Fernando, describe Istanbul in one word…
Fernando Alonso: Where do I start? I think I'd go for… fantastic!
You enjoyed your first visit then?
FA: Definitely – I demonstrated the car in the middle of the city centre, and it was an amazing experience to run on the old streets in front of the public.
What was the city like?
FA: It was really varied – there were so many different things to see, and I'm looking forward to getting back there again. You can tell straight away that there is a mixture of cultures, between the European and the Asian, and it means there is lots to discover. I saw the Blue Mosque, and some of the other sights in the city, but the best thing was doing the demonstration run around the old hippodrome. That was where they raced hundreds of years ago, and we started the new era of Formula 1 in the same place. It was pretty cool.
Turkey is a new country for Formula 1 – how were the fans?
FA: Incredible. I think we had something like 30,000 people turn out to watch us, so they definitely know something about F1 already!
Were they knowledgeable or discovering the sport for the first time?
FA: Both – some of the people knew a lot, others were there for the first time, but everybody was really enthusiastic and excited to see the car and the team. It was nice to go there beforehand because at the races, we have very little time to meet the fans – so it was great to meet them at the demo, and to have time to talk with them, because everybody was so open and friendly. I hope we will see a very passionate crowd at the race.
You arrive in Turkey as championship leader – does that change anything?
FA: No – for me, I am looking at the races one by one, not at anything else. It is nice to arrive in Turkey in this position though, because it means we are strong and have a good chance of being successful in the first ever race there.
What do you think the challenges will be to achieve that?
FA: I expect the temperatures to be very hot, so managing the tyres will be the first priority for us – there are lots of slow corners, which make the rear tyres work very hard on the exits. After that, I think the brakes will have quite a hard time, and it will tough for the drivers too in the cockpit: when temperatures are very high, we can lose up to 3 kilos through sweating in the car. So we need to be in top physical form as well as getting the car to perform to its best level.
Are you worried after the performance in Hungary?
FA: Honestly, no. It was a bit of a surprise for us that we had problems in Hungary, but in reality I think the car could have been pretty competitive with a trouble-free race. Of course, that doesn't matter because the fact is we didn't score points, and we need to do that in Turkey. But we still have a strong car, and the team is very motivated. I am refreshed after the break, and ready to attack the final races of the year. The team is leading both championships, and that is definitely the best position to be in right now.
Giancarlo, have you visited the Istanbul circuit yet?
Giancarlo Fisichella: No, I haven't…
That may seem surprising to some people – is it not an essential part of your preparations?
GF: Honestly, no. The first stage is just to learn the basics of the circuit, and you don't need to visit to do that. The team has given me a DVD of some laps in a road car so I can learn which way the corners go, and see the geography of the track. Some drivers use their Playstation to learn the track, but I think the video will be plenty for me.
So when will you see the track for the first time?
GF: Thursday morning when I go to the circuit.
And will you start learning it straight away?
GF: Yes. The first thing we do every race weekend is to walk the track with our engineers. It lets us inspect the track in detail – to look at the kerbs and see which parts of them we can use, plus to get a feel for the layout and how we need to drive it.
It must be difficult to learn it on foot though?
GF: It is, so I will go round on a scooter as well, just so I can get a feel for the lines I will need to use in the R25. The track always looks very different when you are in a car or on a bike, compared to on foot.
So what will it be like on Friday morning when you drive for the first time?
GF: I think it will be quite exciting! It is always fun to discover a new circuit, and to have the challenge of learning it from the beginning. It is quite demanding for the driver, because we have to focus on the technical programme as well while we are learning.
