Q: Did it feel like a pole winning car a couple of weeks ago when you were still testing in Europe?
MS: It did, to be honest, for Australia, in particular, because if you look at the statistics we have always been very strong here in Australia - and then comes Malaysia which is traditionally a little bit more difficult for us so it did feel good for the first race.

Q: Rubens, a great performance. Obviously, you did your time earlier in the afternoon, what were the track conditions like then?
Rubens Barrichello: Well, the first session, when I went first, it was very dirty and so I was just carrying the car around and I knew the potential was there, so in second qualifying I just pushed as hard as I could. I don't know if the track was better. It was just a great lap and fortunately, or unfortunately, Michael beat it by just a little bit. So I am disappointed not to get that little bit, but I am a happy guy because I pushed as hard as I could.

Q: This year we have a new rule with 800 kilometres per engine, what has it been like so far running with new rule?
MS: I have to say that, initially, it sounds very impressive to go from 300 to 800 kilometres with an engine, but we worked very hard on that and we have not had too much trouble. It is down to preparation and our guys have done a great job in that. They worked well to get the rules 'into account' and do the kilometres and not lose too much on the power side. In fact, I think we have gained in this.

Q: Michael, really an extraordinary start to the season?
MS: Yes it has gone quite well for us and honestly we are not too surprised by it because Australia has always gone very well for us and if you take last year we were very strong and I don't know by how much, we led the time trail, and then we came to Australia and the thing went completely reversed. So I am obviously concerned by this and warn that things look good here, but might not be elsewhere.

Q: And the cars seem so quick on race fuel this afternoon as well?
MS: I think the circuit improved a great deal. We had the saloon cars out between the sessions this morning and the afternoon and they put a lot of dust on the circuit and Rubens had to experience that being the first car, the difference is enormous and a lot, I guess, is in that.

Q: Is the new pit lane entrance and speed limit going to make a difference to strategy tomorrow?
MS: That's a good question I hadn't thought about that.

Q: Rubens, it's only a fraction of a second difference to Michael, do you have any idea where you could have caught that up?
RB: It was a good lap and you have to be happy with yourself and that's it. There is no reason to go and find where I could have gone faster. It was a good lap for me, overall, and the time was seriously quick, so the set up was good and the car felt good and I am second, right now, and looking forward to something better tomorrow. But, right now, it is good for ourselves.

Q: And a comment on the one engine rule. Is it making any difference?
RB: Yes, it did. You are running and just 'looking', not speeding up all the time, on Friday and Saturday and you have to take care with the motor you have behind you. To be honest, I think everything is working. I think the only strange thing is the first qualifying because it seems to be that only 10 per cent of the people were trying to do a time and the rest were trying to take the car around (safely) for the second one - because it is too much of a pain, if you have an off in the first one, and then you don't have time for the second. It's pretty cool. The one engine rule is no problem. It is actually better.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: Michael did you change your line in the last turn?
MS: It was slightly different because I made a mistake in the first qualifying session in the second to last corner and ultimately it influenced the last corner.

Q: Could you have run a '23'?
MS: No, it was a good lap.

Q: Regarding the changes in the qualifying format, is there any reason to keep the first run?
MS: Well, you know, honestly, I think it is you, the media, and the spectators, wanting something different. There were complaints two or three years ago and it was changed and then more complaints and it was changed so this is what we have. And now you complain again. Yes, maybe it is fair. For us, too, it is not that interesting. We just sit around and wait.

Q: Michael, was your car in the same configuration and carrying the same fuel load for all your fast times?
MS: We developed the set up through the weekend.

Q: I want to know if you had the same fuel load.
MS: Basically at certain stages you prepare for the race and at other stages you do other things. But obviously it is not something I want to go into detail about too much.

Q: Do you feel a sense of satisfaction, after all that has been written in the off-season, that you can come here and you and Rubens go 'bang bang' and it is 'situation normal'?
MS: Yes, to some degree. You all know what has been written over the winter time and to come here and to prove what a fantastic job the engineers and everyone in the factory has done and to put it into a result as we do here is a great satisfaction, but I don't want to be too ambitious because I know it is going to be a tough season. Other races will suit us less well than this one.

Q: At one stage we had eight drivers, separated by seven tenths and drivers from five different teams. Is that the face of Formula One this year?
RB: You mean the first session. I don't think you can see anything. You have the choice of low fuel or high fuel, so people doing that just equalised each other. I don't think it tells you too much.

Q: Do you think it is likely we will see some four-stop strategies?
MS: If you have strange weather or safety cars, perhaps, but not in a normal race.

Q: Michael, (Mr) Ecclestone has been quoted saying it is time for you to lose your title. Ron Dennis said he is sure you will quit in 2005. Why are so many important people impassioned to have you out of the game?
MS: First of all, I am pretty aware of what Bernie said and he said simply that he thinks Raikkonen is a great contender for the championship, not that I should not win it and it is just part of the game. And what Ron says is down to him.

Q: Michael, the GPDA expressed concerns about the inexperienced drivers on Fridays. Were there any problems?
MS: No, I have to say from my point of view all the drivers had reasonable experience and did a good job, doing things in the right way.

Q: Any problems for either of you two?
MS: Yes, there are some experienced drivers who sometimes stay in the way.
RB: Yes, I had more problems on that side too! (hinting that Montoya was one...laughter)

Q: Michael, are you not concerned that the 'ring master' comes out and says when Ferrari are dominating again that 'it is a disaster'.
MS: Ok.

Q: What do you think about that? Are you disappointed?
MS: Listen, you won't get a quote from me on this one...

Q: Gotta try. ...Well, did you think the first qualifying run was useful?
MS: To quote him, basically, he said it is 'too long a thing' and I agree.

Q: Is it more important to have a lap in the configuration for the second run, that counts, rather than track position by taking fuel out on the first run? Will that change from circuit to circuit? (After delay and silence)
RB: I was just waiting...
RB: It is too early to say. To be honest, I didn't like the first run. There was no need to go fast if you see what I mean. I would rather try hard on Friday because it is something and it is part of the weekend and today I didn't feel I had to push. Okay, I had to come out first when the track was dirty and dusty and so on but I didn't feel like pushing.