Q: So it’s not sliding…
MS: … not sliding, not as extreme as I tested initially, because initially, you imagine you make this big step but then the engineers have worked very hard to try to get performance back and they’ve been quite successful.

Q: A year ago, you had had a very good test at Imola. Have you had a similarly good test this year, to give you an indication of how you’re going to be…
MS: We haven’t been at Imola.

Q: But it’s been snowing…
MS: Exactly. No actually, I think those guys that had been at the last test in Valencia probably had all been a little disappointed because conditions were just terrible. We were just talking about it. There was so much wind, it was almost undriveable. The circumstances were not available for a positive test.

Q: But that was really going to be the indicator, was it?
MS: No honestly not because we have done an intense programme all winter long and we have done pretty consistent preparation. We’re quite happy with what we have – you always think you can do better.

Q: Are you feeling you’re at about the same level as this time last year?
MS: No, certainly not. Last year at this time I had my new car and obviously that was a very fast toy. Now we are running the older car which I’m pretty sure a lot of people would love to have, an old car as we have, but I would obviously look forward to the new one and I’m pretty sure that’s going to be faster than what we have now.

Q: So what sort of level do you feel you’re going to be at in these early races?
MS: We will be reasonably competitive, probably not completely up front. It’s difficult to predict, honestly, because we have been testing in cold conditions and then Australia and Melbourne is usually quite good to us. We seem to find extra performance. So we will be running close to the front, whether it’s exactly at the front or it’s second or third we will find out.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Mike Doodson) Question for Michael, as the GPDA representative. Narain, through no fault of his own, had done no driving from the end of the season that he did in Europe last year, until he sat in the Jordan for the first time, and I think he’s done three or possibly four days while the rest of you have been testing at every possible opportunity. Do you feel apprehensive at all that you’re racing against someone who has got so little experience in Formula One?
MS: Obviously I think he himself would have wished to have more running availability, but that’s not the case. I’m pretty sure… as I saw him in Barcelona during the test and I looked a little bit at him but he did a good job there. Obviously with the speed of the car he had to watch his mirrors quite a bit and he did so. He respected everything perfectly well so I think he’s capable of doing so. Race and test situations are slightly different but I believe he’s doing a good job. (Turns to Kathikeyan) Don’t you?

Q: (Chris Lowne - Motorsport News) A question for all the drivers -- apart from the cars, the biggest change this year is qualifying. Are you comfortable with the complexities of the split session and, frankly, is this what F1 should be about. It was not that long ago that you guys came up to a crescendo late on a Saturday afternoon and fought out pole position, but this aggregating it -- are you comfortable with it as drivers?
MS: I think first we should experience it before we discuss it. We sit here and we have not even done it. Lets wait and see.

Q: Michael this question is for you. About a week ago, Ron Dennis went on the record and said that back in 2000 he spoke to you about the possibility of you going to McLaren and I wondered if you could tell us if that was the case and how far the discussions went and interestingly why at that point in your career you were thinking of making the change to McLaren, if that was the case…
MS: Indeed, yes, there was an approach from Ron and obviously it didn’t work out – obviously, as you can see! And I am pretty happy where I have been and it is perfectly natural that we have had lots of discussions over the years. Every so often he comes around and he checks up and so it was in 2000 that he checked up, but it was not only in 2000...

Q: Has he approached you since then?
MS: Yes

Q: If you don’t mind me asking, when was this… the most recent approach that he made?
MS: I don’t think it is fair to get into that detail, but he did and I think that’s enough of that.

Q: (Ken Cavanagh - Triple M Radio) A question for Michael: Given the Minardi situation, a two-part question – one do you think Minardi is a serious threat to you in the race? And two what would you like to see when Jean Todt and Paul Stoddart meet this evening?
MS: Leave it up to them, its not my part to be involved in this. Regarding the first question I know they are good guys and I had a nice occasion with Paul myself when he sort of realised a promise he gave me once to go in his double-seater and I enjoyed that with some friends and my wife and so on. He is very nice. It is very unfortunate to hear these things and you have to make up your own mind on the question.

Q: Given they are not a threat can you see any reason why they should be excluded?
MS: If .. you play soccer?

Q: I used to..
MS: Imagine there is a new rule in soccer and you always play with ten people and there is always one team that is not doing very well, would you accept they play with 11 or more people…?

Q: If they were effectively playing with their hands tied behind their back already, yeh.
MS: I don’t think it is a serious subject to discuss.

Q (James Allen - ITV) Michael is there any concern with you with single lap pace for Ferrari and Bridgestone and how important will your position on the grid be in the new form of racing that we are going to have in 2005?
MS: Qualifying is always important, but whether it has the same importance we shall find out with the new rules. You might approach the weekend and the race differently and put qualifying in a different position. We have to find out a little bit. Our performance in qualifying last year in general was not too bad and we have to find out this year. We had winter testing and we had some difficulties and now we have different temperatures and environment and we had similar things last year so now we have to wait and see.

Q (Alain Pernot – L’Auto Journal) To Michael, there was a lot of tyre work for preparations for this season. Was it a disadvantage for Ferrari to be the only top team using Bridgestone tyres compared to Michelin with seven teams?
MS: Whether you should call it a disadvantage I am not sure, but it is was hard work for us.

Q: But the fact that you are up against seven teams on the same rubber, that sounds like a disadvantage doesn’t it?
MS: It could be an advantage to have one big company just behind one big team. It has proven pretty good so far.

Q (Matthew Clayton - Sunday Times) Michael, there is a lot of talk about the 10th anniversary in Melbourne this year. Your first race with Ferrari was obviously your first here in Melbourne so can you give just a few thoughts and recollections of those early days when you were not in quite the position you are in now and of Melbourne as a Grand Prix city.
MS: That’s a good point. I hope it runs better than it started, obviously I look forward to it big time. Melbourne is always a great place for us to come to. My love was not there initially, but it has improved. The environment is so positive, it has improved and it is a beautiful place to come to. You see the places we go and the temperatures we test at -- and the weather we have… Then, you look forward to come down to Melbourne. It is a good city, with good spirit and nice people.

Q: How much have things in the team changed over that decade for you?
MS: Obviously big time. It was my start with a new team. We have built up strong relationships and I can only say we have fantastic harmony and relationships in the team and that is what has developed over all those years.

Q: To Juan Pablo and Michael, does an Australian paper tell the truth about Juan Pablo complaining that Frank Williams did not pay for him to have a fitness coach.. What do you think of the duty to be fit as an F1 driver?
MS: What part of the question is for me?

Q (Mark Fogarty – Auto Action) Can you see that it would be good for the sport if you did not dominate this year and you struggled a little bit?
MS: I think I would disappoint plenty of people.