Looking back on the Belgian Grand Prix, how happy were you with your weekend on a scale of one to 10?
Bruno Senna: In fairness I'd give it a eight and a half because apart from the two mistakes I made during the weekend, everything went smoothly. It certainly was not perfect because of my mistakes, but at the same time it was very encouraging and gave me great confidence to work hard with the team and to try and develop things further; it gave me a firm base for future development.
So, you were able to forget about the mistake on the first corner and look at the bigger picture?
BS: Yes, of course. Mistakes happen, and what happened at the first corner potentially cost me points but what was paramount that weekend was to get some laps under my belt, and I did just that. I managed to complete the race, clock up many laps and familiarise myself with the car. The weekend gave me a good all-round experience.
Did your success in qualifying set expectations too high?
BS: Naturally, when you do well in qualifying it raises the bar of expectation. Inside and outside the team, everybody was very happy with the qualifying and there was greater expectation for scoring points in the race. Having said that, I was the first one to point out that racing is very different to qualifying, and I wasn't getting carried away. It was a step into the unknown, and in terms of performance it went really well but I need to polish up on my race craft, which is a bit rusty.
Having a race under your belt must instil some confidence and help settle the nerves...
BS: Of course in Spa I didn't know what to expect in terms of the competitiveness, but it was extremely encouraging that I managed to develop my pace quickly, and work with the team well. I have a strong working relationship with the engineers, and I am eager to get into the cockpit in Monza because I feel more confident heading into this race. As with any sport, miles on the clock and experience instil confidence in oneself.
Monza is another well-respected circuit - what is your experience of it?
BS: I've known Monza since 2005, so I have been there every year apart from 2009. It's a circuit where I've had a mixed bag of results. When I was younger, there were a few occasions when I didn't have the right car set-up but I now understand the circuit much better. I'm a more mature driver now, and I'm confident we can achieve another top 10 qualifying and score more points.
With the various driving experiences you've had this year, your relationship with the R31 must be growing closer...
BS: Exactly, I know the car much better now. I'm more familiar with the tendencies the car has, and I understand the direction we can take it. I'm looking forward to working closely with the engineers to devise solutions on where we can strengthen our approach.
Two more points for you in Spa - were there more positives to take away than negatives?
Vitaly Petrov: Yes, it was definitely a positive weekend because, if you cast your mind back, we had some difficult races before. So, we were content with being back in the top 10 and hopeful that we can push on from there. It was an interesting weekend in Spa, and we faced challenging, varied weather conditions which really tested us but overall we tackled what was thrown at us, well.
You now have a new race driver team mate - what's your relationship like with Mr. Senna?
VP: I've known Bruno for quite a long time from my days in GP2. Back then, we were not close friends, but since he joined us this year he's been in every briefing and we've eaten together, talked a lot and developed a good relationship. He's a good mate, and he's also a talented driver, which was evident in Belgium. He demonstrated his skills there for all to see.
Did you feel any added pressure when he out-qualified you, or do you just view this as healthy competition?
VP: No, I think it's just healthy competition. I had a few issues with the car in Q3 but I think Bruno deserved it, he really did. He had a strong qualifying and proved his ability.
What are your thoughts on the Italian Grand Prix?
VP: Well, Monza is a very interesting track, where you need a different level of downforce; you also need a very strong engine and solid brakes. There aren't many corners but every single centimetre of the track is critical for lap time. Braking, traction and exits of corners - Monza is all about precision.
It's a special race with a lot of motor racing fans - do you consider this one of the 'big ones'?
VP: This is a big race, no two ways about it. I think it is quite similar to England; just like Silverstone is full of English fans, Monza is full of Italian Ferrari fans! They just love motorsport, love the circuit and love Formula 1.
Reflecting on the Belgian Grand Prix, there were more positives to extract than negatives...
Eric Boullier: Sportingly, it could have been a better weekend because we had one car in the low points and the other not scoring any which is not sufficient if we're going to chase down Mercedes GP in fourth place. However, all in all it was a good weekend; we had a very respectable qualifying session and Bruno stepped into the cockpit successfully. These aspects were quite promising; it was encouraging for the team to be able to see the cars delivering and their work bearing fruit.
sign in