Fernando, this test and Montmeló are crucial for the season.
"No, this is the wrong message. Here we're making the first step, we have to improve constantly, race after race: if the race at Montmeló goes wong the season isn't over".
What exactly is the first step?
"Being in the first five in qualify and having both cars in the points".
What if this first step isn't there in Spain?
"No one in the team considers that possibility. We have trust in our work".
After the WDC in 2006 did you think of not winning a WDC for such a long time?"
"Yes, it's quite difficult winning a WDC, even more two in a row... to win a third one everything must go right. I knew that winning a third WDC would have been hard, in fact I said that after winning it I would retire".
Will you retire then, if you win it?
"No, even though three is a special number. It's the number of WDCs won by Senna".
Schumi took 5 years to win his first WDC in Ferrari, do you sometimes think about it?
"Yes, and that's what keeps me calm. Good times come if you work well. Michael is a good example, he helped Ferrari to come back".
The F2012 isn't what was expected, but you've been good at minimizing the damage.
"I think this is my best quality. I'm not the best in qualify, in street circuits, under the rain, in the pit-stops, but I'm a 9,5 in all of this, and I know how to extract the maximum from the car I have."
Be honest, the first test at Jerez was a shock?
"The impression was that the car wasn't what we were expecting, but that exploring the setup regulations we could extract a good performance. No, I wasn't worried".
Have you ever raised the voice to say that it wasn't the Ferrari that was promised?
"No, never".
How do you feel about not having the best car?
"You're walking on a thread 30 metres high, you can't make one mistake. If you touch a kerb in Q1, you're out. If you lock a tire in Q2, you're out. But this is what makes the team stronger. We're not seeing any longer the mistakes we did in 2010 and 2011 in strategy, in the pit stops or driving. That's because, walking on this thread, the team has reached a level of professionality and confidence higher than what is imagined. The most important thing is missing, having the fastest car, but in these years the team has improved at double the speed than a normal year".
Are you comfortable in saying that Ferrari is the strongest team?
"I have no doubts. Regarding external factors we are almost a perfect team"
Such a strong team can win the championship without the best car?
"Yes".
This is the only test permitted by the rules, does the team feel penalised because you can't do more testing?
"Yes, and more than the others because Ferrari philosophy of development has always been based on testing".
Pep Guardiola is feeling stressed and is taking a sabbatical. What do you think about it?
"I understand him, at the end of 2005-06-07 seasons I was feeling empty too. But with experience I was able to have easier years, now I'm never at 100%, but at 98% all the year. I can manage myself better".
How is it going on Twitter?
"It's fantastic, after Australia there aren't any more lies about me".
Bookmarks