Questions to both team principals: there's obviously a great deal of interest in the possibility of a second Grand Prix out here in Singapore. Could I have your feelings about that, and the possibility of it being a night race?
Flavio Briatore: I know there's a lot of gossip regarding night Grands Prix. Really, I don't care. If the drivers are happy and technically a way is found to make sure it's safe for the drivers, for the spectators, I'm always happy to do more races and less tests, this is sure. And especially if the race at this time – in the night-time – is perfect for Europe and is good publicity, it is very good communication for Formula One and for me, if everything else is taken care of in the safety area, I'm very happy to do it. And it won't be as warm as today.
Jean Todt: We must first make sure that safety is the number one item, so there are a lot things that have to be checked because even talking with people in charge of TV programmes they have some doubts about that, but I will say that if Bernie and the promoters find proper evidence that it's better, as long as it goes in the right direction, why not? I would be careful because some organisers have been investing a lot of money by making beautiful circuits. Some will do in the future, so we must be cautious for those who do invest in new motor racing stadia that things are equal. We know that circuits like Monte Carlo are part of the history of motor racing, but everybody says we must go to Monte Carlo but we are not so happy to think about other street circuits so we need to make sure that it's going in the direction that it can really make a good race. If it makes a good race, why not?
Another question for you both: both your teams came here for three days' testing last week. Was that as beneficial, if not more beneficial perhaps than three days testing in Europe?
JT: Economically it was a good thing because we know that this year an agreement has been taken amongst all the teams. It seems that it was the right direction, but in the past it was very difficult to be in the proper situation with hot race conditions. Being able to come for three or four days with one car in Malaysia was very helpful but the drivers could answer even more precisely to this question.
FB: I feel the same as Jean. At the moment we are here, we are testing. The fares are paid, the transport is there and I'm sure we have a much better way than we had in Europe. I'm sure this is the right way to go but I think it might be confusing on Friday we come back at square one, we're testing more than we were the previous year. I believe we need to be careful to make sure the mileage we are doing between racing and testing, and the agreement we have is not exploding again with more testing. I think this is the question. Plus, as Jean said, testing like this is good because the people are here, the mechanics are here, it was impossible to transfer everything to Europe, so overall it's good.
Final question to you both: you've both lost World Champions from your teams this year, for whatever reason, how much are you missing the input of those World Champions?
FB: If you're missing somebody important in the team it's lost, you know? Like in any company, any time you are missing a good player in the company you are missing something, this is sure, but we need to understand as well that the team is strong, the people are the same and they are working with Giancarlo and Heikki to be doing our best. Last year we spent every moment, to the last second, to develop the 2006 car to fight with Ferrari for the championship. Now we are a little bit late, we know that, and we need to recover quickly. We have everything to get back on top. We have the people, the finance, the drivers, everything. You turn the page and you try to do the best you can, and at this moment everybody is motivated to give the best to Fernando and Heikki – I mean Giancarlo. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
JT: I have been covering this point quite widely over the last month but I will summarise. Michael has made an outstanding contribution to Ferrari. He has won 72 Grands Prix, I think, for Ferrari, five World Championship Drivers titles, contributed to six Manufacturers and he has decided to stop his racing career and I understand his decision. Ferrari is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. It's had its ups and downs. Overall, we have been quite competitive for the last ten years so we have been trying to work on a stable team which can allow itself to lose some strong team members like Michael. Our responsibility was to try and find the best driver but not only the best in terms of driving but in terms of mentality to suit the team, to fit the team. Michael, nevertheless is still a part of the company and we are very happy with his contribution. He's happy about his situation and we are very happy with Kimi and Felipe so now we just have to demonstrate all that with some results. We have to deliver, so we will try to deliver.
Giancarlo, obviously you're very much the team leader now; how much of a responsibility is that?
Giancarlo Fisichella: It's no responsibility. It's just important to do our best, to do my best for the thousand people who are working for us. The team is very motivated to work with myself and Heikki and we want to do the best results. It's not easy but we're all happy, we're all motivated to go forward, to improve the car, the balance, the grip, everything to fight for victory.
It didn't look so good this morning, but much better this afternoon. What was the difference between the two?
GF: Well, I didn't test last week so the last time (I was here) was last year so this morning I tried to get used to the circuit and get more confident with the circuit, and then in the afternoon the car balance was there. We tried new tyres and some other things and the car was better. My feeling with the circuit was better too and at the end of the session we were second and third which is quite encouraging for tomorrow. So although we still have a lot of work to do because the grip is quite poor, especially with this condition, with this track temperature, but we are going better and step by step. It's going to be a tough race, we know, but we will do our best.
