16/05/2005
NEWS STORY
Bob, how pleased were you with the team's performance in Barcelona?
Bob Bell, Technical Director: I was very proud of our result there. It could easily have been second and third with Fisi and Fernando, which would have been a tremendous achievement, but even to finish second and fifth speaks very highly of the drivers, who both had to deal with adversity in the race. It reflects well on the team, too, because it shows that we are operating in a manner that if things go badly, we are able to recover from it and salvage points. I don't think that is something we were capable of doing a few years ago, but it most definitely is what you need to be capable of in order to fight for a championship.
Did the drivers impress you in the race?
BB: Absolutely. We have always said about Giancarlo, and the same is true of Fernando, that they do not give up. They both race until the chequered flag and even if they have something happen – like the problem for Fisi, or Fernando's tyre blistering – they do not let their heads drop. As a team, that is what you want from the drivers. It proves they are 100% committed.
Finally, the team won in Monaco last year – can you do it again?
BB: We certainly hope so. One of the puzzling things about last year with the R24 was that the car was difficult to drive on the limit, yet it flew round Monaco – the last place where you would want a difficult car. I think what we have seen with the R25 is that where the competitiveness of last year's car was up and down, this season we have lifted those ‘downs' to a consistent overall level of performance. So far, Michelin have been extremely consistent in their level of performance this year. Their tyres have been historically strong in Monaco, and we are confident they will deliver a good solution once again. At every race so far, we have been quickest or next quickest – over five different circuits, in varying conditions. I anticipate that we will go very well in Monaco, and that we will see both drivers fighting for the podium.