Hamilton edged clearly ahead of Massa, while Kovalainen topped Raikkonen to put McLaren ahead also on the second row. (LAT Photo)

Q: When you do a lap on this circuit, a long one with a fantastic range of corners, tell us about the satisfaction of doing that?

“I would say this is different to Monaco, Monaco being my favourite track. If you get a perfect lap at Monaco, that also feels incredible. When you just breeze past the barriers, it feels amazing, but here, being probably the most incredible circuit for me on the grand prix calendar, when you put a lap together, when it’s clean, smooth, flowing, and you hit every apex that you plan on doing and you really extract everything out of the tires, everything out of the car, it really feels incredible. It is very difficult to do so. You have to make sure that you have the right car and the right setup and it’s easy to push too much in one corner and struggle on the way out of another. I can’t explain to you just how great it is.”

Q: You mentioned before about the white lines in wet conditions. Is there any particular part of the track which concerns you more than other areas if it was to be wet tomorrow?

“I think if I was concerned, which I’m not, it would probably be with the higher-speed corners: Eau Rouge. If you clip the outside and the inside of the curb it could be quite unpleasant but also the outside curb of Turn 10 through Pouhon. It’s such high speed and you’re relying on the grip level you have and if you just touch that white line, I’m sure it’s going to send you flying, so it’s very, very important that we try to avoid those.”

Q: How important is it for the rest of the season that the team has been decided for 2009, so there aren’t any rumors who could be in the team next year, so you can concentrate on just driving?

“I don’t think it was a particular problem because we knew the situation and what would be the team’s plan. I think it’s great for Heikki to know that he’s here, he’s got a comfortable place here next year and we can continue to work together. For me it’s pleasing because Heikki and I get on so well and we do such a great job in testing and everything that we participate in with the team and that’s really the reason why we are so strong this year. It’s not down to one individual, it’s down to all of us really, putting in a hundred percent, so Heikki’s brought a lot to the team, and I’m looking forward to continue working with him for hopefully a lot longer than just next year.”

Q: In Budapest, Felipe made a great start and you were on pole. Is it something that worries you for tomorrow? And can you work on your start as a driver, and have you practised some starts since Budapest?

“Yeah, he’s obviously been very quick in the last couple of races, his starts have been going better and better. In Hungary I think we had a very good start. I don’t know in the last race that we had the best but we were on the dirtier side. I don’t know whether we’re on the clean side here, I don’t particularly think there is a real clean side. The team has been working very hard… there’s not really much more that I can do. If the grip’s there, if the settings are right, then I will be able to extract the most from it but 1) if you don’t have the grip you struggle, and 2) there are some areas that we can improve on but I think we will be strong tomorrow.”

Q: There’s quite a short run into the first corner. Does it make the start easier or more difficult versus a circuit where you have half a kilometer before the first corner?

“I think for the start it perhaps makes it a little bit easier. I think the longer the straight from the startline the more effect a good start will have. But I think it’s tricky here. There’s Turn One and then you’ve got the longest straight in the world after Turn One, so it’s going to be an interesting start tomorrow but I plan on staying ahead.”

Get the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Wallpaper for your desktop now.