Felipe, what a fantastic circuit on which to take your second pole position.
Felipe Massa: Yeah, it’s really a fantastic circuit. I really enjoy driving here. I managed to do a good lap and I think we need to talk a lot about the tyres and the car, which is behaving very, very well for the moment. It’s just very nice to be here again. I’m really happy to be here.

Talking about that package, the Ferrari - Bridgestone is obviously very very strong, and Bridgestone tyres looking quick too.
FM: Yes, for sure, if you see we are always leading in the dry and here we are, all three of us on Bridgestone tyres so I have to say that we are looking forward to being really strong here and they are not just for qualifying but also for race pace, so really looking forward to the race.

And how was the qualifying lap from your point of view, did it feel like a pole lap inside the car?
FM: Well, you never know what’s going on with the others. You just need to push as hard as you can, to try to do the best lap you can. It should be a good lap, without mistakes, driving on the limit and I just managed to do a great lap, so that’s really fantastic and I’m pretty sure we can be that strong in the race.

And a little bit of a race with Michael ahead of the two Renaults at the beginning of Q3 there. You had Fernando behind you, on the radio a little bit saying he wanted to go a little bit quicker.
FM: Yeah, for sure it was just the out lap, the first lap, he was behind me but then I pulled away, so that’s qualifying. It’s always been a little bit like that this year.

Michael, it’s been a slightly disruptive weekend with the rain yesterday and the learning curve we had today with the circuit, but you must be very pleased with the way things are going.
Michael Schumacher: Absolutely. It’s been a great weekend so far for us, except the Friday and the weather conditions, not that competitive, but no surprise. The weekend was supposed to be dry from today onwards and tomorrow, so we were very confident in that area. We see from the Bridgestone side we’re very strong, not only us but the Toyotas are very quick too. So that’s a very good position for us, considering the race, considering the championship. Let’s see what we can get out of it tomorrow.

Quite difficult conditions; as Q3 developed the cloud came in, a little bit of rain, a lot of wind.
MS: Yeah, indeed. Being the first car out, obviously you have to judge the situation and not overdo it because it was difficult at the end when I went in for my last set of tyres, it seemed to increase a little bit, so you take this extra precaution to start with, but I felt that I really didn’t need it, not that I lost time because of it, because I pushed pretty hard. Nevertheless, we’re looking strong, we’re on the first row, we have the Renaults on the third row, so that’s a very good starting base for tomorrow’s race.

A few words about your team-mate’s pole lap; was that a lap time you could have done, was it there for you to do, did you make any mistakes?
MS: Not really, no. I don’t think so. We’ve been pretty close all weekend together. I managed a very good lap time in Q2, I don’t know what happened there to Felipe, but overall we’re within a few tenths and maybe being the first car out, having a little bit more drizzle because everybody’s in at that time, so the track is clear, it hasn’t been run on, I’m coming out as the first car at that moment, the conditions are a little bit different, but nevertheless I’m pretty happy where I am, he’s done a great job. We’re not fighting that much against each other, we’re working together and therefore I’m happy it’s him.

Well done, Ralf, Toyota’s first time in the top three this year; great for you on a circuit you love: pole last year and now third in 2006.
Ralf Schumacher: It really was a great achievement for the whole team. After the last two races, we really needed to show where we are. We knew from the race before from the lap time point of view that we were there but we really needed to show that and today, with Bridgestone tyres, it’s pretty clear I think. We were really able to show that our package is a good car.

What is the limiting factor for Toyota now? Obviously the car has got better as the season has progressed, where are you at in terms of competitiveness?
RS: It’s difficult to tell, we really have to wait and see tomorrow. I have always said that if we have a good weekend and the tyre is the right one then we are definitely heading for a podium but it’s certainly difficult as long as we have two Ferraris there so there is only one position left but we will try and catch them.

And a word about Suzuka, a circuit you’ve always loved.
RS: Yeah, to some extent it’s a shame it’s the last race, but then again I’m looking forward to another challenge next year. It’s true, I’ve raced here for 12 years, including Formula Nippon and it has always been good for me.