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Austrian Grand Prix 16th - 18th May - Thursday press conference

Length:4.326 km
Number of Laps:71 (307.146 Km)
Best Lap: M. Schumacher - 1'09''298 (2002, Ferrari)
Record Pole: R. Barrichello - 1'08''082 (2002, Ferrari)
2002 Pole: R. Barrichello - 1'08''082 (Ferrari)
2002 Podium: M. Schumacher - R. Barrichello - J-P. Montoya


Q: Michael, you won in Barcelona and said you were in love with the new car. Do you think it is going to be suited to this circuit?
Michael Schumacher: Barcelona is a circuit which shows the true potential of the car, specific in aerodynamic purpose so if it goes well there it is supposed to go well everywhere.

Q: But some of the rival teams felt you were going to be quicker than you were. What are your feelings about that?
MS: Well, we were quick enough.

Q: You certainly were, but were you not surprised to be further ahead?
MS: Honestly, looking at the weekend and studying the data and the times of the other competitors, no I was not. I was expecting a tough fight, particularly with Fernando and I don't know how much we have seen about the others. Obviously McLaren were out, Ralf in the first stint was able to follow at a distance and then after they sort of disappeared with their strategy. I think a lot was tyres there and tyres sort of overruled the potential of the situation. I believe that we couldn't show the true potential of the car and we will have better opportunities. If you see in relation where Bridgestone runners had been over that weekend compared to the Michelins I think our car showed what it is able to do. And if you remember we started in a similar way the new car [last year] in Brazil a very tough fight with Ralf and from then on it just went better and as you can imagine, you learn a new car, you improve it as well because new bits and pieces will come - on the old car it was not the case; it has remained what it was last year and we just kept on using it while we waited for the new car so I believe we have a very good car that should only go better, not worse.

Q: This circuit has not been the best for you, so do you still feel you can do well here?
MS: We will keep trying.

Q: If I could ask the inevitable question about team orders to all the drivers, they are banned now, but is that the right decision and is the ban actually enforceable.
MS: Well, I think it is down to you that the team orders have changed, I guess, because you sort of didn't like it. Whether it is enforceable or not, I don't know. Certainly the obvious team orders will obviously be enforceable and we have made a clear statement from our point of view on how we are going to do things and there is nothing else to add from my side.

Q: To Michael and Ralf. It is the 100th Grand Prix you are racing together. Are there some special feelings?
MS: We had some great fighting here in 1997, so we look forward to some more of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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