Thursday Press Conference  [2004-21-October]

Drivers: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) and Ricardo Zonta (Toyota), David Coulthard (McLaren) and Felipe Massa (Sauber)

Q: A question for both of you: it’s your home Grand Prix, how do you approach it? You have different circumstances in each case.
Rubens Barrichello: Well, first of all, I’m so happy for Ricardo that he’s here, because when they said that Jarno was joining, it was probably a nice thing for Toyota, but as Ricardo had a chance to drive in some Grands Prix, this is probably the best one, so it’s nice to have him here.
For me, it used to be a good Grand Prix always, but there used to be pressure. In all the phases that I’ve gone through in my life, especially after Jordan, I had to change my attitude and I had to send the emotions away from everything that I do, so I was actually joking with one of our Italian friends, saying that you don’t have to believe in things, just because I haven’t finished the last ten races, it doesn’t mean that I won’t finish again. I have to remember the good times. I don’t believe in bad luck at all. So the weekend is just nice. I have a lot of work to do. I’ve been with the press for a long time now. Actually this is probably the first time that I’ve been speaking in English. I’ve just finished on press conference in Portuguese about five minutes ago. But it’s a good race. It’s one that I enjoy and it’s a race where after a hard day’s work I can go back home and sleep in my bed. It’s just so good.
Ricardo Zonta: I feel very happy to have the chance to race in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Of course, so many things have happened this year at Toyota and they have given me the chance to race again. There have been so many changes and I’m just very happy to be here, in Sao Paulo and I will try to do my best. Of course, we have to work very hard to see if we have the possibility to finish well.

Q: Ricardo, just give us an idea of your history at this circuit? I think you’ve done quite a lot of racing here; what does that do for your confidence?
Ricardo Zonta: Of course, racing in Brazil you want to do better and better all the time, but I started here in Formula Opel, then Formula Three. I did my second race in Formula One here and I crashed and I had a problem with my feet. But I think the motivation that you have with Brazilian people and everybody crying and saying your name is very nice. But when you are racing, you go 100 percent at any racing circuit. Here it’s just extra motivation.

Q: Has it been a bit of a problem, popping in and out of Formula One? You replaced Cristiano, then you missed out in Japan and now you’ve come back again.
Ricardo Zonta: In China I felt very strange. I felt that something had happened in the team. Of course I didn’t have the position to push for anything. I was just the test driver. Of course they gave me the opportunity to race this year and I felt something strange. After that, they said it could be Olivier or me not racing in Japan, and Brazil as well, so in the end they gave me the chance to race here and Olivier was quite nice as well, because you know how he feels these things.

Q: How about the races you’ve had so far with Toyota; you seem to have had a lot of mechanical trouble?
Ricardo Zonta: Yeah, in Spa, of course, I was fourth in the race with three laps to go, but at the end I had the engine problem. It would have been my best result, it would have been the best result for Toyota as well and then in China, I was eighth, fighting with Felipe Massa for eighth position and I had a gearbox problem and I had to stop, so it was quite a difficult year for me.

Q: As a local boy, what’s the weather forecast? I hear it could be quite interesting.
Rubens Barrichello: It’s cooler than last week. You know Brazil’s weather can be quite funny. It’s so difficult to know. I don’t think we’re going to have rain on Sunday but anything can happen. I’m thinking that all the time we have hot weather during the weekend, sometimes we have the rain during the weekend, so I’m just seeing the opposite now. We’re seeing the bad weather now and probably it’s going to become better. But I’m saying that because of pure feeling, I don’t have any information.

Q: Now I understand that when you played football the other day, you and Michael scored a goal each…
Rubens Barrichello: I scored a goal and Michael scored on a penalty, which is quite different... (Laughter). ... which is quite different. You know with the penalty you just choose one side and then you let it go.

Q: So you’re feeling one up at the moment are you?
Rubens Barrichello: Exactly. Even though now they’re saying that I was offside and so on. It’s a bit of a thing that happens sometimes when you’re a good player and you score well, it happens in Brazil. (Laughter).

Q: So when it comes to the race itself are you expecting any favours from Michael this weekend?
Rubens Barrichello: No, not at all. To be very honest, when you have a kind of a friend inside… it’s just like we are with Ricardo, Montoya, Alonso and so on. Whenever he’s racing in his own place, you hope that he does well. It would have been lovely for Sato to finish on the podium in Japan. I think this is the same. At the bottom of his heart, Michael would like for me to finish quite well here, but if he had to decide whether he was going to win or let me win, I’m sure he would choose for himself to win. So I’m not expecting any presents, I don’t want any presents, I’m feeling as good as ever. I’m lucky that I can be here with a competitive car, in the state of mind that I’m feeling right now, just feeling good and I’m just putting in first gear tomorrow and just seeing my people and going for it. It’s a lovely racing track for me. I think it’s one of the best in terms of overtaking. I’ve heard that they’ve done something to the surface of the asphalt, but they didn’t get the results that they were expecting, so maybe tomorrow we are actually saying that the track is a little bit bumpy, as usual, so it’s no different and I’m feeling good, I’m feeling good. Is this the time I can win? I’ve no idea and I don’t care. We’re going to see on Sunday afternoon and it’s just that it will depend much on me and much on the team that is putting in so much effort and giving me the chance to go for it.

Q: How much did those two wins in China and Italy, how much of a difference did that make for you?
Rubens Barrichello: Well, to be honest, if I got to Brazil without any wins, feeling that this was the last race and trying to do that, it would have been very difficult, in terms of just a pure mind game. It would have been very difficult. I think the two races were fantastic. The Japanese Grand Prix was a bit of a problem in terms of everything, but I had the speed to win the race as well if it wasn’t for the qualifying and so on, so I’m feeling good. I think the two races certainly promoted a good state of mind. After Michael won the championship, I think the team relaxed in a way that gave the chance for both drivers to have a chance to win. The team is giving me a VIP feeling and I’m feeling good.

Q: Just one final question on a different subject: we have a situation with Jenson Button whereby the Contract Recognition Board has judged that he will drive for BAR but he has already stated that he wants to drive for Williams. How does that affect a driver; just put yourself in his shoes; what would you be feeling now?
Rubens Barrichello: First of all, I would have resolved the matter inside closed doors. I wouldn’t have told the press what I wanted to do before anything went to the public, because for me, it would have been much more simple. Secondly, I think that it’s very hard to drive for a team if you wish for another one. It’s just like having a girlfriend that you don’t want any more, you want the other one. What do you do? I want to kiss that one, but this one is sticking with me. It’s all a bit of a difficult situation.

Q: Felipe this is your home race and David potentially your last race. What are your thoughts coming into this? First of all Felipe.
Felipe Massa: I’m really happy to make my home Grand Prix and I’m looking forward to it. We don’t know about the weather but I hope it will be fine and we can do a good race. Hopefully we can get points, which would be fantastic for me.

Q: David this has actually been a good circuit for you in some ways. And Rubens was just saying he reckons McLaren are going to be tough.
David Coulthard: I think it is a circuit I enjoy. I’ve gone well here in the past and if you remember last year I ended up pitting at the wrong time, just before I think Alonso crashed his car and there was a red flag. As far a year ago goes, I think I had a good chance of winning the race, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and seeing how the car performs. It is actually quite a short lap and last year in qualifying was incredibly close and I expect that more so this year.

Q: How does the future look at the moment?
David Coulthard: As we speak I don’t have a contract to drive in Formula One next season, but clearly there is a drive available at Williams and I think if there is a candidate available, my credentials are stronger than anyone’s out there. I’ve got pole positions, I’ve won Grands Prix, and I’ve got a lot of experience of developing cars, tyre development. It’s been quite surprising the amount of interest from sponsors because over the last few years I’ve never had an outlet for that because at McLaren you don’t carry your own personal sponsors and badges. I’ve been contacted by people wanting to know what my future is and if they can be involved. In terms of that sort of thing it is a pretty exciting time and now that Williams remains the last competitive seat available, I’ve got to do everything I can to try and make them realise that I am the best of the drivers available.

Q: What are your best memories of McLaren?
David Coulthard: I’m not good at doing the looking back thing. When you get these typical drivers questions you know – favourite circuit? That is easy Spa. But when it goes into things like favourite food, favourite actress, it is not something I do. So the best memories of McLaren? The Grand Prix victories have been very enjoyable, the 12 I’ve had with McLaren. The unpleasant memories have been the victories I have given away. But you spend nine years with a group of people and obviously you build up relationships. There are some friendships, some acquaintances and some I don’t know because the team is always changing.

Q: So you think there is possible potential in the future, and it’s not looking too bad?
David Coulthard: Not at all. You decide you are getting older because you’ve been doing this for a few years, but it is an exciting time. With uncertainly, if you have motivation to want to continue and then you get up and work and see what you can see. Obviously in this situation is not just down to your desire, it takes a number of other people to believe and want to give you an opportunity.

Q: Going onto a slightly different subject, Jenson Button…the Contract Recognition Board has ruled in favour of BAR. Just put yourself in his shoes. What does a driver feel if he doesn’t want to drive and he perhaps wants to drive for someone else?
David Coulthard: I think it is impossible to play that game and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. You can get someone else to try to do that. Journalists do that and put themselves in someone’s shoes. It is easy with the benefit of hindsight to say I would have done that – what an idiot, why did you do that?

Q: We are trying to get it more accurate?
David Coulthard: Ask him. Ask him how do you feel driving for a team that you didn’t want to drive for because you had lost faith in them. I’m sure you will get a no comment answer because now he has to maintain the relationship for at least another year and possibly more.

Q: Felipe, your feelings about the year so far?
Felipe Massa: I feel this year was very good for me. I had a bit of problems at the beginning of the year. But after we started to work in the wind tunnel, the car improved a lot and I did as well. I think the second part of the year was very good for me. I was all the time very competitive and I was competitive with Giancarlo and with other drivers as well. I’m just looking forward, I’ve not gone backwards. My races have been very quick and consistent. The second half of the year has been good for me and it should also be for next year as well. In terms of the car, that has improved a lot, and the Bridgestones, and I’m really looking forward.

Q: You have the confidence to stay with the team next year. How much of a jump do you think you can make?
Felipe Massa: It is very difficult to stay. Everyone wants to be first next year, and it difficult to know how much better we are going to be. I think that we are learning every race and we are improving. Even in 2002 it was difficult to develop the car and it is fantastic now to see how much the car improves. But about next year, it is difficult to say. I think we will have a very good year and a competitive car.

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