07/06/2010
NEWS STORY
Robert, you continued your run of points finishes in Turkey. Were you happy with the performance of the car?
Robert Kubica: It was a good race and I enjoyed driving the car. We had some balance issues in practice, but I had a much better feeling with the car during the race. The only disappointment was that we didn't get ahead of Mercedes because we are still missing a couple of tenths in order to beat them in qualifying. Right now we have to get everything perfect to jump ahead of them, but I think our race pace is quite similar, maybe even quicker, so it's important we close the gap. We have some more updates coming along in the next few races, which I hope will give us a chance to do that.
Are you looking forward to going back to Canada?
RK: I'm glad that after a year's break we are returning to Montreal. I enjoy driving there and I like the characteristics of the track. It's kind of a mix between a high and low-speed track because there are big braking zones and some long straights where top speed is important. We haven't been to a track with these characteristics yet, so we will have to wait and see how all the teams perform there. Also, because it's not a permanent track, the grip level changes quite quickly during the weekend and you can push more with each lap, which always feels nice.
What are realistic expectations for the weekend?
RK: I think the car should work well in Montreal so I'm quite confident we can go there and get a strong result. I'll be aiming to score good points, as we have done all season, which is very important for our position in the championship. It would be great if we could repeat the performance we showed in Monaco and fight for the podium, but if it's not possible I will simply concentrate on getting the maximum from the car and bringing home as many points as I can.
Vitaly, looking back to Turkey, you came very close to scoring points. Sum up your feelings after such a promising performance.
Vitaly Petrov: I have mixed feelings about Turkey because even though it was a good race for me, I was disappointed to end up without any points. All the way through the weekend I was consistent and felt comfortable with the car. In qualifying I made it into Q3 for the first time, which was my target and this was an important step for me. Then, in the race, everything was going perfectly until the incident with Alonso, which caused the puncture.
Did it feel satisfying to race on terms with the Ferraris?
VP: Of course, but it would have been even more satisfying to finish in the points. The car felt very good in the race and I was able to keep pace with the cars around me, especially Massa who I was pushing hard for most of the race. All the cars in the train were very close and it was good experience for me to race with the top teams.
Are you looking forward to the next race in Montreal?
VP: It will be a totally new experience for me because I have never been to Canada before. So it's a new country and a new track for me to discover. I've been told that there is always a good atmosphere in the city and that the public really support the race so I'm looking forward to experiencing that.
What are your expectations for the race?
VP: First of all I just want to get there and see how things go in practice before I start setting myself targets. I need to get a feel for the car and learn the track so that is the priority. It's a track with lots of big braking zones and chicanes, so I think it will suit the R30 because our car is easy to drive and is good at jumping over the kerbs. I will be targeting the top ten in qualifying and we'll see what happens in the race.