Q: You’ve had a couple of second places here in Monaco; what chances this time?
RB: You know you always have to take the season as it’s starting and I’m always up to it. I’ve always welcomed the new challenges. I think Michael has been very very strong throughout the year. In this current period, he has been really really strong, but I just keep on doing my work and I’m sure the win will come, when you’re working and you’re maintaining your calmness and everything. I’m working quite well with the engineers so there’s no problem there. Barcelona was a good race for me in terms of set-up. I just got a little more of a hand on the car. Last week I tested quite well in Mugello and Fiorano so I’m quite optimistic.

Q: How serious is this thing about Bridgestones not being as quick as Michelins over the first lap?
RB: I don’t think it is a problem at all. I think there was a particular problem in Imola because the track was a little bit cold and probably the way we went to the grid was a little bit too slow, people were trying to hang back a little bit on the grid, and there was a bit of a problem. Apart from that, I don’t think it’s a problem at all. In Barcelona, Jarno did a fantastic start but Michael was right up with him for the first lap, so I don’t feel it is a problem at all.

Q: Michael’s won the first five races so far this year - do you think he can go on and win them all?
RB: The pressure’s on him, apparently, because people are trying to make him win the whole 18 which I think is impossible. There are lots of people trying to win the races, including myself. There are tracks where he’s stronger at than others. You just have to take your chances whenever they come. He’s been very strong and it’s really good to see that, after all this time, he’s still doing well. As I said, I’m proud to be driving alongside him in a team because I’m really being compared to the best out there. But I don’t fear him. I think my time has to come during the year and hopefully he won’t score many points whenever I’m scoring.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Mike Doodson – Mike Doodson Associates) Rubens, you suggested that it was just a matter of a second which cost you a possible win in Barcelona and I know that after the race you drew attention to the fact that the team had 1m 20s of advance warning before you came in. I looked at the video and the team was slow with the tyres but I think the fuel took more time to get in than it took to put the tyres on. Can you clarify for us – are you disappointed with the performance of the team? Do you feel the team could have gained you that one second that would have given you the chance of winning the race?
RB: No, I don’t think so. The one second that I was looking at was when he came out of the pits in front of me, when I was just behind him. That second… if I was in front, it could have been a different story. At the pit stop, there was apparently a little bit of a mess with the information and they got it wrong but it wouldn’t have made my race. There was a second, earlier, and if I was in front then you can dictate the pace and my car was only getting stronger, so with all the backmarkers and everything, you can play with them and then have the advantage. Then I could have lost in the pits and then it would have been another story but the second that I’m referring to is the one when he came out from his second pit stop and I was on the racing track and he came right in front of me. Then it would have been different, I guess.

Q: (Dan Knutson – National Speedsport News) Rubens, you live in Monaco. Besides the obvious tax reasons, why do you live here and why do you like it? And the other two guys, why don’t you live here and why do you chose to live where you live?
RB: For me it’s quite clear. It’s very close to Italy. Sometimes you fly, sometimes you drive. It’s just quite easy to go from here. And it’s quite nice for my kid, the weather is nice and this place is so peaceful when you don’t have anything. When you have the tennis, sometimes, there can be quite a lot of people. When you have other things going on, yes, but during the week it’s so nice, so quiet. You can walk and have a peaceful time, so that’s why I live here.

Q: (Tomi Siren - STT) Rubens, as you have memories going back over ten years here in Monaco, what’s the minimum celebration you’re going to have on Sunday, as it’s your birthday?
RB: Well, as the years go by, you don’t celebrate any more. I was 20 when I first came here. For me, it’s actually going to be quite a good day. All my family are coming to visit me – my sister, my father, everyone is here, so it’s going to be fun. And, hopefully, with a good and positive way of thinking, I could win the race. That would be the maximum. And I invite you for some drinks after the race. (Laughter)

Q: (Niki Takeda – Formula PA) It’s a question for all three of you – your impressions of the pit lane layout please?
RB: I think it’s quite good, I like it. I just saw the facilities, I‘ve been up there and it’s quite nice to walk from one side to the other and it’s a bit quieter as well. You can stay in there as well and just be quiet. But last year, you tended to walk a little bit and there are a lot of people, but now at least you have a small place where you can stay.

Q: (Randy Philipps – The Gazette) This might be an unfair Rubens, but do you ever, in your quiet time, think that in all your years at Ferrari, if Michael wasn’t there – let’s say he wasn’t racing or was with another team – can you ever imagine how many victories you would have at this point?
RB: You could take life in this way. You could think, OK, if I didn’t race in F3000 and jumped straight into Formula One it would have been different. A lot of things could have been different if Michael wasn’t there. Maybe the team wouldn’t be as strong as it is right now, but I don’t actually think about that. I enjoy the fight, I enjoy the challenge, I don’t fear and with all the input that I’ve put in since I started with Ferrari, I think I have gained a lot of respect and a lot of races when he was there, which was something that never happened with other team-mates. So yes, maybe if Michael wasn’t there, I could maybe have won many more races and maybe a championship, but why don’t I think that I can win when he’s there? I think that’s more of a challenge, that’s more something that brings a smile and the challenge keeps on going. That’s how I take life.