Q: Rubens, it looks to be very, very close between the first three and we have Michael at the back of the grid. Talk us how the race and how you think it’s going to go?
RB: Well, I think it’s new for everyone. The amount of grip that we are going to get from the track in the race is still unknown and I think the rubber will come up definitely throughout the race and I think it could change a lot. We’ve seen different times throughout the weekend, sometimes we are faster and sometimes McLaren and BAR and even Williams were faster so it’s going to be a good race and it’s a track where you can overtake so I guess it’s going to be a good one.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: So, Rubens, your second pole in a row.
RB: As I said inside, maybe you hadn’t heard it, the fact that I was up for pole and I had a problem in pre-qualifying but I think the car was good on new tyres so I was really up for it. But I was shocked when I saw Michael spinning because it’s not often that you see Michael doing such a mistake. So, when I saw it I stayed 20 seconds without words because I didn’t know what to say really. You always expecting something really good, sometimes better sometimes not.

Q: Where do you think you really picked up the time during the lap?
RB: I think sector two is quite strong, as well as sector one. I had a little bit of graining through sector three, where I lost a little bit, but I think the tyre is good everywhere. It has been better throughout the weekend in sector two than the other sectors.

Q: What is the tyre wear going to be like tomorrow?
RB: People seem to think that we have a problem with the tyre because they have seen we have a little bit of graining at the front. We have a very powerful tyre, which is obviously giving us a little bit of understeer, but as the weekend is going the graining phase is getting less so hopefully tomorrow it won’t be a problem.

Q: How do you feel the last two days have gone? Has it been fairly progressive?
RB: Yeah, the weekend has been good. Obviously, it is a good and new challenge to go out on a new circuit and find out how it is. I like it. The set-up of everything is quite good and progressively I have been improving my car. We had to change a little bit the set-up itself just to cope with a few things and it has been working.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Ian Stafford) I know you don’t need Michael at the back of the grid to win races, Rubens, you proved that in the last race. But nevertheless, is Michael out of the picture now from where he is in terms of challenging for the race tomorrow?
RB: I don’t think so. Obviously he is going to have a tougher race. But we have seen his year, for example (Giancarlo) Fisichella or Felipe Massa, they have started from the back and had really good races where they finished in the top six. So, I guess the nature of the circuit will provide some overtaking and I think Michael can still be up there. If he can win the race or not, that is probably a little bit more difficult, but I wouldn’t discount him, no.