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Brazilian GP 19th - 22nd October 2006 - Saturday Press Conference

Length: 5.807 km
Number of Laps: 53 (307.573 Km)
Best Lap: K. Raikkonen - 1'31''540 (2005, Mclaren)
Record Pole: M. Schumacher - 1'31''317 (2004, Ferrari)
2005 Pole: R. Schumacher - 1'46''106 (Toyota)
2005 Podium: K. Raikkonen - G. Fisichella - F. Alonso


Q: Felipe, unlike your team-mate, that looked to be a perfect three sessions for you, a little bit of a tow there for you from Nick Heidfeld at the end.
Felipe Massa: Yeah, it is definitely great to be on pole position for my home Grand Prix. I did a very very good lap. I was definitely a bit lucky to get a tow from Nick but I lost a little bit in the last corner as well, but we need to look at the data to see if I lost more than I gained because by the time I caught him, I was on the same pace as I finished the lap. But the car is just fantastic, the tyres were working really well today in the sunshine and it's great to be here, at home, and on pole position. I only made a mistake in Q2 in the last sector, it could have also been a good lap, so I feel quite strong and really fantastic to be here. I never thought, when I was a kid, that I would be here and I'm here so I'm really happy.

Q: Celebrating your first Ferrari drive here with overalls in your national colours; you also scored your first championship points here. This means a lot to you. Describe the feeling of driving out in front of the crowd.
Felipe Massa: It's just fantastic. You see the people around, shaking hands, and when you stop to make the start, they are there, screaming, you can even hear them and you can see the crowds. The Brazilian people are very hot about Formula One and you can see that the people enjoy it a lot, and especially pole position for me is already fantastic. I don't even think about the race tomorrow, but it gives me even more motivation to think about the race tomorrow, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Q: Felipe, obviously this is Michael Schumacher's last Grand Prix, can you describe for us the atmosphere in the Ferrari team, and also, representing the drivers, what it's going to be like having Fernando and Michael behind you tomorrow, and how aware you are of that championship battle.
Felipe Massa: Well, for sure, in the team you can see people are a little bit sad that Michael is leaving, but I think it's very good for him, leaving in that condition, with seven titles in his pocket. The atmosphere... for sure, in a way they are happy for him, but they are also a little bit sad to lose him. He's a very nice guy who will be around, for sure, and the atmosphere is just trying to do the best for us. For sure, Michael was not lucky today, he doesn't seem to have been very lucky during the last two races and he was also pretty strong during every practice. Anyway, he has a very strong car for tomorrow; for sure he will fight a lot in his race and hopefully we can finish in front, and hopefully we can score first and second. It would be fantastic for the team, we can still fight for the Constructors' Championship. Nothing's finished for him as well, so we will see.

Q: Felipe, Ferrari have been so quick here this weekend; what has been the reason for that?
Felipe Massa: Well, we have a good car, it's not difficult to explain: good car, good tyres, good package, everything is working well. Unfortunately, Michael had a problem. He seems to be not very lucky in these last two races but starting tenth, I think he's able to fight tomorrow and bring the car to the front. Anyway, it's just fantastic to be here, on pole for my home Grand Prix for the Brazilian people. Therefore, it is very very special, especially for me. It's one of the most incredible days for me.

Q: Are you feeling confident about tomorrow?
Felipe Massa: Yeah, for sure, being on pole position, I don't even need to think about tomorrow, because it's already enough for me, but I think it gives me even more motivation to think about tomorrow and to be even stronger, so I'm really looking forward to tomorrow to have a good race and hopefully stay in my position.

Q: Were you expecting Renault to be out of the top three?
Felipe Massa: No. Yesterday they were quite competitive, looking at the condition of the track and everything, but we were struggling quite a lot yesterday, especially me, to warm up the tyres, and this morning the track is a little bit hotter and the tyres are working quite well. I also changed the set-up, but I didn't expect them to be out of the top three but they are close, anyway.

Q: Michael's run this morning surely gives you a lot of confidence as well.
Felipe Massa: Yeah, he was very quick on scrubbed tyres. I was also quite quick on the scrubbed tyres and then we changed something on the set-up which improved it even more, so we are quite motivated and optimistic for tomorrow.

Q: But you need a bit of heat tomorrow...
Felipe Massa: That would be good. As long as the tyres are at the right temperature, they are working. Our prediction is that it should be like today, maybe even hotter.

Q: Felipe, you have three poles on the left side races is that due to any changes in the car or do you feel mentally stronger?
Felipe Massa: Well, I think in the second part of the championship I was always very competitive with Michael and always fighting tenth by tenth with him and I've got three pole positions which is really, really good and at two very difficult tracks like Turkey and Suzuka, and also here, so I feel really comfortable with the car and for sure it is my first year with Ferrari and like this in a top team and I am growing race by race and I think have achieved a good level now and this is more motivation for next year.

Q: Felipe, is there extra pressure on you to become the first Brazilian to win here since 1993?
Felipe Massa: For sure, we have a lot of pressure tomorrow, but not just my own pressure for the Brazilian people but also the pressure for the team as we are still fighting for the Constructors' Championship which is very important so we are under pressure tomorrow, but we try not to think about that and I will do my job in the best way I can and be relaxed to do 72 laps at a very high performance.

Q: Felipe, what is the situation with you in helping Michael Schumacher in this race?
Felipe Massa: It depends on Alonso, for sure, it depends where he is -- if he is in the points or not. If Michael is second, for sure, maybe I can help because it is also important to win the (Drivers') Championship for him and for the team, but we need to be very careful of Alonso.

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