>
> Malaysia
> Brazil
> San Marino
> Spain
> Austria
> Monaco
> Canada
> Europe
> France
> England
> Germany
> Hungary
> Italy
> USA
> Japan
 
> News
> Home

 
European Grand Prix 26th - 29th June - Thursday Press Conference

Length: 5.148 km
Number of Laps: 60 (308.863 Km)
Best Lap: M. Schumacher- 1'32''226 (2002, Ferrari)
Record Pole: Montoya - 1'29''906 (2002, BMW Williams)
2002 Pole: Montoya - 1'29''906 (BMW Williams)
2002 Podium: R. Barrichello - M. Schumacher - K. Raikkonen


Q: Michael, at the last race you were pursued by two other chassis and Williams were fastest at the Silverstone test. How worried are you about the competitiveness of the Ferrari at the moment?
Michael Schumacher: As long as we keep winning races I am not so concerned.

Q: But they are really knocking on the door, aren't they.
MS: Yep, but I have been saying that since the beginning of the season so I don't need to be surprised now.

Q: Is the pace of development as quick as it always has been, if not quicker?
MS: I think we are doing a sort of high level job as we have done in the past but the others simply have picked up the game on top and closed the competition, but again that is what I had expected and that is where we are.

Q: Could you see Ferrari again picking up the pace of development?
MS: I could not see Ferrari getting up in sort of a margin as we had last year, no, because simply in all the areas the other teams have raised their game and there is not much margin left actually.

Q: Now, your brother came in for a certain amount of criticism for Canada but you have come to his defence. Can you just repeat what you have said about the fact he didn't try to overtake in Montreal?
MS: No, I think it is very simple - there is a lot of people that talk without knowing what is going on and that is a problem. Then you get criticised for something that people shouldn't even make a comment about and if I hear things like this I don't feel very happy because I wouldn't feel happy if it went the other way around. If you look, it wasn't only him being behind me; there was Montoya behind Ralf and there was Alonso behind Montoya and no-one could pass anyone. I was behind Ralf before and I couldn't pass him either. It is all about a nice story, how to create a story, how to make people look a little bit stupid and that is what I dislike.

Questions from the floor

Q: This weekend is going to mark the tenth year Jean Todt has been with Ferrari. You have spent many years with him, where do you think he stands in the big results Ferrari have had over the last few years?
MS: I think it is very clear what Jean Todt has achieved for the team. I think Ferrari, in the past, has been the highest political team and everybody feared to be in a position as Jean Todt is, to be a driver for Ferrari, to work even for Ferrari, because you weren't sure how long you would stay there. And now you see Jean Todt is there for ten years, I am there for seven years and so many other high level people, mechanics, and everybody is there for so long. We have achieved stability and stability has come from Jean because he has certainly hired the right people, made them stronger and made them happy to stay on and keep on fighting, keep on pushing, keep on being motivated, and that is something which is an outstanding achievement from him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Weather for Nurburgring
 

All information and pictures on this site are copyrighted material and owned by their respective creators or owners. Any type of publication, copying, broadcasting or retransmission of the information or pictures without prior permission of the copyright holder is prohibited. Copyright © 1997-2003 The Prancing Horse.