in Monaco; it’s much more open and quite fast flowing with higher top speeds. The tall barriers give the lap the feel of a street circuit but the run-off areas are quite generous compared to Monaco, helping to improve safety and giving the drivers some margin for error at certain places of the lap. Traction is important here and the sectors of the lap which have a stop-start nature make Valencia tough on the brakes. Cooling is also a consideration in the high ambient temperatures but we do not expect to encounter any issues. The team has been working extremely hard since returning from our summer shutdown and everyone is looking forward to the racing getting underway again this weekend.”
JENSON BUTTON
Q. Are you looking forward to getting back in the car this weekend in Valencia?
“It’s going to be great to get back racing again after the summer break and everyone at the team is looking forward to Valencia. I’ve kept pretty busy over the past few weeks with the London Triathlon at the start of the month and then some time to relax with my family and friends but it’s seemed like a long time without a race! Valencia is a beautiful city and the track is quite fun when it goes round the edge of the marina and over the bridge. It’s quite challenging for the drivers with so many turns and the added factor of being surrounded by barriers means you have to maintain your concentration. There’s been a lot of work going on at the factory following our shutdown and with the cars at the front being so close at the moment, it will be an interesting weekend.”
*RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Q. What did you think of Valencia and the new street circuit after the first race there last year?
“Valencia is a cool city and proved to be a great venue for the European Grand Prix last season. The challenge of a new circuit is always exciting and even more so this year as we should be in a much better position to challenge for a good result this time. The first part of the lap is quick with the long pit straight followed by a curved right-hander before the slower section leading up to the bridge over the marina and then you’re down onto another curved straight. The second half of the lap feels more like a street circuit as you head away from the water and the third long straight ends with a tight hairpin at Turn 17 which is the best overtaking opportunity. The final part of the lap is quite fast with some sweeping corners before the tight left-hander which takes you back out onto the pit straight. It’s a very different type of circuit to the classic image of a street track such as Monaco.”
Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone director of motorsport tyre development
"This is an interesting track. It has the high speed configuration of a permanent circuit, however the track surface gives away that this is only a temporary facility. There are numerous turns, yet there are also many high speed sections and we see speeds of around 300kph five times during the course of a lap. There are low-speed corners too, so some heavy braking does take place. On the slippery surface that accompanies a street course it is difficult to find grip off line. Last year we saw a lot of circuit surface evolution over the weekend and it was very much a learning process for everyone who attended the race. I think that everyone will continue to learn more about this venue when we visit it this season. We also found last year that the infamous gap between the bridge surface and the road surface presented no difficulties for our Formula One tyres. Last year our visit to Valencia was a momentous one as it was here that we celebrated our 200th Grand Prix participation since our entry in 1997."
Valencia, Spain
This Mediterranean-fringed circuit opened in 2008 and, in common with its better established Monégasque counterpart, presents one of the season’s greatest overtaking conundrums. Quick for a street circuit, with average lap speeds of almost 200kph, Valencia is a challenge for tyre supplier Bridgestone too because it incorporates no fewer than 25 corners (11 left-handers, 14 rights). On the evidence of the inaugural race, in which Nico Rosberg delivered a strong, points-scoring performance for Williams, two-stop strategies work best.
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 Valencia is 1120 which is about average for the Championship.
The end of straight (EOS) speed at Valencia was 311kp/h in 2008. The Spanish track ranks as having the 5th 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, Valencia has the 4th lowest 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 Valencia is approximately 15.5 seconds, which is the least penalising pitlane in the Championship. To complete a normalised distance of 5km around Valencia requires 2.45kg of fuel against an average of 2.42kg per 5km across all circuits this season, ranking the circuit as the 7th most 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 were no safety car deployments during the inaugural European Grand Prix in Valencia, however, the street circuit layout and lack of circuit run-off areas make it highly likely that there will be 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. Valencia is at sea level and has an average pressure of 1,002.5mbar. As a consequence, the circuit’s ambient characteristics will have little effect on engine power.
Nico Rosberg: From a team perspective, Hungary was another positive weekend. I had a bit of a messy start to the race and I had to work hard to claw back positions after the KERS cars just flew past me off the line, but I'd gained my fifth place grid slot back before the end of the first lap and then progressed to fourth in the stops, which is where I finished the race.
We had the opportunity to fight Raikkonen for second, but we made some mistakes. We need to iron those out if we're to make the most of our pace and start getting on the podium.
After the race, I spent a few days in Budapest with friends as I love the city, we then all went on to Ibiza for a few days on the beach. From there, I went home to Monaco to do some intensive training. I covered lots of ground on the bike, on the roads and into the mountains. As I've been following the Tour de France, I think I've developed a bit of a passion for it!
This will only be our second trip to Valencia and I'm looking forward to going back as the organisers have built a really good track. Unlike what you would normally expect from a street circuit, Valencia has a lot of corners but they aren't tight and twisty, but quite fast and flowing so the whole lap is quite quick. Combined with the temperatures, it can be a demanding race, but I'm prepared.
Valencia is a cool city. The Spanish are really enthusiastic about Formula 1, so the atmosphere is usually buzzing. The paddock is in the harbour, right next to the sea, so it's a little bit like Monaco, maybe not quite as glamorous, but a really nice location for a grand prix.
Kazuki Nakajima: Something's got to give soon! It's very difficult starting from the midfield because performance levels are so close between the teams it's hard to make up places off the line. If you don't, and someone with a longer fuel load gets ahead of you, your race can be over on the first lap, which is what happened to me in Hungary when [Jenson] Button got ahead of me. It was frustrating, but I know some points will come my way soon.
As I wasn't allowed in the factory due to the enforced shutdown (which was very strange for me as I basically spend all my time there between races, either with my engineers or in the simulator), I flew home to Japan. It was a long enough trip to catch up with lots of friends in Tokyo and to spend some time with my family as well. I kept up my training too as cockpit temperatures tipped 60°C in Valencia last year and I don't want any distractions this weekend.
*I've spent lots of time on our simulator preparing for Valencia over the course of the year so feel I know the circuit quite well. It's not a typical street circuit, but you have to be really careful around the lap as there are no run off areas. I think the biggest challenges over the weekend are grip levels as it was quite green when we arrived last year as well as cockpit temperatures.
*I enjoyed the trip to Valencia last year and am excited about going back, more so this time round because it feels like a long time since the last race and I want to get back into my car. I never explore much while I'm at a race as I prefer to concentrate on the job in hand, but Xevi, my engineer, is Spanish so I'm sure we will head out for some local food one night.
Q. How was the holiday the FIA 'imposed' on F1 this summer?
Christian Klien: Quite good, thank you! I went directly from our last straight line test in Vairano to Sardinia. A perfect place to relax. I spent a lot of time on my bicycle every day. At the end of the day you do not want to come back from your vacation with a belly. In F1 being heavy always means being behind.
Q. How has BMW's withdrawal affected your personal situation?
CK: First we were all shocked. I was totally unprepared when Mario Theissen called me. But then again we are all competitive people. Just like a boxer who has suffered a blow you need to get up and get on with it. That's how Formula One works.
Q. How did the crew react to the bad news?
CK: For the people in Hinwil it was a shock. They share a great 'racing spirit' and they live for their racing team. Right after the news came out I drove to Hinwil. We are all in the same boat. And I am trying to motivate these people to keep going strong. After the holiday my first trip was to the factory at Hinwil again.
Q. Why does BMW not withdraw immediately? What sense is there in continuing to race now?
CK: We still have a few developments in the pipeline. And BMW really want to leave on a high note. And not like this season has gone so far, for the first time after three quite successful years, I may add.
The speed of developments is massive this year. Some forget that we were racing for wins at the beginning of the year. It is this turnaround that everybody is now pushing for.
Q. Peter Sauber said that there have been worse problems to solve in his career.
CK: The team has proved more than once what they can achieve with limited ressources. The spirit of the people is just great. And the times of unlimited budgets are over anyway. With all this brilliant human capital in Hinwil I see no reason why they should not be able to build a very competitive race car for 2010.
Q. With Christian Klien as their driver?
CK: At the moment this is pure speculation as the overall situation is still too unclear. What I can contribute at this point is staying super fit to the maximum and be prepared. Just like I trained on my bicycle in the heat every day while I was on holiday.
Also, I can collect as much data for the development department when we go straight line testing. And the endurance car races like in Sebring, Spa or Le Mans help a lot to keep my neck and my reflexes in shape. You can be called upon quite quickly as we see with Ferrari now.
Q. Have you received any requests to drive in 2010 after BMW announced its departure?
CK: There have been requests throughout the season. In F1 everything is always on the move. The new teams are very interested in drivers with experience but a certain long term perspective. At only 26 and with my sixth F1 season now I think I can offer both.
But also the established teams are looking around for new drivers at the moment. A few drivers are on the way out or changing teams. Despite those requests that I have received the team from Hinwil would be my first choice. The technical ressources are great and the passion for racing fits very well with my idea of an F1 team.
Q. Could the three-car scenario become a reality in 2010?
CK: From a technical and a financial point of view there are only few reasons that speak against it, as we saw a couple of years ago. When all 13 teams are on the grid next year there will be no need for a third car. But when Formula 1's stability requires it, it will definitely be an option.
Any way you look at it - with 13 teams of two cars or fewer teams with three cars - there will be more driver seats available next year for sure.
Q. When will we know more?
CK: Concerning the Hinwil team, I hope very soon. But let's not forget what happened to the Ex-Honda team last winter. By February nobody knew if they would make it at all. And then they started by driving circles around everyone else.
As for me personally: Like most drivers I am in a waiting position now. As soon as the first pieces of the puzzles fall into the right places, thing may happen quickly. But in 2010 there will be more jobs for F1 drivers than previously, but not any more drivers with grand prix experience on the market. I feel I am in quite a good position.
Judging by the tanned faces on the staff of the Gestione Sportiva, the experiment to have an official F1 summer break seems to have been a success, at least from the human point of view! This enforced holiday came at just the right point in the season, given the calendar now presents us with two Grands Prix in ten days and also, it is that point of the year when work on the 2010 car is really moving forward, which means a very heavy workload for everyone concerned.
However, the days following the Hungarian Grand Prix were busier than planned for the Press Office and senior management who had to deal with the repercussions of Felipe Massa’s accident in qualifying. The process of finding a replacement for the Brazilian was the main topic in the media, eventually leading to the appointment of Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s longstanding official test driver, Luca Badoer.
This last weekend, team principal Stefano Domenicali made a lightning visit to Brazil, where he spent several hours with Felipe, whose recovery is going very well. He is very keen to get behind the wheel as soon as possible, while being fully aware, he has to be patient and let his recovery run its course. He and Domenicali recorded a special video message for everyone at the Gestione Sportiva, which was shown in the factory today (Tuesday.)
On top of this, Kimi Raikkonen was still in the news, running at a very competitive pace in the World Championship Rally of Finland at the end of July and beginning of August. He enjoyed the experience.
With Badoer now part of the race line-up, he took part in two days of promotional filming on Monday and Tuesday at Fiorano, to provide footage of him in a racing environment. As permitted in the team testing agreement, the Italian completed no more than 100 kilometres per day at the wheel of the F60, fitted with demonstration tyres.
The filming provided Luca with the chance to reacquaint himself with the car in which he had only completed a handful of kilometres so far this year. The factory shut-down meant that Badoer had not even been able to meet with the race engineers and that was another issue addressed over these past two days. He also spent time in the static simulator, to give him a general impression of the Valencia street circuit.
*“I am very motivated to make the most of this opportunity, even if I know I am facing a tough challenge, especially during the first couple of days in Valencia,” said Luca. “It will effectively be a test session for me, but I will be trying my best to secure a good result. I have to say, my first thoughts when I take to the track will be for Felipe, because I got a real fright when I saw his accident. I am delighted that he is making a good recovery and I hope he will be back racing as soon as possible. I have to add that I am also thinking of Michael, because having trained with him over the last few weeks, I know how much he wanted to make this comeback and how much effort he was putting into his preparation. Even though his decision has provided me with this great opportunity to race for the Scuderia, I feel sorry for him, because not only are we friends, but I am also an admirer of his. And finally, I repeat how grateful I am to Luca di Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali for giving me the chance to make my childhood dream come true.”
All the teams have only a limited amount of data relating to the Valencia circuit, having raced there just once before and it is clearly unusual for a street circuit, because cars reach a higher speed and there are more run-off areas than venues such as Monaco and Singapore.
Although the factory has been closed, the F60 will have some new parts, compared to its configuration when last seen in Budapest. As a result of aero work and testing carried out prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix, the car will roll out with modifications to the front and rear wings and the diffuser. Although any sort of technical work was banned during the break, it is not illegal for engineers and technicians to spend idle moments on their holiday thinking about the car and how to improve it.
Indeed given their racing DNA, it’s hard to think of them doing otherwise! It is hoped that the aerodynamic updates and the result of this brainwork will see the momentum that resulted in Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro finishing on the podium in the last two races continue to produce results in the next few races. It is a tough task for the team, as there is only a limited amount of time to prepare for the European Grand Prix and then there is a very long drive and only four days to be ready to race again at Spa-Francorchamps.
In fact, logistically, back-to-back races in Europe are actually harder to deal with than when races follow one another at the “flyaways” because of the extra work in setting up the transporters and motorhomes. However, it is the opposition on the track which provides the biggest challenge, as the two teams currently heading the classification are bound to be strong, while other teams have been showing signs of a renaissance in recent races. As established a few races ago, the Scuderia will be doing its all to hit its current target of finishing third in this year’s Constructors’ Championship.
Vijay Mallya
Q. Force India had a strong end to the first part of the season. What have you got planned to sustain this momentum to the end of the year?
Vijay Mallya: We have a major aerodynamic upgrade coming for Valencia, which includes a new floor, bargeboard area and front wing. We're looking forward to it as we had a very successful aero test with Tonio [Liuzzi] in the week before the summer shutdown. With this knowledge I hope we're able to maintain, if not improve, our relative position on track.
F1 is more competitive than ever now so we need to keep these upgrades coming through and staying ahead of the others, who no doubt will be improving as well.
Q. What will your aims be for this second part of the season?
VM: We should definitely be Q2, maybe even the top of Q2 in Valencia and beyond. I'm quite optimistic as we're also working on more upgrades for the final races of the season so fingers crossed we should be able to maintain our momentum. There's more to come for Singapore as well in the latter part of the year so if we continue on our trajectory now we're looking quite good, on target with the goals we set at the start of the year.
Adrian Sutil
Q. You've just had a four-week break from racing. What did you do during this time off?
Adrian Sutil: I've taken some time off to relax and train for the second part of the year, which is going to be pretty busy for us with a lot of races in a short amount of time and lots of travelling. I went to Bali to spend some time with my family, then returned to Switzerland to get ready for the European Grand Prix.
I feel very refreshed now and I am looking forward to getting going again. As nice as it is to have four weeks off, I really want to get back in the car. We were going well before the break and I can't wait to get started again.
Q. Valencia is another street circuit and you've excelled on these in the past. What are your thoughts going into this race?
AS: To be honest, Valencia isn't one of my favourites. It's a street circuit but it doesn't feel like it as the roads are so wide and it's really just fast straights into a hairpin, accelerate out and then another hairpin so you don't get the adrenaline you would at Monaco.
This year it could be quite good for us though as we have a big new upgrade. Every upgrade we've introduced so far this year has really made a difference so I have a lot of confidence that this will move us forward as well. The car is getting better and better to drive, and with another upgrade I hope we will really be in the midfield now and in the hunt for points.
Q. Looking forward, what are your aims for the rest of the season?
AS: We have this new upgrade that we hope will cement our Q2 positions and from there we should be regular midfield contenders. I'm looking to be reliable and avoid any mistakes and let's see where we go from there. We have some more parts coming for the flyaway races as well so it should be a very strong end to the season.
Giancarlo Fisichella
Q. What did you do during the mid-season break?
Giancarlo Fisichella: I had a fantastic break with my family. There's a lot of travel in the second part of the year so it was nice to spend some good time with them while my kids were on holiday. We took my boat over to Sardinia and spent some time there and also went down to Corsica.
I also did some training and preparation for the end of the year. We're looking good as a team now so I want to be ready for every opportunity.
Q. What are your thoughts on Valencia?
GF: The Hungarian Grand Prix was quite a tough race but I was able to have a good, quick middle stint and fight with [Robert] Kubica and [Rubens] Barrichello, so I hope I will be able to do the same, if not more, in Valencia. Last year it was quite a good race for me, one of my best, as we were genuinely fighting for positions.
I quite like the track. For sure it's not the most challenging but if you are fighting for position there are some chances to overtake, which has got to be a positive. We also have a new upgrade for this race, the same step as we had in Silverstone, so I hope we can have a good race and score some points.
Q. What will your aims be for the rest of the season?
GF: To keep where we are and score some points. There are some good opportunities coming up in the second part of the year and some tracks I really like and have gone well on. There's my home race at Monza, Singapore and Suzuka, which have also been good races for us, and then Interlagos, where I got my first win in F1. There's a lot of reasons to look forward to this next part of the year.
Q. How do you assess the season so far from the team's point of view?
John Howett: We are more than halfway through the season, having scored several strong results, and we have a competitive car at our disposal. Naturally we want better results, and we expected to finish on the podium more frequently, but we are relatively pleased with the fundamental pace of our car.
It was very satisfying to start the season so successfully and it was clear we were firmly in the top three for the first four races of the year. We have seen some fluctuations in relative performance since then, we just need to continue to add performance to the car and get the most out of the package that we have.
Q. Has there been a highlight for you so far this season?
JH: The all-Toyota front row in Bahrain was a proud moment for everyone in the team and to see two Toyotas leading the field, setting the fastest lap on the way, was really special. Of course, we all wish it had continued like that until the chequered flag but it wasn't to be.
We are in a results business so the highlights for me so far have been our podium finishes, particularly in Australia and Malaysia, because these confirmed our belief that we are serious contenders in 2009. There are plenty of opportunities remaining in 2009 so I firmly believe the highlight of the year is still to come.
Q. Are you happy with the rate of development?
JH: We have been focused and ambitious in our development. Maybe it's not obvious to outsiders just how much development is going into the TF109 but we are pushing extremely hard to improve every conceivable area, with a particular focus on aerodynamics.
Our development schedule at the start of the season was very ambitious and we have pushed on with that. We have made several significant steps forward this season which have certainly brought performance increase.
Q. Is Toyota's target still to win a race this season?
JH: Our organisation exists to win races so that is always the goal and this year I believe we are closer than ever to doing that. But the surest way of winning our first grand prix is to pursue a relentless development programme, driving performance on. This is a team effort and everyone is working flat-out together to fulfil the huge potential of the TF109. We'll see how the rest of the season goes but we have the passion and dedication to win this year.
Q. How do you assess the performance of Jarno [Trulli] and Timo [Glock]?
JH: They have delivered a high standard of performance, as we expected, and they have both played their part in delivering a car this year which is genuinely competitive. Timo has been particularly strong in the races while in wet weather he is clearly one of the fastest guys in the field. He is still developing as a driver and he will become even better in the years to come, I am sure of that.
We all know that Jarno is incredibly fast over one lap and he continues to show his fighting qualities in the races as well. He remains 100 per cent motivated and he is pushing the team in a very positive way to improve the car.
Q. What about the season in general? How strong is Formula 1?
JH: It has been an exciting season and I think the fans enjoy seeing different teams fighting at the front. However it has probably been overshadowed by 'politics'. Now the new Concorde Agreement has been signed it is important we look forward and look for ways to improve the sport and add value for its stakeholders, particularly the fans. Formula 1 remains an extraordinarily powerful sporting brand and one which continues to enjoy a very large fan base. We should be enormously proud of Formula 1 but we must never become complacent.
Q. Is the team still developing the TF109 or have you already switched development to 2010?
JH: We still have targets to reach this season so we have not even considered switching all development to the 2010 car. Significant work is going on in parallel on the 2010 car, as was always planned, but we are still working hard to extract more performance from the TF109. We have an extremely competitive baseline this year so the challenge is to keep up development and unlock all the potential of our package. We have a duty to ourselves, our partners and fans to push on at full throttle with our development programme but, more importantly, we know the leading cars are not out of reach so we must fight for every bit of extra performance.
Q. Thinking about next year and beyond, can Toyota make another step forward? What are your expectations?
JH: It is part of Toyota's challenging spirit and its DNA to constantly strive for further improvement and this is an ongoing process, so of course we expect to make another step forward. It is too early to talk about specific goals, that's clear, but our team exists to win so that is our natural target. However, we still have plenty we want to achieve in 2009, which remains our clear focus.
The ING Renault F1 Team looks forward to round eleven of the season, the European Grand Prix in Valencia.
*Fernando Alonso: “Hopefully we can fight for the podium”
Fernando, the race in Hungary was disappointing, but there were some positives to take from the weekend...
Yes, our performance in Hungary was encouraging as the car was quick and we managed to get pole, which was actually a bit of a surprise. To retire from the race was disappointing, but I’m looking on the bright side because I think that the car can be just as competitive in Valencia. Last year my race there was very short – less than a lap – so I’m really determined to make up for that this weekend and hopefully we can fight for the podium.
*How is the mood in the team after the summer break?
I think the break was good for everyone and the team has come back refreshed and ready to push hard for the final part of the season. I also have a new teammate this weekend and I’m looking forward to working with Romain who I’m sure will do a good job for the team. I already have a good relationship with him and hopefully he can help us score some important points for the championship.
How excited are you to be racing on home ground this weekend?
Racing at home is always special and Valencia is a beautiful city and a great place to have a race. I’ve always enjoyed racing on street circuits as they have a special atmosphere and the whole city gets involved in the race. Also, as it’s a home race for me I know that there will be amazing support from the fans and I really want to reward them with a good result. As I’ve said, I would love to fight for the podium, but the main priority is to score points this weekend.
Romain Grosjean: “I’m ready to make the most of this opportunity”
*Romain, you will race with the team for the rest of the season. How does it feel to have this opportunity?
Of course I’m very excited and I want to thank the team for giving me this chance. I started dreaming about being a Formula One driver when I was seven or eight years old when I was watching the battles between Prost and Senna on television so to make my debut in Valencia really is a dream come true.
Does it feel special to drive for the only French team on the grid?
My goal has always been to become a Formula One driver and to do that with a French team makes it even more special. Renault has supported me since 2006 and it was only with their help that I could afford to continue racing. There is maybe a bit more attention because people have been waiting for a French driver in a Renault, but I will do my best to show that they were right to believe in me.
How valuable has it been to attend all the races as third driver this year?
It has been really helpful as I’ve got to know everybody and seen how the team works. Attending all the meetings and debriefs during the last six months will certainly help me make the most of this opportunity.
How does it feel to be teammate to Fernando Alonso – a double world champion?
He is a great champion – maybe the best driver in Formula One and I’m looking forward to working with him for the rest of the season. We already get on well and because he has so much experience I know there is a lot I can learn from him.
You raced in Valencia in GP2 last year – what did you think of the circuit?
It’s a mix between a street course and a normal circuit because in some places the track is narrow and tricky and in other places it’s really wide with lots of run-off. It’s not the easiest place to make your debut, but I’ve always liked street races and enjoy the atmosphere of being in the middle of a city.
How have you been preparing for your debut?
I’ve tried to make my preparation as normal as possible, although I have been training my neck muscles more than usual because Formula One is more demanding than GP2 on this part of the body. I’ve also taken some holiday time during the summer break to make sure I am fresh and 100% ready for Valencia.
What are you hopes for the weekend?
I’ve only driven the R29 in straight-line testing so my first race will be a learning experience. It’s difficult to set myself an objective so my first priority will be to get comfortable with the car, build my confidence over the weekend and do the best job I can for the team.
Pat Symonds: “I’m confident that we can be competitive in Valencia”
Pat, the team had a disappointing end to a promising weekend in Hungary. Give us your thoughts on the race?
We wanted to show the potential of the car and confirm the step forward we had made in Germany, and I think to an extent we managed to do that. It was great to get pole position, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve got the fastest car and fuel-corrected it’s true that the Red Bulls were faster. Even so, we were pleased with our performance and I believe our aggressive strategy with Fernando would have paid off in the race had we gone the distance, but it wasn’t to be.
The performance of the R29 in Budapest confirmed the team’s recent progress. Can the team maintain this rate of development?
We can certainly push a lot more developments onto the R29 in the final part of the season and there is another big aero update for later in the year. We’re also preparing the specific medium and low downforce configurations that are needed for Spa and Monza. How much more we do after that will depend how next year’s car, the R30, is progressing and whether we can transfer what we learn from that onto the current car.
The team has changed its driver line-up this weekend with Romain Grosjean making his debut. What has impressed you most about him?
I think Romain has a great racing ability and we’ve seen that demonstrated many times in GP2. He’s certainly one of the best in the series at overtaking and with the reverse grids he has shown that he’s good at fighting his way through the field. It will take him a while to settle into Formula One, but I’m sure that he will adapt well.
How has the team been helping Romain prepare for his first Grand Prix?
In the past he would have done lots of testing miles, but that’s not the way of modern Formula One with the ban on in-season testing. However, he has done several aero tests already this year and has spent a lot of time with the team at races attending briefings and debriefings to learn the way we work and the personalities of the team.
What are your expectations for this weekend’s race?
The R29 has shown recently that it’s a good car in all types of corner and so I’m confident that we can be competitive in Valencia. Like any street course, it rewards brave and capable drivers and we’ve certainly got that in Fernando, who will have home advantage and massive support from the fans this weekend.
Valencia: Tech File
Situated in the marina area of Valencia, the European Grand Prix street course is one of the most exciting additions to the Formula One calendar in recent years. Hemmed in by concrete walls, the 25-turn circuit combines a mix of high and low-speed sections and presents a challenging layout for the drivers and engineers.
Good straight-line speed and stability under braking are therefore paramount, as is good mechanical grip through the mix of low and medium-speed corners.
Aerodynamics
The track layout means that the teams run with medium levels of downforce with a similar set-up to that used in Shanghai and Bahrain earlier this year. This set-up is possible as there are no high-speed corners and good straight-line speed is important down the long back straight.
Fernando explains: “One of the most exciting parts of the lap is the final section from turns 17 to 25. You are flat-out almost all the way from the exit of 17 to the final corner, but there are so many kinks that you are constantly in a corner. Turn 25 is quite difficult because it’s so slow and yet you approach it at over 300 km/h.
So you have to brake as you are coming through turn 24, which makes it’s easy to lock a wheel or make a mistake.”
Brakes
The circuit is particularly demanding on the brakes and on a par with somewhere like Bahrain. There are frequent large stops from over 300km/h, such as turns 12 and 17, leading into tight second gear corners which put high energy though the braking systems. Brake cooling therefore needs special attention and the team will use larger brake cooling ducts than usual, as was the case in Bahrain.
General car set-up
The drivers need a responsive and well-balanced car with good change of direction to deal with the high-speed kinks that are spread around the circuit. But, as always, this needs to be balanced with a supple enough suspension to give good mechanical grip in the low-speed corners. Good braking stability is also important, especially at the end of the straights, to avoid locking wheels on a track where there is little margin for error.
Fernando explains: “Overtaking is always difficult on a street circuit and Valencia is no exception. Turn 12 at the end of the long back straight is probably the best opportunity as it’s the biggest braking zone on the track. There’s also quite a lot of tarmac run-off in case you go too deep into the corner.”
Tyres
Bridgestone will bring the soft and super-soft compounds from its 2009 range, just as it did for the streets of Monaco and at last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix. This choice is possible as the tarmac is not particularly abrasive and the softest compounds from the range will offer good grip on what is likely to be quite a slippery track surface to begin with. However, like any temporary circuit, we can expect the track to gradually evolve, becoming faster with each lap as it rubbers-in. The main concern over the weekend will be monitoring the rear tyre wear, which tends to be high due to the number of low-speed corners that lead onto long straights where traction demands are high.
Engine
The mix of straights, low speed chicanes and hairpins means that the engine will be used in a very stop-start fashion. About 60% of the lap is spent at full throttle, which is slightly below average for the season, and so Valencia is not a demanding test for the engine. The key to a good lap time is not peak power, but good torque to help launch the car out of the slow corners and onto the straights. Getting the car well balanced will therefore be of utmost importance to avoid understeer out of the low-speed corners to allow early application of the throttle.
*Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2008 Qualifying - 2nd, 2008 Race - 2nd
"It's great to be getting back to business after the four-week break. I'm still buzzing from the win in Hungary and I'm hopeful of being able to carry that pace into the Valencia weekend - particularly with our new upgrades to the car. It's a very demanding circuit, the kind of place that punishes any mistakes hard. It's quite tight and relatively slow, so it should suit our package. It's also very difficult to overtake, as we discovered last year - but, with our KERS, Mercedes-Benz has proved that anything can happen and I'm once again hoping that it will provide the difference in the race."
Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren
2008 Qualifying - 5th, 2008 Race - 4th
"Having driven the fully updated car for the first time in Hungary last month, it was very encouraging to be able to feel just how much progress the team has made developing MP4-24. We've now got a car that's much easier to drive on the limit, and which really rewards your input. So I'm really looking forward to the European Grand Prix, which, while it won't suit us as strongly as the Hungaroring, should be another strong opportunity for us to score some more points. After the summer break, I think the whole team is really looking forward to the second half of the season. We're all refreshed and united. I think there's a lot of potential for the remaining races."
*Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal
"While the summer break has meant we've had four weeks to enjoy Lewis's victory in Budapest, it's very important that we are able to maintain that winning momentum into this weekend's race. Fortunately, I we have made a structured effort to bring further improvements to the car in Spain and the whole team has been buoyed by that win and is really looking forward to another strong set of results this weekend. I've no doubts that we'll certainly hit the ground running on Friday. The Grand Prix also marks the 250th race of our team partnership with Mercedes-Benz, it is pleasing to have reached this important milestone off the back of a win and we are all focused on continuing this form here in Valencia."
Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice-President
"Last year, the race in Valencia had been held for the first time and it is a welcome addition of the Formula One venues worldwide. The European Grand Prix is already the 250th one for McLaren and Mercedes since the beginning of the co-operation in 1995. The street circuit in Valencia is not considered to be the most challenging one for the drivers; however, just this kind of track can turn out to be even trickier. We finished last year's premiere with Lewis Hamilton's second place and will try this year to adhere to our form of Hungary. Despite Lewis's victory there we don't regard ourselves as favourites yet."
Jarno Trulli, Toyota
2008 Qualifying - 7th, 2008 Race - 5th
"I am really glad to be racing again; it's great to have some time off to relax with my family but my passion is racing so it's good to be getting back to the track. It seems like a long time since the last race so everyone in the team is fired up to come out fighting this weekend. Valencia is not such an exciting circuit for me but that doesn't matter so much if we are strong, which we were last year on this track. Unlike somewhere like Monaco, Valencia is actually very fast for a street circuit so that should suit our car pretty well. In fact, it doesn't really feel much like a street circuit at all because it is so much faster than other city tracks. We were in the top six last year in Valencia and that is my target this season. It was good to have both cars in the points in Hungary. The Valencia track has a different character so it's difficult to predict at this stage but my target is to score as many points as possible."
*Timo Glock, Toyota
2008 Qualifying - 13th, 2008 Race - 7th
"I really enjoy street circuits and I generally perform very well on them. Valencia was tricky last year for me because I had a bad cold and it was a real challenge just to finish the race, so I didn't enjoy the weekend as much as I could have. This year I am determined to really have fun in the car and hopefully finish even higher than I managed in 2008. We know from last year that overtaking is very difficult on this track so qualifying will be particularly important, which is a similar situation to the previous race in Hungary. After finishing in the top six from 13th on the grid in Budapest, my goal this weekend is to start as high as possible and give myself the best chance for a good result in the race. I had a relaxing time over the summer break but I also did some fitness work as well and I never stop thinking about racing so I am well prepared for this race."
Pascal Vasselon, Toyota Senior General Manager Chassis
"Valencia is by definition a street circuit as the track is based on public roads but in many ways it is different to more typical street circuits like Monaco or Singapore. It is a relatively high-speed track with very long straights; therefore the aerodynamic efficiency requirements are completely different to other street tracks. Unlike Monaco or Singapore, you are not aiming for high downforce, we are looking in the middle of the range, and it is extremely tough on brakes. But in other ways it is still recognisably a street circuit as the barriers are quite close so there is little margin for error. We are confident for this Grand Prix because the circuit corresponds to what appears to be the best aerodynamic efficiency window for our car and we went well there last year. So we are really looking forward to racing again after the summer break and we expect a positive result."
Munich/Hinwil, 14th August 2009. Following the announcement by BMW that it will be pulling out of Formula One at the end of the season, the members of the BMW Sauber F1 Team now have an extra source of motivation; performing as well as possible will promote their case for a future in the sport.
Robert Kubica:
"I really enjoyed the Valencia circuit a lot. I like the character of stop-and-go tracks. In Valencia you have a lot of long straights followed by narrow corners and long straights again. That means a lot of heavy braking. It was very hot there last year as the track is between concrete walls and there is not a lot of air. These conditions are very tough for the car's cooling. Last year I performed quite well in Valencia."
*Nick Heidfeld:
"Valencia is a street circuit, but it doesn't drive like one. In fact it's just like one of the modern race tracks. You're not right up against the buildings, there isn't the tightness you usually get at street circuits, but there are run-off areas. I'm excited to find out what effect the latest modifications will have on our car. Valencia is a great city, of course, and I'm looking forward to going back to a fine restaurant which I discovered on my last visit."
Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
"Clearly we're all disappointed about the decision to withdraw from Formula One. The team had established itself at the top in just three years and we would love to have shown that the poor results we've had this season were just a blip. Now our work is focusing on the next few months. While efforts are continuing behind the scenes to find a solution for the team, everybody is aware that putting in good performances at the circuits is the best way to advertise their abilities. We want to get back into the fast lane, and so the development packages for Valencia and Singapore will be put into practice as planned."
*Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
"The race in Valencia was a new addition to the calendar last year and represents a real gain for Formula One. The track, which is built into the port area of the city and has 25 corners, boasts a unique character all of its own. It is a street circuit, but cannot really be compared with Monaco, for example. Indeed, it is wider and allows a much higher average speed. Plus, there are generous run-off areas at practically all the potential trouble spots around the track, which guarantees a high level of safety. Despite the two-week summer break, during which the factory in Hinwil was closed, we will bring a development package to Valencia headed by numerous aerodynamic parts."
History and background:
The Valencia street circuit made its debut on the Formula One calendar in 2008. Although Valencia already had a permanent race track - the Circuito Ricardo Tormo - it was decided that, rather than upgrading it, a course running through the city and along the harbour would provide the venue for the race. Despite being a street circuit, it has little in common with the picturesque surroundings of Monaco. Instead, it is characterised by modern buildings and relatively wide roads with reasonably generous run-off areas. The cars reach speeds of over 300 km/h and pass across a bridge that links the North and South Marina. The team garages are set up in port buildings for the race weekend.
Valencia has long cast off its former image of an industrial port city and has emerged as one of Europe's cultural metropolises. The marina in Valencia - Spain's third-largest city, with a population of around 850,000 - has been transformed into a trendy, modern complex on the back of the America's Cup held there in 2007.
Ten races down and still all to play for. We catch up with our Technical Director for a de-brief on the season so far...
*Q: Ten races gone, how do you sum up the season so far for AT&T Williams?
SM: The FW31 is a good car and we’ve managed to improve it from race-to-race. We didn’t capitalise on the car’s pace during the early races, which was frustrating, but we’ve been consistently competitive in the last few races. The next objective is to score our first podium of the year.
*Q: Are you pleased with the rate of development on the FW31?
SM: The new rules have made Formula One extremely competitive this year. You have to improve the performance of your car at every race just to stand still, and AT&T Williams have done that and more. If we went back to Melbourne, we’d be at least one second per lap faster than we were in March.
Q: Where have the biggest performance gains been made?
SM: Aerodynamics mainly, but there have been other gains as well. It’s been about improving the package and the way we’ve managed to do that is a credit to the different technical departments at Williams F1.
Q: Are you still pursuing KERS?
SM: We still have a team of people working on KERS, but I don’t want to put a date on when we’ll run it for the first time.
Q: How much of the team’s focus is already on next year’s car?
SM: We’re working on next year’s FW32, but there’s more focus on the current car than there was this time last year. Rule stability means many of the parts on this year’s car can be carried over to next year, so the FW32 will benefit, rather than suffer, from our push with the current car.
Q: Your thoughts on Nico and Kazuki’s performances so far this year?
SM: Both of them are better drivers than they were last year, but that’s normal because all drivers improve as they gain experience. Nico’s performed as we’d expected him to, while Kazuki has been incredibly unlucky. He’ll score points soon, I’m sure.
Q: Being an Aussie, a final thought on the Ashes Test Match coming up the Oval?
SM: I’m not into cricket, but I’m sure the Australians will win!
Q. Why do you want to be FIA President?
Jean Todt: "Throughout my career, as a competitor, manager, team principal and chief executive I have enjoyed success in an intensely competitive environment. I've worked with incredibly talented and dedicated people, teams and organisations with great passion, pride and commitment. Now working closely with my candidacy team, I want to bring all the experience I have gained throughout my career and apply it for the benefit of the FIA and its membership.
"In the last few weeks I have found it inspirational working with my team, Nick Craw, Brian Gibbons and Graham Stoker. Together we have developed a policy agenda for the FIA which we all think is exciting and offers a new vision of how the FIA should develop in the years ahead. I'm very hopeful that we will be given the chance to implement what we have proposed. It is quite humbling to think that we could be given the opportunity to help shape the future of the FIA in this way.
"I have been very fortunate in my career to have enjoyed considerable success in motor sport. Like so many others in our sport I have benefited from the hard work of previous leaders of the FIA in creating a global platform on which to compete. I feel that for me the time is now right to give something back to the sport and the FIA's clubs that have given me so much."
Q. What values characterise your election team and if elected would characterise your Presidency?
JT: "Above all teamwork, which has been the hallmark of my management style for the last 28 years. Together with a commitment to excellence and innovation it will be through teamwork that all the clubs, zones and regions of the FIA will be able to unite around a new vision for our future."
Q. What are the biggest challenges facing motor sport today?
JT: "We need to ensure that motor sport is as safe and sustainable - economically and environmentally - as we possibly can. We need to do more to encourage the growth of motor sport in the emerging economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The world's car population will more than double in the next few decades and inevitably this will increase interest in the sport. That is why we must also ensure that motor sport is more accessible both for competitors and officials at every level with clear programmes for training and best practice, clear pathways for competition and improvement.
"Ensuring the environmental relevance and sustainability of motor sport will not only act to safeguard our sport from those who would criticise it but, more significantly, it will allow the sport to become a catalyst for technological change which can have great social relevance worldwide. From an engineering and technical perspective and from a marketing and promotional perspective, motor sport can pioneer green technologies of immense benefit to the motoring public. We have only just started to do this but with the understanding and support of all the stakeholders so much more can be achieved.
"We all know how dangerous motor sport can be. Like millions of Formula 1 fans I watched Felipe's accident on television at home. It's only human to fear the worst in those situations. The FIA's safety and medical systems worked well and I'm sure that the helmet design developed by the FIA and the FIA Institute's experts saved Felipe's life. His accident came only days after the tragic incident involving Henry Surtees. I can only echo the comments made by John Surtees after the loss of his son, we must constantly review our approach to safety, learn from every incident and apply that knowledge systematically to improving standards."
Q. What are the biggest challenges facing the motorist and motoring clubs today?
JT: "In a very difficult economic environment we must redouble our effort to make motoring as safe, clean and affordable as possible. That is the 'Mobility for all' agenda that FIA clubs want to promote. Working together the clubs have achieved a great deal already, for example, contributing enormously to the success of the Make Roads Safe and Make Cars Green campaigns.
"At the same time the FIA can help grow its club network, increase their membership levels, and exchange best practice in consumer protection and tourism services. Our teams candidate Deputy President for Mobility, Brian Gibbons of the New Zealand AA leads one of the most commercially successful motoring clubs in the world and I am convinced he has the experience we need to fully realize the benefits of the FIA's merger the Alliance International de Tourisme."
Q. Your opponent has proposed to change the FIA voting system to give more votes to the biggest clubs with the largest membership. Do you think the voting system of the FIA should be changed in this way?
JT: "I don't agree with this idea at all. It would concentrate power and decision-making in the FIA in the hands of a just a few mobility clubs that have large memberships simply because they happen to exist in countries with large populations. That would be unfair and undemocratic.
"The FIA is the equivalent of the United Nations for global motor sport and mobility. Like the UN every member of the FIA has the right to vote, irrespective of their size. I am committed to this fundamental principle because it ensures that the democratic rights of all our clubs, big or small, are equally balanced.
"Quite rightly an FIA presidential candidate can only be successful if he and his team appeal to a broad range of the FIA membership, large or small, motoring or motor sport."
Q. There has been some criticism of Max Mosley's endorsement of your candidacy. What's your view about this?
JT: "Like everyone in the FIA Max should be entitled to his opinion. I'm very honoured by his comments but Max knows, as I do, that the full membership and only the full membership of the FIA will decide who the next President of the FIA will be. Max has made a fantastic contribution during his years as President and if elected I will respect his legacy but I will also bring some crucial changes to the FIA.
"I am more of a manager than a politician, and my defining characteristic is to encourage and ensure teamwork. That is what I have tried to do throughout my career and it has been the reason for the success that I have achieved in a number of motor sport disciplines. The FIA is a highly complex organisation and I think my management experience and skills will offer something new and unique to the FIA's membership."
Q. If elected what changes will you bring to the FIA both in terms of its culture and governance?
JT: "I would like to give a stronger regional focus to the FIA's work promoting both motor sport and mobility. We can do much more to strengthen the regions and zones that usually deal with the issues that matter most to clubs. I also want to encourage closer co-operation between the mobility and motor sport pillars of the FIA. Many of our clubs are active in both and we can encourage synergies between the two.
"In our policy agenda, my leadership team has made some important proposals regarding governance in the sport, creating Championship Commissioners, a new disciplinary body and a review of our system of stewards. Some of these proposals will require amendment to the FIA's statutes and the International Sporting Code. So we must take this opportunity of change in the FIA's rules to review our entire governance system to make sure that our structures are fully representative, for example, of all world regions.
"We will conduct a detailed consultation with our membership and once this process of review and consultation has been completed we will present our recommendations for change to the Worlds Councils and the General Assembly."
Q. The FIA is sometimes criticised for concentrating too much on Formula 1. Do you agree with this criticism?
JT: "As the most commercially successful, technically challenging and highly visible of all the FIA's world championships, it's inevitable that the FIA's governance role is often identified most closely with that of Formula 1.
"If you take a moment to look beyond the newspaper and television headlines it's hard not to be impressed by the prodigious non F1 related work championed by the FIA. It encompasses rallying, touring cars, GTs, karting, historics, and so on. It works on mobility issues acting as the voice of the motorist and supports global public policy campaigns, award winning safety, medical and environmental research, and grass roots grant making initiatives, education and consumer programmes, with its sister organisations the FIA Foundation and the FIA Institute the achievements are numerous.
"As a trustee of the FIA Foundation I have been very fortunate to be personally involved in some of this activity, I am also immensely proud of my partner Michelle who has for two years taken a leading role as an Ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign.
"In the future I hope to encourage an even greater involvement from the motor sport community in the work of the FIA, Foundation and Institute, building on the contributions already made by the likes of Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Pedro de la Rosa, Sebastien Loeb and Alex Wurz."
Q. Some in F1 have questioned whether your recent role at Ferrari would influence your impartiality as FIA President.
JT: "Initially some people suggested that I would be Ferrari's choice for the presidency, then the media was that told that Ferrari didn't want me, and the Scuderia responded by saying that they were in fact neutral. Of course, I completely agree with them. They should be neutral as I will be to all the teams if I am elected president.
"This is a question of commitment and professionalism. The success I have enjoyed, with every team that I have ever worked with, has been founded upon professionalism and a total commitment to that team's goals. My approach to the FIA is no different. I would not contemplate running for election as president if I could not focus all my professionalism, energy and commitment upon achieving the goals which are in the best interests of the FIA. Acting as the guardian of the FIA's independence is central to this."
Q. You haven't attended a grand prix since you launched your campaign. Will you be visiting an F1 event before the election?
JT: "My first priority has been to identify the right people, the right policies and the right programme for my team. I've brought a strong leadership group together, we've put a carefully considered programme in place and we've established an excellent dialogue with the FIA membership to refine and develop our policies further.
"At a later stage in the campaign it will be important to visit the paddock and the service park but right now our campaign is focused on this vital process of consultation with the membership."
Q. Will you be meeting the teams and drivers?
JT: "The GPDA have invited me to meet with them and I am very pleased to accept their invitation. I look forward to the opportunity to talk with them when I visit a forthcoming Grand Prix. Teamwork has been a fundamental characteristic of my achievements in motor sport, it characterises my approach to the current election campaign, and, if successful, it will also characterise my Presidency of the FIA.
"I'm confident that all drivers, from F1 as well as other motor sport disciplines, will cooperate in this spirit of teamwork and build on the outstanding contributions many of them have already made to the work of the FIA, FIA Institute and FIA Foundation, whether on the track or on the road."
Q&A provided by www.jeantodtandteam2009.com
How are you feeling?
“Obviously I’m very frustrated and disappointed about what has happened,” Michael said. “We were preparing in a very tough way and we’ve done everything possible, but from the start Ferrari and I have always said that I would have raced for Felipe if I had been ready. It’s a pity that we didn’t reach this goal. I’m not interested in getting back in Formula 1 as a full-time job, but I wanted to help Ferrari and my friends under these special circumstances. When I went to Maranello Wednesday after Felipe’s accident I knew what were going to talk about with Stefano and Chairman Montezemolo. In the beginning I was more tending towards a ‘no’, but you all know Montezemolo and how good he is in convincing people. He’s a great friend of mine and we really agree on most things: so he managed to convince me. Furthermore my wife Corinna said that I should do what I think is the right thing to do.”
So why weren’t any exams carried out before Monday night?
“There’s only one way to see if your body is able to cope with the forces generated by a Formula 1 car: try it out. I did some simulations and I used many test cars, but none of them was able to reproduce the stress and the forces you have to deal with on board of a single-seater. So we had to drive one to understand what was going on. My doctor had told me that we could do this test and then, after a short break, add some more stress to see how the situation developed. In the end we’ve done everything we could do, but it didn’t go as we wanted.”
Would it have been possible to prepare any better?
“First of all nobody could expect that Felipe would have been victim of such a terrible accident. So obviously we couldn’t plan anything. And then I think that we couldn’t have done things in a different way.”
There are rumours that they want you on the track at Monza or even next year&ldots; “Speculations are part of the world of motorsport. Many people have their ideas as far as this topic is concerned, but the truth is, that I am very unhappy that I can’t do what I wanted to do, which is helping Ferrari in this difficult moment. This is what I can tell you right now and I have to live with it.”
What do you think about Luca Badoer?
“First of all I have to say that Luca is a great friend of mine. Over all these years he has always prepared himself in the best possible way to be ready to race; this is his work: being ready for the tests and in case something happens. He’s not someone just sitting there and waiting foor something to happen. He’s always ready and has obviously worked very hard after Felipe’s accident. We’ve always said that I first need the confirmation that I’m physically ready, so it’s normal that he is ready now. Knowing him and the team, I think that he is the right choice, the best choice Ferrari could make. It’s true that he hasn’t raced for a while, but a driver never looses his competitive spirit. I wish him well for this difficult task.”
Have you spoken to Felipe recently?
“Yes, I’m always in contact with him, because we’re great friends, which is one of the reasons I accepted to try to get back on the track. I’m glad that he is recovering so well: he’s extremely motivated, although he can’t prepare in such an intense way as he wants, because the doctors still don’t allow it.”
Force India has been one of the most improved teams of the 2009 season and, to a certain extent, one of the biggest surprises. It is now mixing it for the midfield positions along with the likes of Renault, BMW and Toyota and is firmly in the hunt for points. Yet with the field being closer than ever, it’s a hard task ultimately seizing them, as technical director James Key explains in this Q&A:
The competition from back to front on the F1 grid is closer than it’s ever been before this year. With such small time differences covering all the cars, could one or two successful updates make all the difference?
Yes, we have tenths and hundreths between cars at present with just over one second covering the entire grid. This is of course incredibly close, so any reasonable updates can make a significant difference to position. As a result there is a lot of emphasis on optimising qualifying. We had a good start position in Germany and raced at the front without any issues, maintaining a points scoring position. With the current situation, track position is vital.
Has bad luck, a lack of pace, or a combination of both prevented you from putting points on the board so far in 2009?
I think luck has not always been on our side. We have had our cars in points scoring positions this year on a number of occasions but not brought the result home. We had a good window of opportunity in the middle of the season after a big step forward at Silverstone, but it did not work out for us due to Adrian’s unfortunate accident in qualifying.
However Giancarlo’s excellent race drive at that event from 16th on the grid to 10th, just seconds off the points, shows the pace to score points was there. Similarly in Germany where qualifying went well, we maintained position for points only for the coming together with Raikkonen after the first round of stops.
Hungary was less competitive for us, however we have a fair bit more to come for the next part of the season and we need to ensure that we capitalise on every opportunity available to us in future.
Have you been surprised by the turnabout in the pecking order, with Ferrari and McLaren struggling until recently while Brawn and Red Bull excel?
In some ways yes, however it was always difficult going into a season with completely new regulations. With the fundamental changes made for 2009 much depended on the time available to develop the cars before the season, which was perhaps more difficult for the teams competing right to the end of 2008 for the championship.
I am not sure, particularly after the Hungarian GP, that any teams could be said to be struggling at present as the grid is so tight, it’s more down to getting it right on the day and keeping the updates coming through. There are no weak teams in F1 nowadays with just a handful of tenths of a second making big differences.
Giancarlo and Adrian appear to be two of the most closely-matched team-mates on the grid. Is there a healthy rivalry between your drivers?
Of course, there is always rivalry between team mates, however it is certainly a healthy one at Force India. Being a small team it is important that all concerned work together to develop the car and improve performance and on that basis the relationship between our drivers is very good.
Jenson Button has become the close-to-overwhelming favourite for the drivers’ championship. Do you see anyone stopping him?
I think he capitalised on good opportunities early on with a very good start to the season, however it’s less clear now how the second part of the season could progress. It is possible to have a change in championship lead with the current rates of development from various teams so I don’t think it’s all over yet, which is of course great news for Formula 1.
Interview with Adrian Sutil : ‘It’s a good thing that we have a summer break’
After his great drive in Germany Adrian Sutil had a frustrating weekend in Hungary that ended with an early retirement. However he now has a long wait to make amends, because there is a three-week break until Valencia, which gives everyone a chance to recharge their batteries. We asked Adrian for his thoughts on Hungary, the summer break, and the upcoming European GP.
Q: You had a very short race in Hungary. What happened?
The first problem was my crash on Saturday morning. The guys needed some time to repair the car, which affected my qualifying in the end. They did a fantastic job to get it out again, but as I could only do two flying laps we were always going to be on the back foot. Then something went wrong straight away in the race. We had no issue in qualifying with temperatures at all, and then suddenly when I was exiting the pitlane to go the grid we had a massive problem. It seems there was something with the cooling system, and the water temperature was sky-high. It was really unlucky that something went wrong just before the race and we didn’t have a chance to fix it.
Q: How disappointing was that?
It was really frustrating, because you always have hopes, particularly for this race as we had had such a good one in Germany, and you go through the weekend thinking this is going to be it. When you’re on the grid and your engineer is telling you ‘sorry but I think you we have a problem’ it is like expecting presents for Christmas, and when you look under the tree, there is nothing!
Q: How do you feel about having a long break in the middle of the summer?
It’s a long season and it’s very hard, and by the last few races everybody’s tired because there is so much travelling. So I think it’s a good thing that we have a summer break in F1, as nearly everyone else does. I think it’s important to refresh your mind and be fresh for the last few races.
Q: What are your plans for the next three weeks?
The first week I’m a home in Switzerland, and then I go to Bali with my family. I’m looking forward to that, because it’s one of my favourite destinations for a holiday, I’ve been there so many times and I know the place very well. It’s a good place to relax. And then I come back for the last week before Valencia and stay a few days at home.
Q: Has it felt different this year with no testing?
It feels a little bit different, but not too much. You have one and a half weeks between the races, but normally there’s a lot to do. You go to the races and you travel around. I have been so busy this year, even busier than last year when we were testing, so I didn’t really feel the difference. However we haven’t had a disadvantage from not testing as all the parts we’ve developed this year have worked well when we’ve put them on the car.
Q: How do you feel about the race in Valencia?
It’s fair to say it’s not one of my favourites. Last year I was really looking forward to the weekend, because I like street circuits and I have good memories of Monaco and Macau. These are real street circuits, but Valencia was disappointing because it was so flat and wide, and there are no real corners.It’s not very difficult, very easy to drive, just straight on and braking for some hairpins. It’s not that challenging, but physically it can be tough as it’s very hot.
Q: Nevertheless are you confident that you can do well this year?
Last year the race pace was not so bad, but in qualifying I was struggling with the tyres. In the race I lost the car in Turn One about two thirds through the race, so it was not the best weekend! This time for us it should be quite good because we’ll get our new update package on the car, which should help us quite a lot performance wise.
Interview with Vijay Mallya : ‘We have to stay ahead of the game’
After the encouraging weekend in Germany the Hungarian GP was a frustrating race for Force India after Adrian Sutil retired early and Giancarlo Fisichella finished in 14th. On the positive side the Italian set the 10th fastest lap of the race, lapping quicker than eighth-placed Jarno Trulli and both cars from BMW and Renault.
With an update package coming for the next race in Valencia the team remains optimistic about an improvement in form. We asked Dr Vijay Mallya for his thoughts on Hungary and the races to come.
Q: What’s your verdict on last weekend in Hungary?
It was unfortunate with Adrian, because we have achieved fantastic reliability this season. The water temperature started to go up on his warm-up lap, and we needed to avoid further damage to the engine, so we brought him in. That ended his race. Giancarlo had a pretty good race and I was very impressed by his pace in the middle of the race, particularly with his lap times. They were really good and comparable to those running in the top 10.
Q: You were running in or close to the points in the previous two races, so was Hungary a bit frustrating?
I think the whole weekend in Hungary was somewhat frustrating. We had difficulty getting heat into the tyres, and it only shows how you need to get the set-up absolutely right for each individual track. We still hoped that in the race we could pick up a few places.
Q: What do you have on the car for the European GP?
We have a big aerodynamic upgrade coming for Valencia, and we’re looking forward to that very optimistically. Hopefully it will show through in track performance. But having said that, given how competitive the sport is, given the fact that every team is improving and introducing their own updates all the time, we have to stay ahead of the game. That’s really what we have to do.
Q: Any idea about which of the next few tracks might be more favourable?
It all depends on the performance of the new aero upgrade that we are going to introduce in Valencia. If everything works the way we hope it will work, we should definitely be Q2, maybe even the top of Q2 in Valencia and beyond. I’m quite optimistic, but it’s not good to be too optimistic in this sport. But we’re getting there. We’re also working on more upgrades for the final races of the season so fingers crossed we should be able to maintain our momentum.
Q: It looks like the questions over the sport’s future will soon be over and everything will finally be sorted out. Is that how you see it?
Ultimately Max Mosley wanted to cut the costs of F1, and he wanted to make it affordable for new teams to enter. FOTA always agreed with the concept of cost reduction, but probably strongly disagreed with the method which was chosen. But now there is an alignment of views. FOTA has agreed via their resource restriction agreement to bring down the costs over the next couple of years. Most of the teams seem happy with that. As long as they stick to it, both objectives – the FIA’s objectives as well as FOTA’s objectives – would have been achieved.