(Left to Right) Heikki Kovalainen, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hulkenberg, Lucas Di Grassi and Robert Kubica. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Friday press conference transcript from the Bahrain International Circuit site of this weekend’s Bahrain GP with drivers Lucas Di Grassi, Nico Hulkenberg, Heikki Kovalainen. Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Gentlemen, how is it to be in F1? Lucas, would you like to start?
Lucas DI GRASSI: For me it is a great honor to be here in F1. It is my first races as official driver, so there has been a lot of work, a lot of effort to arrive in this position, so I am just enjoying every minute I am in the car, trying to learn as much as I can and trying to evolve as a driver. It is a great feeling.
Q: Nico?
Nico HULKENBERG: I mean it is nice and great to finally be here but I am sure every driver who has come here worked very hard and long for it, same for me. Just happy to be here and looking forward hopefully to a long career.
Q: It is the same thing for Robert and Heikki in a way; a new team for you, Robert. What are your feelings about that?
Robert KUBICA: Quite happy, actually. It is not easy to change after four years being with one team. It is quite a different mentality team, so we have done quite good work in winter to prepare for the new season, new challenge. It is okay.
Q: And for Heikki?
Heikki KOVALAINEN: For me also. Obviously I had a very different winter. We started from zero with the team and have seen the team growing and building all the time. We managed to do a little bit of testing but arrived here a little bit on the back foot. But today has been fantastic. Both cars have been running without any problems so far. It is very good and the atmosphere is very good. I am enjoying it. I think F1 is good as always.
Q: Lucas, tell us about your day today and how things have been going?
LG: I had pretty much a difficult start to the day in P1. I had some small issue in the car which did not allow me to do many laps and I need more mileage. Everything got back to a good position in P2 as I did quite a good run with both sets of tires and we were able to do a different set-up change, so it helped a lot.
Q: How do you see the weekend developing for you and the team?
LG: Everybody in the team is pushing really hard. As everybody knows the car came together months ago and we had a lot of problems in testing, so our main reason to be here and our main way of development is to get everything done properly and with it on time. We are not rushing anything. We are making sure the car is having the best performance. The team is working very, very hard and the team worked all night last night, so everyone is giving 100 per cent and I am trying to do the same when I am driving.
Q: Nico, a remarkable day for you ending up sixth. How has it gone?
NH: It was okay. We were able to go through our program and be able to get comfortable in the car on the track. It ran smoothly without any technical or other problems.
Q: In testing, you held the record for red flags, so you must be happy with the reliability today?
NH: Yeah, I mean again also Williams has pushed very hard and still everyday there is a new guy coming from the UK bringing new parts, not only performance parts but reliability parts, to get our car better. A big thank you to the guys in the factory. Without them we would not be where we are.
Q: How good a teacher is Rubens Barrichello? The most experienced guy on the grid.
NH: He is not really teaching me. I am just looking at what he is doing. As a team-mate he is always transparent. I can see how he drives, how he works, how he approaches the weekend, so in that aspect I can see and learn from him.
Q: You have got a new engine. Is it quite a surprise where you are?
NH: With a new engine? I think Cosworth have also done a good and remarkable job. We did not have any problems during winter testing and again here the engine is running fine and performance wise it is not too bad at all.
