Fernando, lots of variables out there, changing weather conditions, but you were always quick, always dominant.
Fernando Alonso: Yeah, it looks OK from the beginning of qualifying: first in Q1, first in Q2, first in Q3, so nothing really to say about the car and the performance of the team which has been fantastic today in these weather conditions. It seems that we are really really comfortable and we took advantage of it.

It was a little bit touch and go when you went out on intermediates at the beginning of Q2.
FA: Yeah, turn one was extremely difficult for everybody, I think. There was starting to be a dry line so you tended to use that line as much as you could, but as soon as you were a little bit off line and you touched the wet you were off. So thanks to the fuel we had in the car, to be fast we had more possibilities, more laps than normal, so you repeat the lap and it was OK.

As dominant as you are in these conditions, what do you hope the weather will be tomorrow for the race?
FA: Well, to be honest, who knows? We did a little running yesterday affected by the few drops that dampened the track a little bit yesterday so we have no information in the dry but I think we are very competitive in the dry, so if tomorrow we have a normal race, dry conditions, we will be really really strong. If it's a wet race like this, we are strong as well, but it's always very dangerous, and difficult to finish the race sometimes.

Giancarlo, fantastic performance, Renault's first front row since Canada, since Fernando was last on the pole indeed, but you hit some debris on your run, so a great run from you.
Giancarlo Fisichella: Yeah, sure. Even last year we were first and second so it's good, good for us. Unfortunately on the first lap in the second session I spun in turn one and the qualifying session nearly finished there for me, but because I was able not to brake the car into the grass and the gravel and I went into the grass I was able to get out, but it didn't help me. I was a bit cautious after that in turn one especially. The car balance was good straight away and I felt comfortable, so I think we had a very good strategy, a good performance in wet and dry conditions, so I'm looking forward (to the race).

And in Q3, it looked like a McLaren mirror came off Kimi's car and you hit that. Did that damage your car at all?
GF: No, I don't think so. Hopefully not. The car was still OK at the end, so no problem on the car, no damage.

Rubens, welcome back, first time in the top three since Imola; you love these conditions, equalling your team mate's lap time to a thousandth of a second.
Rubens Barrichello: Well, that's very impressive. When I saw that the time was exactly the same as my team mate's, what can the team expect? We took the maximum out of the car and obviously it's a little bit down to luck but after I had my spin in Q2 and I recovered from that, I think that pumped me up so much. As Fernando and Giancarlo were saying, turn one was so difficult, so difficult, that it was impossible to actually push at some points, and when I spun, I completely lost the car but the gravel stopped me at a point when I was on the grass and still with the engine running, so I went into Q3… it was all pluses from there on and the car was working fine, so hopefully we have a good strategy for tomorrow and it puts the Honda onto the podium.

I guess there's no reason to ask you what conditions you are hoping for tomorrow.
RB: Well, it looks like we're competitive in the wet. Following some of the other cars, I could see that we were faster than some of the guys, so it was quite good. But as Fernando said, it's up and down if it's wet. I love the wet, everybody knows that, it has worked my way so many times. I've won races in the wet, I love that, but if it's a dry race it's probably safer and better for the public.

Fernando, Rod Nelson came on the radio on your slow-down lap saying 'poor old Michael down in sixth place.' That won't have escaped your notice and of course the championship is very much in the balance going into these last three races.
FA: Yes, we know the championship is tight and it will be difficult to decide up until the last race and it's really extremely difficult but I think we are very confident, we are quick in the dry, we are quick in the wet and I love the circuits for the last three races. The team knows how to win on those circuits as well so I have no reason to be nervous at this time.

Press Conference

What happened to the beard, Fernando?
FA: It's gone, gone for qualifying: less weight. I hope it makes me quicker. At the moment it has been good but it's important to finish tomorrow and then let's see.

It doesn't get any better does it: pole position with your team mate alongside and your championship rival further back?
FA: Yes and no. I think we have to be careful what happens tomorrow. The points are normally for Sunday afternoon. Saturday is good and we approach the race with a lot of confidence, in a strong position, dry or wet, so I think we are very happy with the result today, but of course we have to finish the job tomorrow.