Q. Felipe this is your home race and David potentially your last race. What are your thoughts coming into this? First of all Felipe
Felipe Massa: I’m really happy to make my home Grand Prix and I’m looking forward to it. We don’t know about the weather but I hope it will be fine and we can do a good race. Hopefully we can get points, which would be fantastic for me.
Q. David this has actually been a good circuit for you in some ways. And Rubens was just saying he reckons McLaren are going to be tough.
David Coulthard: I think it is a circuit I enjoy. I’ve gone well here in the past and if you remember last year I ended up pitting at the wrong time, just before I think Alonso crashed his car and there was a red flag. As far a year ago goes, I think I had a good chance of winning the race, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and seeing how the car performs. It is actually quite a short lap and last year in qualifying was incredibly close and I expect that more so this year.
Q. How does the future look at the moment?
DC: As we speak I don’t have a contract to drive in Formula One next season, but clearly there is a drive available at Williams and I think if there is a candidate available, my credentials are stronger than anyone’s out there. I’ve got pole positions, I’ve won Grands Prix, and I’ve got a lot of experience of developing cars, tyre development. It’s been quite surprising the amount of interest from sponsors because over the last few years I’ve never had an outlet for that because at McLaren you don’t carry your own personal sponsors and badges. I’ve been contacted by people wanting to know what my future is and if they can be involved. In terms of that sort of thing it is a pretty exciting time and now that Williams remains the last competitive seat available, I’ve got to do everything I can to try and make them realise that I am the best of the drivers available.
Q. What are your best memories of McLaren?
DC: I’m not good at doing the looking back thing. When you get these typical drivers questions you know – favourite circuit? That is easy Spa. But when it goes into things like favourite food, favourite actress, it is not something I do. So the best memories of McLaren? The Grand Prix victories have been very enjoyable, the 12 I’ve had with McLaren. The unpleasant memories have been the victories I have given away. But you spend nine years with a group of people and obviously you build up relationships. There are some friendships, some acquaintances and some I don’t know because the team is always changing.
Q. So you think there is possible potential in the future, and it’s not looking too bad?
DC: Not at all. You decide you are getting older because you’ve been doing this for a few years, but it is an exciting time. With uncertainly, if you have motivation to want to continue and then you get up and work and see what you can see. Obviously in this situation is not just down to your desire, it takes a number of other people to believe and want to give you an opportunity.
Q. Going onto a slightly different subject, Jenson Button… the Contract Recognition Board has ruled in favour of BAR. Just put yourself in his shoes. What does a driver feel if he doesn’t want to drive and he perhaps wants to drive for someone else?
DC: I think it is impossible to play that game and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. You can get someone else to try to do that. Journalists do that and put themselves in someone’s shoes. It is easy with the benefit of hindsight to say I would have done that – what an idiot, why did you do that?
Q. We are trying to get it more accurate?
DC: Ask him. Ask him how do you feel driving for a team that you didn’t want to drive for because you had lost faith in them. I’m sure you will get a no comment answer because now he has to maintain the relationship for at least another year and possibly more.
Q. Felipe, your feelings about the year so far?
FM: I feel this year was very good for me. I had a bit of problems at the beginning of the year. But after we started to work in the wind tunnel, the car improved a lot and I did as well. I think the second part of the year was very good for me. I was all the time very competitive and I was competitive with Giancarlo and with other drivers as well. I’m just looking forward, I’ve not gone backwards. My races have been very quick and consistent. The second half of the year has been good for me and it should also be for next year as well. In terms of the car, that has improved a lot, and the Bridgestones, and I’m really looking forward.
Q. You have the confidence to stay with the team next year. How much of a jump do you think you can make?
FM: It is very difficult to stay. Everyone wants to be first next year, and it difficult to know how much better we are going to be. I think that we are learning every race and we are improving. Even in 2002 it was difficult to develop the car and it is fantastic now to see how much the car improves. But about next year, it is difficult to say. I think we will have a very good year and a competitive car.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
