Lewis, a new look to qualifying and a sensational qualifying session. Obviously we don't know the fuel loads involved and your friend Robert put you under massive pressure with two or three minutes to go.
Lewis Hamilton: He did. Both these drivers here did a fantastic job. It is good to see Robert up there with us but also to see Heikki. His first race with the team and he has done a fantastic job. It was very very close. Obviously in the first session, Q1, I did not get a very good lap. But then the last lap I was able to bridge the gap and put the sectors together.

Spectacular driving over the two days here in Melbourne. Your verdict on the new technical regulations and what it is like inside the car?
LH: Well, I have always been for them. I really do like the new regulations that we have. Driving with traction control is slightly different obviously than driving without it but it really brings out, I guess, the best in all the drivers. You really have to push yourself. But you know the feeling in the car is great. The car feels fantastic. I think the team have done a fantastic job really to prepare the car this weekend but also to get all the bits out here, so to all the guys back home 'Good job'.

Talk us through that pole lap Lewis. A lot of pressure. How god was it? How does that rank with your others?
LH: I can do better, for sure. Being on pole is a great feeling but there are always improvements that you can make. I started off very well but I find that the gap is always very tricky. I had a huge gap but then all of a sudden at the last corner I saw that there was a Williams up ahead, so I was pretty much behind the Williams, I think two or three seconds, for most of the lap. Whether or not that makes a difference who knows but I am happy with the result.

Robert, congratulations to you too. For some unbelievable slides too. What a spectacular lap that was. Talk us through that quickest lap of yours.
Robert Kubica: For sure, I think a made a mistake in the corner of turn 12 where I went off over the artificial grass and lost more than a couple-of-tenths there. But you know this is the new style. We know we can make some good results in qualifying and I took quite a lot of risk which in the end didn't pay off because I lost more and I could maybe stay in front of Lewis but, anyway, I think it is a great achievement for the whole team especially that the beginning of the season, the beginning of testing, was quite hard for the people who have designed this car and built this car. But we have done a very good job. All the people in Munich and Hinwil have worked very hard to be here and thanks to them I am here.

Talk us through the weekend because yesterday didn't appear to be brilliantly quick but then today right of the pace from minute one.
RK: Yeah, yesterday we faced some problems. This year's car is pretty difficult to balance and it is extremely difficult to find the right balance and the right set-up especially when the track is green and yesterday the conditions were very difficult, very windy. Also in qualifying we had some wind but anyway we have done a good job and let's hope for the race.

It looks like without traction control, without aids under braking, that you're loving it just as much as Lewis.
RK: I found it really no different with TC or with no TC. I found after two rounds in winter testing I forgot how it was with TC. But what is strange is that I found much better braking stability without engine brake system which means that I think we missed something last year with this system but anyway it is gone. We think of the future and I think we are in good shape.

Heikki, turning to you. Congratulations on a fantastic result for the team. The first Ferrari down in fourth place and you were quickest in Q1. Talk us through qualifying.
Heikki Kovalainen: It was like all weekend. I have just tried to take things steady and not make mistakes, just push a little bit more all the time. Q1 was a reasonable lap and the car felt it had a pretty good balance all the way through the qualifying sessions and just at the end the team managed to make a perfect lap but this is the way it is now. I think it is a very good start with my new team and I am very happy with the team and I am looking forward to the whole season and to the race tomorrow.

Talk a little bit about the team and the character of the team?
HK: I think there is a great motivation back in Woking and also the support from Mercedes is fantastic. It is a huge team with a lot of people involved. Like this weekend, although we had very good practice sessions the boys worked last night until 5.30 am as they had picked up a problem overnight and managed to fix the problem which potentially could have been a problem in the race. This is the type of energy we have at the moment in our team and it is really fantastic. I am very lucky to be part of it now and I want to make sure that I keep my position here and have a good and strong future with them.

Lewis, your thoughts on, as Heikki said, a great fillip for the team and it won't have escaped your notice that Kimi Räikkönen is down is 16th place and Felipe Massa is fourth. What a way for the team to the year after the tribulations perhaps of 2007.
LH: Absolutely. We have just turned over a new leaf and as Heikki said Mercedes-Benz and McLaren have done a fantastic job. They have pushed right to the limit. Last night we had a couple of problems, but they were ready to do whatever they needed and they were here today and pushed very hard to get the car set up properly and be out there. Really, for the start of the season it couldn't be a better position for both of us.

Press Conference