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Monaco Grand Prix 28th May - 1st June - Thursday Press Conference

Length: 3.340 km
Number of Laps: 78 (260.520 Km)
Best Lap: R. Barrichello - 1'18''023 (2002, Ferrari)
Record Pole: J-P. Montoya - 1'16''676 (2002, Williams)
2002 Pole: J-P. Montoya - 1'16''676 (Williams BMW)
2002 Podium: D. Coulthard - M. Schumacher - R. Schumacher


Q: Paolo, first of all can you give us some indication of what needs to be changed within an engine to race here in Monaco?
Paulo Martinelli: Mainly the calibration for drivability. We have to consider that the course in Monaco is not high stress or continuous wide-open throttle condition but lubrication of other integral parts of the engine. So we try to simulate Monaco testing on the dyno and testing on the track and we try to prepare to our best as usual.

Q: When you look at the performance of the new car in comparison to the old car do you think it is doing as well as you had expected?
PM: We are happy with the new car and with the new engine applied to the F2003-GA and I think we have the potential for further improvement, that is the normal way of proceeding. We have to start from a point that may be a step forward and from this position, with the end of the old car it was almost impossible to make another development; with the new car we have some more potential for further improvement.

Q: With the new engine as well?
PM: Maybe yes, from now until the end of the season, but considering also that the challenge for the second half of the season will be more difficult, considering we have to prepare properly in time for 2004 with the change of regulations, so you also have to consider the implications in 2003 to be prepared for 2004.

Q: Now, Renault have two engine teams working leapfrog in a way. Have you got the same sort of thing at Ferrari?
PM: We have not two separate teams, we have a group of staff that is dedicated to medium-term development and some that follow the day by day operation, not two separate organisations but in the organisation of course we have people dedicated to the different subjects.

Q: How difficult is it for you to be working on two programmes at once?
PM: I think this is something different because the step for next year is different to what it has been in the past. We have to double the life of the engine so we cannot wait until November, running the new engine on the dyno for 2004, to be reliable for the first race and we cannot think to use a development of the previous engine to use next year. We have to be ready for 2004 with a new engine with almost double the life, so we have to organise that in the second half of 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Weather for Monaco
 

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