Fresh F1

Reporter: “Giancarlo, the start of the season was more difficult that previously predicted…What are Renault’s current problems and where must it improve?”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “The start of the season was more difficult than in the last two years. We are aware that we are behind. It won’t be easy to recover this handicap (disadvantage). We are lacking downforce, we are lacking a lot of grip. However, Renault is working flat out, 24 hours a day to try to recover. We shall see in the next few races if the disadvantage dwindles and we are hoping it will be like that.”

Reporter: “Renault suffered the most after the tyre switch from Michelin to Bridgestone.”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “Undoubtedly true! We stuggled in understanding the tyre behavior in the wind tunnel, and this cost us a lot of time in the development. Now we understood some things [about the tyres] so we’re hoping to put together a better aero package and move forward.”

Reporter: “You were expecting a big gap to Ferrari, but perhaps you weren’t expecting to run behind McLaren and BMW.”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “We knew that the Ferrari was 2 steps ahead, McLaren was faster than us but we were expecting maybe to be on par with BMW but at Melbourne -not even that. But we’re hoping that the next race where the circuit will change, the climate will change to be closer, to have improvements on the car and go for it.”

Reporter: “However thy say Melbourne is not the really ideal place to make comparisons between the cars”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “Yes it’s true Melbourne is semi- street track - a track a little off pattern. It’s important to go well because two years ago I won, last year as well, with Alonso, so not doing as well as the last two years worries us a bit.”

Reporter: “Now that Alonso left, do you fell you have the team all by your side, all of them focused on your success?”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “The team is focused on both drivers. I feel a bit…number one spiritually, because I have been with them for three years, I have a great experience. By me is a good pilot, but who doesn’t have experience, so there’s a lot of motivation to go forward and do well.”

Reporter: “Refferring to you teammate, how do you judge that Briatore scolded him after the first race?”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “I don’t judge what Briatore said because he is the boss and he had a better view of the race than I did. For sure he had his reasons for saying those things. I have to say though, it was a tough race, we had a difficult time driving the car, so it was easy to make mistakes. Let’s not forget it was his first race so he faced a few problems.”

Reporter: “End of the season. To put this into pictures where do you see Fisichella? Where do you see yourself in the drivers’ standings? What are your dreams?”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “My dreams are to win but realistically speaking, I think it will be tough”

~ by Wiz Kid on April 2, 2007.