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2006 FORMULA 1 BRAZIL GP  

• SCHUMACHER: "I am not here this weekend to think too much about my own title. I am coming here for the constructors' title. I have expressed after the Suzuka race that the title fight for the drivers' is finished ... I don't want to build up my hopes on somebody retiring ... I am just here to do a good race and try to win"
• ALONSO: "I'm ready for this last battle and I think the team is ready - no mistakes this weekend"

RACE REPORT - FERRARI, MASSA 1ST, SCHUMACHER 4TH (TOP OF PAGE)

• Ninth win of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, the second courtesy of Felipe Massa. This is win number 192 from 741 races entered by Ferrari, the eighth in the Brazilian Grand Prix. This is Felipe's second Formula 1 career win, having competed in 71 Grands Prix.
• Jean Todt: "Despite an extraordinary victory from Felipe and a race which for so many reasons was an historic one for Michael, in the heat of the moment I feel very disappointed. We would have liked Michael's career to end differently, but destiny had other plans."
• "We must look at the positive aspects of this season: our team has taken the most race wins - nine in total, seven with Michael and two with Felipe - and despite getting off to a poor start, we were in the hunt for both titles right up to the final race."
• "However, the championship is made up of eighteen Grands Prix and so we accept this result and our compliments go to our rivals. Now we have to look to the future and start a new chapter, taking into account the lessons we have learnt this year. We go into 2007 with new rules, a new driver, just one tyre supplier, but these are things we can discuss later."
• "Today, I want to thank everyone in the Gestione Sportiva, Michael and Felipe for the great job they have done, with the support of our technical partners, especially Bridgestone and Shell and the commercial ones, first and foremost Philip Morris. Whatever the outcome, the Ferrari family has lived through a memorable season."
• Felipe Massa: "Today is another dream, the dream of my life has become a reality. The car was perfect, the Bridgestone tyres were perfect, I drove an impeccable race and all of this at my home grand prix! I always had the situation under control, slowing just a bit when Michael was in front of me, after his puncture, as I did not want to pass him."
• "I want to dedicate this race to my family , to my friends, to all those who helped me in my career and to the Brazilian people who, today, made me feel their warmth through all the fans in the grandstand."
• "Michael now stops driving for the team, but already I know I will miss him. I have always felt his support and his friendship and I know that it will be a big responsibility to replace him. Over the last few laps, I was trying to maintain concentration, but I could not stop myself from watching all the fans celebrating in the grandstands!"
• Michael Schumacher: "I am very happy for Felipe who drove an amazing race. It is great for him to be the first Brazilian to win at Interlagos since Ayrton Senna. It would have been nice if I could at least have made it to the podium alongside him. I would also like to congratulate Fernando."
• "Today, my race was compromised after the puncture I picked up on lap nine, when I had just passed Fisichella. I was unaware of it until the team told me about it on the radio. I had a good climb back up the order, thanks partly to an amazing car and exceptional Bridgestone tyres."
• "Today my racing career comes to an end. Obviously, it is a special moment for me and I am proud to have lived my career with some fantastic people, namely everyone who is part of the Ferrari family. There is so much I could say about them, but it is difficult to find the right words"
• Ross Brawn:
• "Everything was extraordinary today: the car, the drivers, the Bridgestone tyres and the team work. It was really frustrating that we were unable to see Michael bring his career to a close with a win. His race was compromised by a puncture caused by the collision with Fisichella, whom he had just overtaken."
• "It's been a very tough season. The car was competitive right from the beginning but we did not get off to a great start. Then, we staged a great comeback thanks to the work of the team and our technical partners, especially Bridgestone and Shell, to the extent that we had the best package as well as the best drivers."
• "Today, I am very happy for Felipe, who represents the future of Ferrari. He drove an exceptional race and it was a great way to finish the season."

RACE REPORT - RENAULT, ALONSO - 2006 CHAMPION TOP OF PAGE

• Fernando Alonso, 2nd position, World Champion: "What a wonderful feeling this is. We have done a fantastic last part of the championship, scoring 26 points out of 30 possible, and that was enough to make us double champions. It is such a special moment to win both titles on the same day, and the atmosphere in the team is unbelievable right now."
• "I have to say thank you; thank you to everybody in the team, to all the people at Enstone and Viry, to Michelin, to my team-mate Giancarlo and to Heikki, who has done so much good work this year. In 2006, they have taught me many lessons: to always stay fair play, to put in the effort, to keep the focus and the determination to win. It has been up and down for us, but they never forgot the target, and we have done it now."
• "My memories from this season will be from the win in Barcelona, and also these times now, celebrating with the mechanics -- and the celebrations to come in the next weeks in Spain. This is the right time to enjoy what we have done."
• "I am proud to have been racing with Michael as well. It is an honour to have won the final two championships of his career, and I think they will mean more than any others I can win in my career. He is retiring as the man with all the records, and it has been big pressure to race against him -- and a big privilege as well."
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 6th position:
• "I am so happy this afternoon. Psychologically, this was a tough race at the end of a very hard season. But we went out there today, and did the job. For me, the key parts of the race were with Michael Schumacher in the first laps and towards the end as well. He was so quick today, that it was nearly impossible to keep him behind."
• "The first time, he overtook me and we were side by side into the first corner -- then I saw him have big oversteer in the second corner and got back past. But the key point in the race was towards the end, when he was behind me for five or six laps. I knew I had to keep him there for as long as possible, so he couldn't make up more positions, and I did my best."
• "Eventually, I braked very late on the bumps, locked the front tyres and he got past. But I did enough. For me personally, I am fourth in the championship, which is my best ever result. It has been an incredible season, and we will be celebrating this evening.
• Alain Dassas, President:
• "Renault's achievement in becoming double world champions, twice in a row, has nothing to do with luck. We have done it because we were quicker and more reliable than our rivals -- and because we were able to raise our game compared to 2005 by scoring more points and finishing more races."
• "One of the greatest satisfactions was to feel the entire Renault Group behind us at every stage, pushing us towards this victory. We were determined not to let them down, and the team has done Renault proud."
• "As for our departing champion Fernando, he deserves this second title like no other. He has been an extraordinary part of our team, and we will miss him. However, Formula 1 is all about reacting to change, and meeting new challenges. We will begin a new adventure next year, and that is the thrilling challenge of this sport."
• Flavio Briatore, Managing Director:
• "It was an incredible fight with Ferrari this year, and first of all I want to congratulate Michael on an amazing race this afternoon. But we have done the job, and we deserve these titles. The whole team, from Fernando to all our colleagues in Enstone and Viry, have had a very difficult time this year. There have been many ups and downs, but we have never backed down, we never gave up and we are champions."
• "As a team, we made fewer mistakes than our rivals, and Fernando made fewer mistakes than Michael. We must not forget Giancarlo, who has had a very strong season, and his points have made the difference between finishing first and second."
• "Of course, none of this could have been possible without our partners -- Mild Seven and Michelin, who will be leaving us this year as champions, and every group that has been part of this success. Thank you to them, to our supporters and to the Renault Group for their commitment to this team. They are all worthy world champions.
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:
• "Today's race was an incredibly exciting end to a thrilling championship, and probably one of the most stressful races of my career! But in the end, the whole team is ecstatic with the result, and it is a fitting end to our partnership with Fernando. He is a thoroughly deserving world champion, and we wish him all the best for the future; he will be a tough competitor, but we relish competition!"
• "Congratulations also to Michelin. The work they have done, particularly in the last two months, has been exemplary and they retire with their heads held high. We also wish all the best to Michael. He has played an important part for me personally in my career, and has been a worthy competitor to the team for many years. We hope to see him again, and wish him the very best for the future."
• "The final word, though, goes to this amazing Renault team. These world championships are for every member of our organisation, from top to bottom. Those of us who travel get to enjoy these moments at the track, but our team-mates in Enstone and Viry have given us the tools to do the job this season with their unstinting effort and commitment. This victory belongs to each and every one of them."

RACE REPORT - HONDA, BUTTON 3RD (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Honda Racing F1 Team ended its 2006 season in style today as Jenson Button secured another podium finish for the team in a breathtaking title decider at the Interlagos circuit. He took the chequered flag in third position after a brilliant drive from 14th on the grid, while local hero Rubens Barrichello crossed the line in seventh place.
• Today's result brings the Honda Racing F1 Team's tally to 21 points finishes, with Jenson securing his seventh consecutive points haul, to make a total of 11 from the 18 races. Rubens brought home points on 10 occasions from the 18 opportunities. They end the Drivers' Championship sixth and seventh, whilst the team takes a strong fourth position in the Constructors' Championship, 50 points ahead of the next team.
• Today's result is a fitting tribute to a hard-fought and competitive second half of the year and makes the farewell to title sponsor Lucky Strike and tyre supplier Michelin in their final race with the team all the more poignant.
• Jenson Button: "I'm thrilled to end the season on the podium, especially coming through from 14th on the grid yet again and after the problem we experienced yesterday. This result came out of a genuine fight, with the car showing great competitiveness. It was one of the most enjoyable races I have experienced."
• "It's only natural to think about where we could have finished if we had been able to start further up the grid, but we shouldn't take anything away from a great result and a very strong second half of the season."
• "My thanks to everyone in the team, and all our partners and fans. This is a fantastic way to go into the winter when I'm sure we will all have the motivation to push harder for a much stronger 2007 season."
• Rubens Barrichello: "It was tough for me today. I couldn't get a rhythm in the car and I was having some difficulties with the handling, but still we got two cars in the points once again. Jenson had a good race coming from the back to get on the podium, so it's a strong end of the season for us."
• "I have to say that I struggled this year with the car but we have the winter to work hard with the benefit of all the lessons we have learned this season. I would also like to congratulate Felipe on his fantastic win today. We all get in life what we deserve, and he has had a great weekend. My thanks to everyone associated with our team for a great first season with Honda. Now I'm looking forward to 2007."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "What a great way to finish the season and what a spectacular drive by Jenson to come all the way from 14th to the podium once again! Jenson had a good start and made up a lot of places on the first lap. After that he was flying, executing some brilliantly judged overtaking manoeuvres. Once he caught up with Alonso, he put up a good fight to try and pass him for second. Rubens raced hard throughout, posing a strong challenge to Fisichella who was on a similar strategy."
• "Today is a day of many milestones. First of all, well done to Fernando Alonso on a much-deserved second World Championship title. Many congratulations and best wishes to Michael Schumacher on a brilliant and inspiring career that brought many F1 fans a lot of joy over 15 years of spectacular racing."
• "Many thanks also to the founders of this team, British American Tobacco, and title sponsor Lucky Strike, in what is their last race, for their confidence, support and vision. Lastly we should also thank our partners - particularly Michelin - and the many talented Honda team members in Japan and the UK for the tremendous effort and dedication which has culminated in this great final result of the season."

RACE REPORT - TOYOTA - TRULLI & R SCHUMACHER DNF  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Panasonic Toyota Racing suffered a desperately disappointing end to the 2006 season after both Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli retired from promising positions in the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. Both drivers made strong starts, with Jarno winning a wheel to wheel battle with Fernando Alonso to hold third as Ralf battled with the BMW Saubers in the first corner.
• An accident further back brought out the safety car on lap two and when the race resumed four laps later Jarno again kept Alonso at bay and started to put pressure on second place as Ralf pushed to move back into the points.
• However, the team's race was over soon after when a problem with the central element of the rear suspension forced both Jarno and Ralf to pull into the pits and retire, on laps 11 and 10 respectively. The team will now focus its energies on next season when it hopes to bounce back after a difficult and challenging 2006.
• Jarno Trulli: "There was a problem with the central element on the rear suspension. The car was jumping around a lot and I was not fully in control - probably the bumps here at Interlagos made it worse. It is very unfortunate because I was having a strong race. After the safety car period, my tyres were just getting up to temperature and I was attacking Raikkonen. I am very disappointed because my car was extremely quick this weekend and we had a good strategy today."
• "It seems every time I have been doing a good race this year I have had a problem and have had to retire. It has been a very difficult season for me, very unlucky. I lost one podium in Monaco, one probably in Magny-Cours and once again here. But I have to thank all the team because in a hard situation they have pulled together and worked fantastically to face our problems."
• Ralf Schumacher: "That was the hardest possible way to finish the season. We made a reasonable start and were initially in good shape. Unfortunately, immediately after the restart following the safety car period, we developed a problem at the rear of the car with the central element on the suspension. That made the car impossible to drive. It was not safe to continue like that so I had to retire."
• "It was the same problem for both cars and the same as the problem Jarno had in qualifying at Indianapolis earlier in the season. It is a particular pity because things were looking good for the team. We both qualified well and we were expecting a strong result today. Unfortunately it was not to be today but I know how hard the team has worked all year so I would like to thank them."
• Tsutomu Tomita - Team Principal: "Before the start of the race everything was okay - we were looking fine, the car was quick and the two drivers were motivated. The start was good but just after starting the race we suffered from serious problems - it was like a bad dream. It is still unbelievable for me."
• "We were obviously very fast and we had fuel for 23 and 24 laps as a result of the safety car so we were a bit heavier than most of the other cars around us. According to what we have seen from the other cars we had a good chance of taking second place. Both cars experienced a rear suspension failure of the central element, which was not a new part."
• "Ralf made it clear he had a problem immediately after the safety car and then Jarno suffered the same two laps later. It is probably due to the bumpy nature of the track but of course we knew that would be the case here at Interlagos and we should have been prepared for that."
• "I have to say we are very sorry to Toyota's fans and the Toyota family companies. We are very disappointed but this is racing and sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad. However, we believe we are moving in the right direction and now we will have to work hard for next year."

2006 QUALIFYING

• MASSA ON POLE; ALONSO 4TH; SCHUMACHER 10TH AFTER FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEM

QUALIFYING REPORT - FERRARI, MASSA 1ST, SCHUMACHER 10TH  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Seventh pole of the 2006 season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, following on from those in Sakhir, Imola, Indianapolis, Magny-Cours, Istanbul and Suzuka, the third for Felipe Massa. This is pole number 186 in Ferrari's history, the fifth in this Grand Prix.
• Jean Todt: "This was a bitter-sweet qualifying session for us. On the one hand we can be delighted with a great pole position for Felipe, which came about due to his talent and the clear superiority of the 248 F1-Bridgestone tyre package. On the other hand there is a great disappointment for Michael who was reduced to the role of spectator, sitting in the cockpit of his car in the garage, for the final part of the session, sidelined with what appears to be a fuel pressure problem."
• "Without wishing to sound presumptuous, there is good reason to think we could have had two cars on the front row of the grid tomorrow. However, we find ourselves with one car on pole and the other relegated to the fifth row. Nevertheless, we know that anything can happen in racing, and one way and another, we experienced that ourselves various times this year. All we can do tomorrow is try and get both our cars out in front of all the others at the finish line."
• Felipe Massa: "It's a dream for me to be on pole here at Interlagos, wearing the colours of my country while sitting in a Ferrari. I will never forget this day! I am very happy and I want to thank the team for having provided me with a perfect car. Tomorrow, I will do my utmost to win. I know it will be a tough race but everything is in place for me to achieve that goal. I am sorry for Michael who was really unlucky, just like in Suzuka. But I still believe we can get both our cars ahead of the others, which is vital if we are to win the Constructors' championship. My last lap? It was fantastic!"
• Michael Schumacher: "Of course I am disappointed, but these things can happen. At the start of Q3, the car had a fuel pressure problem and all I could do was cruise round slowly back to the pits. Now we have to find out how it happened and try and make the best of this situation. Sure, it's a big handicap starting from tenth place. The only good part of today is that Felipe is on pole which must be very satisfying for him here at his home race. I hope that tomorrow he can win the race."
• Ross Brawn: "A great performance from Felipe. He had a great car and the Bridgestone tyres were performing very well, but he produced a performance over and above expectations and in Q3 he did a handful of really incredible laps. We are very frustrated about the problem that kept Michael in the garage for the final part of qualifying. It seems to be linked to fuel pressure, but now we need to find out exactly what happened."
• "It's a shame as we could have had two Ferraris on the front row. But in my opinion we could still pull off a one-two tomorrow. The cars are performing strongly, the Bridgestone tyres mean we can do consistent lap times and the weather forecast for slightly higher temperatures should all work in our favour. And let's not forget that in the past, Michael has managed to win races starting even further back on the grid."

QUALIFYING REPORT - McLAREN, RAIKKONEN 2ND (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen will start tomorrow's Brazilian Grand Prix from the front row of the grid having qualified second with a lap time of 1:11.299. Pedro de la Rosa will start from 12th place on the grid with his fastest lap in the second session of 1:11.658.
• Kimi Raikkonen: "This is a great result for all of us today. We did not turn the engine up till the final session so we were not sure where we would be, but I really gave it 100% on the final lap. For sure we will be fighting for the win now, it is going to be difficult, but our pace is strong in the long runs. It would be great to finish my last race for Team McLaren Mercedes on a high and we will be doing everything we can to achieve this. "
• Pedro de la Rosa: "I locked up as I was coming into turn one on my last lap and as a result I lost a lot of time. Unfortunately this meant that I have not made it into the top ten at a track where qualifying is quite important. However the car has felt good all weekend and I think that our pace tomorrow will be good. It is going to be a tough race starting from 12th but we are confident that we can improve and score some points tomorrow."
• Ron Dennis: "A tremendous job by Kimi. Pedro tried a little too hard on his second set of tyres flatspotting one into the first corner. As a consequence he failed to qualify in the top ten. Generally our car worked well and a good result is possible tomorrow."
• Norbert Haug: "A great qualifying by Kimi. With his first row grid position he has got a good basis for the race tomorrow. Pedro missed a top ten position by just one hundredth of a second when the best Michelin runner was half a second quicker than him."

QUALIFYING REPORT - TOYOTA, TRULLI 3RD (TOP OF PAGE)

• Panasonic Toyota Racing will start the final race of the 2006 season from a very promising position after Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli both qualified in the top 10 for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. After their double points finish on home ground in Japan two weeks ago, Ralf and Jarno kept up that momentum today. On a relatively cold day in Sao Paulo, both drivers were on the pace from the start and easily made it through Q1 and Q2 on a dry track.
• Jarno will start from the second row of the grid after a superb lap at the end of Q3 earned him third spot for his best qualifying result of the season. Ralf also showed strong pace throughout and set the seventh fastest time to start from row four. The team is still pushing hard for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship and today's performance gives Ralf and Jarno a great chance to end the year with more points and a result to celebrate.
• Jarno Trulli: "It is obviously great to be up so high and it has been a good weekend so far for us. We have been pushing hard all season to improve the car and you can see from today that we have definitely made a good step forward. So far this weekend we have looked pretty strong so I am confident because the car is performing well and we have everything we need to have a good race tomorrow."
• "Our Bridgestone tyres are looking very competitive so I am looking forward to tomorrow when I hope I can challenge for the podium. This year I have been close to the podium a few times and it has slipped away with a few laps remaining so it would be great to end the season with a top-three finish. However, our first target for tomorrow will be to take fifth in the Constructors' Championship and for that we will try to score as many points as possible."
• Ralf Schumacher: "That was a reasonably good qualifying performance for the team. Jarno did a great job to get third place and seventh is a decent result for me too so both of us are in a positive position for tomorrow. From there we should be able score a good result here. Getting the right balance on the car this weekend has been a bit of a challenge but we worked at it this morning and found a reasonable set-up for qualifying."
• "My lap in Q3 wasn't too bad, it was clean and I didn't make any mistakes but I simply was not quite quick enough to qualify any higher today. But I am looking forward to the race and I hope I can score more points to help the team secure fifth place in the Constructors' Championship."
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis: "That was a good qualifying session but I would say it is as expected because yesterday we saw we were competitive here and this morning we were working towards the race so our position in third practice was not representative and we knew that. The cold weather conditions could have made it a little bit tricky as it is colder than usual in Brazil but we were expecting that from our weather forecasts and we were able to take it into account when we chose which two tyre compounds to use this weekend."
• "Choosing which of those two to use was quite a difficult decision to make - but it certainly doesn't look too bad now! We had high expectations so we are quite happy with the outcome of the qualifying. Still it could have been a little bit better for both cars, we could have been even further up the grid but we are not complaining. It looks pretty good for tomorrow and we are pretty confident with the race pace."

FRI REPORT - FERRARI   (TOP OF PAGE)

• Jean Todt: "This is a special Friday, because even if we are trying not to think about it too much, we are well aware that this is the first day of Michael's final race weekend as a driver. Furthermore this is the final Grand Prix of what has been a very tough season, featuring moments of joy but also disappointment. It is still hard to put behind us thoughts about Michael's retirement in Suzuka, which compromised our chances of victory in both championships, especially the Drivers' one."
• "Here our target is very clear, namely to get a one-two, which we know is an ambitious goal but one that is achievable. All our efforts and those of our technical partners, first and foremost Bridgestone and Shell, are concentrated on this task. Then we will see how things turn out depending on the race result."
• Michael Schumacher: "Of course, I am well aware this is my last Grand Prix, but once I am in the car, it feels no different to any other. I am here with my family and my closest friends which makes me happy. I would like to thank BMW-Sauber for their nice gesture."
• "On the technical front, first impressions are good: the car and the Bridgestones seem to be working well. The situation seems pretty close and from our side we are happy with the work we have done today. Our aim is clearly to try and win the Constructors' championship and that will require a one-two finish."
• Felipe Massa: "We worked a lot on car set-up, which was not quite right at the start of the session, especially in terms of grip. Towards the end, we managed to improve, which makes me reasonably confident for tomorrow. My yellow and green race suit? It's a tribute to my country and I must say I am very happy to have my first race in a Ferrari in Brazil wearing our national colours."
• Ross Brawn: "Fundamentally, it was a Friday pretty much like any other, at least on the technical front. The track was very dirty and all it needed was to go very slightly off the ideal line to record a much slower lap time. The cars seem reasonably well balanced and the performance of the Bridgestone tyres is also looking good."

FRI REPORT - RENAULT  (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Renault F1 Team ran its normal Friday practice routine today at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit, with drivers Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella evaluating tyre types and fine-tuning chassis set-ups for this demanding circuit.
• As the circuit is little-used throughout the season, grip levels improved steadily throughout both sessions, with lap-times improving as cars laid down more rubber and ran new tyres towards the end of the second practice hour.
• Both Renault drivers showed competitive form early in the session, and set consistently competitive times on used tyres as they began assessing the consistency of Michelin's products, while also fine-tuning chassis set-up. They obtained good results, and have a firm direction in which to work overnight.
• Fernando Alonso: "The grip levels were very low today, and the track was getting better and better as the session went on. That means it's difficult to draw too many conclusions about the set-up or the performance of the car, and we will have to work well this evening to anticipate how the circuit will change for tomorrow and the race."
• "So what counts today is the basic feeling, and it was good, with no problems at all in either session. The Michelin tyres were working well, and the car was pretty comfortable to drive. So I am feeling happy, and confident for the rest of the weekend."
• Giancarlo Fisichella: "With difficult track conditions today, it was hard to put together the best lap straight away on new tyres. There is some work to do on the car balance as I had too much oversteer, especially in the second sector, but we improved the situation during practice -- and we will hope to take another step forward for tomorrow.
• "We will look hard at the tyre choice tonight because that will be an important factor for the rest of the weekend, but I think we are in a good position."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:
• "In spite of what's at stake this weekend, we had a very normal Friday, running our usual programme evaluating the two types of Michelin tyre we have brought to this race. There does not appear to be a big difference between them at the moment, and we will study the data tonight to select the right tyre for the race."
• "Both cars were suffering from some oversteer today, but we took a step in the right direction during the session and will improve further overnight. The engines performed without incident, so all in all, it was a typical Friday made up of solid race preparation."
• Denis Chevrier, Head of Engine Operations: "As we have become used to saying this year, this was a normal Friday for the team. This morning, we chose to swap Fernando's original engine for a unit of the same specification that was installed in the spare car, because the latest results of our dyno testing in Viry indicated it offered us the optimum performance-reliability compromise. This unit functioned faultlessly today, as did the E specification engine in Giancarlo's car."
• "On the engine side, we did plenty of laps and have the data we needed to conduct our usual approval processes, and fine-tune the mapping of the V8's. As always, much of the day was devoted to fine-tuning the chassis set-up, which is particularly important at such a tricky circuit. We made solid progress, and will continue in the same direction tomorrow."

2006 RACE PREVIEW
BMW  BRIDGESTONE  FERRARI  HONDA  McLAREN  MICHELIN  RENAULT  SHELL  TOYOTA  WILLIAMS

FERRARI PREVIEW   (TOP OF PAGE)

• This weekend's final round of the 2006 Formula 1 World Championship and the race that will decide the outcome of both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles, will be the 34th Brazilian Grand Prix and all but ten of them have been held at Interlagos, the others being run at Jacarepagua in Rio de Janeiro.
• Since the world championship began, Brazilian drivers can claim the third highest number of Grand Prix victories, behind Great Britain and Germany, but they have only won their home race seven times, starting with a trio of victories in the first three Brazilian races from 1973 to 1975, the first two courtesy of Emerson Fittipaldi and the third with Carlos Pace, whose name was given to this track after his death in a light aircraft accident.
• Ferrari has also won this event seven times, but the last victory for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro dates back to 2002, courtesy of Michael Schumacher, who also won here in 2000, after taking two first places for Benetton in '94 and '95. This will be the seventh consecutive season in which the Scuderia has fielded a Brazilian driver in its line-up at Interlagos, but for Felipe Massa, it is his first ever appearance in front of what is bound to be a very enthusiastic and noisy home crowd, while wearing the red race suit.
• "For Brazilian race drivers, the Brazilian Grand Prix is of course very important, we come in for a lot of media attention and there is a great deal of pressure on us to do well," says Massa. "I have been here in Sao Paulo since just after the Japanese Grand Prix, simply getting on with my training programme and preparing as much as possible for the weekend."
• "The pressure is not something that bothers me too much and I can deal with it quite well, although of course I have never raced at Interlagos with Ferrari, in a car that is capable of winning. If you look at my early days in Formula 1 with the Sauber team, I was always strong in difficult moments. I could come through them and recover and be stronger."
• "So for sure, the Brazilian Grand Prix can be quite difficult in terms of being able to maintain concentration on the job of driving and working with the team on the track, but I know I am able to put the events and attention from outside the track to one side and concentrate on what I would like to do which is to win the race. It will be a difficult target to achieve but I am very motivated to do well here."
• "Of course, it is obvious that, given the situation in the Drivers' classification, for me to win the Brazilian Grand Prix, that would mean that Alonso is in a points scoring position, whereas if he is not, then my race will take on a different direction and it will be no problem for me to help Michael. I will even be happy to help him."
• Felipe is too young to remember the first wave of Brazilian influence in Formula 1, a phenomenon that began with the first ever home-grown world champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, who secured the first of his two world titles in 1972. His first trips to the race track featured more recent local heros. "I have many good memories of Interlagos and the Brazilian Grand Prix," claims Massa.
• "I remember going to watch Nelson and Ayrton. I think I went two or three times to the grand prix when I was little, but not to see the race itself, as I was usually taken on Saturday to see the qualifying. I remember once when I was very small, watching Piquet in the Benetton and Senna in the McLaren and that was like a dream for me to be there watching these guys drive."
• "Then, a bit later, I can remember watching Rubens when he was racing for Stewart Grand Prix. Watching qualifying from the public grandstands was a very emotional experience for me. And then suddenly I am here..driving for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro with a chance of getting a good result on Sunday!"
• When the Interlagos circuit was first built, it measured just under eight kilometres and was regarded as one of the most difficult tracks in the world. Today, it measures around half that original length, but it is still a daunting and challenging place to race. "The circuit itself is very challenging for a variety of reasons," reckons Massa. "It has many changes of gradient, going up and down and it is extremely bumpy which adds to the physical challenge and so too does the fact it runs anti-clockwise."
• "Physically, this puts a strain on the neck muscles, especially as there are many high-speed corners which put you under a lot of lateral G forces. Even the main straight is always turning slightly to the left, while the fact the lap length is not so big means the actual number of laps in the race is comparatively high. It is going to be a difficult race, but I am looking forward to the chance of driving it in a very competitive car."
• "The perfect car here has plenty of downforce for the corners, while still maintaining power and speed for the straights and I think our car has that. I love driving in Interlagos and have won many races here in other categories. I have plenty of experience and know the place well, but of course my team-mate also has the same and in fact I think he has raced here more than me, so maybe my experience won't count for so much!"
• Can a home crowd really improve an athlete's performance. In the totally professional and high-tech environment that is Formula 1, it is hard to say, but it one crowd could add something to a driver's performance, then it would have to be this one here in Sao Paulo, as it is the most colourful and most vocal one of the year. "What I will have is massive support from the crowd," predicts Massa. "It will be a great feeling to race in front of my people again."
• "Brazilians are very emotional and I think it would be a great feeling for them and for me if I can be out in front. I will be doing my best as usual. Even being on the grid before the start is an amazing feeling as the crowd is so near the track. There will be a lot of attention focussed on both me and Michael this weekend, but it won't get in the way of us doing our job for the last time this year."

BRIDGESTONE PREVIEW   (TOP OF PAGE)

RENAULT PREVIEW  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Comments from the Renault team ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix
• Fernando Alonso: "Taking nothing for granted"
• Q: Fernando, Brazil was the place where you won your world championship last year. It must hold fantastic memories for you?
• Fernando Alonso: Yes of course. Brazil will always hold unique memories from winning the championship there in 2005 , and the fact we are fighting for it again in 2006 makes it even more important. It is a fantastic place, where you can really feel the emotion and the passion of Formula 1. Brazil has a long tradition in the sport with many famous drivers, so you have the history too. It is great to be racing in this country, and especially with so much at stake at the end of the season.
• Q: In terms of the circuit, what challenges does it hold for you and the engineers?
• FA: The track surface is normally very bumpy, so we work a lot on the suspension to make the car comfortable to drive over the whole race distance. The other main area is the engine, because the main straight is very long and uphill, so you need good power and good acceleration out of the last corner. Those are the most important factors from my point of view.
• Q: Michael Schumacher has said that the drivers' championship is over for him. What approach will you be taking?
• FA: Firstly, I don't think it is over at all. Until the final lap, when you know you are champion, anything can still happen and we are taking nothing for granted. So we know that there is still a job to do, and we are focused on it. I think our aim has to be to do a normal weekend, to get the maximum from the car without any big risks, and to finish the job. If we have our usual performance, fighting at the front, then we will achieve our targets.
• Q: Finally, the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix will mark the end of an era for you, as your last race with Renault. What will be your thoughts?
• FA: I think it makes this a very special weekend for me, and gives me extra motivation to do the maximum for all my friends and team-mates. It is also the last race for Michelin in this period, and both Renault and Michelin have done so much for me in the six seasons since I started in F1. I think it is impossible to give back to them everything they have given to me since 2001. The only way I can try is to have a fantastic final race and to win the title so we can finish our relationship in the right way, with a celebration.
• Giancarlo Fisichella: "Do the maximum for myself and the team"
• Q: Giancarlo, you have had two podiums in the last two races , you seem to be ending the season in strong form...
• Giancarlo Fisichella: I definitely think so, yes. The car is working really well at the moment and Michelin have done a fantastic job in the last races. That means we are fighting at the front in all conditions, and I have had clean races without any problems. Suzuka was really good fun, overtaking Button in the first stint and then using a good strategy to get ahead of Toyota. Things are going really well at the moment, for me and the team.
• Q: Now we arrive in Interlagos , what are your thoughts on the circuit?
• GF: My thoughts are simple , it is one of my favourite circuits! I scored my first Grand Prix win here in 2003, and I finished second in 2000 as well. So there are good memories for me at this track, and I really enjoy its challenges as well. It is a difficult track, particularly for the neck because we are running anti-clockwise, so the left-hand side of your neck has a really hard time. Plus there are lots of bumps, which makes it physically harder as well; and it is a short track, so we do a lot of laps in the race. It all means that physical and mental endurance are very important factors.
• Q: In terms of technical development, you will be using a boosted RS26 engine in Interlagos...
• GF: Yes, I think it should be a good step forward for me. The team at Viry has done an amazing job this year with the V8 engine, from the first test in January all the way through to the final race, and to have a new development ready for the final race shows how committed they are to winning this year. They have worked extremely hard to prepare the new specification so it is powerful and reliable. Hopefully, it can give us the edge in terms of performance.
• Q: Finally, your objectives for this race are two-fold: to take third place in the drivers' championship, and to win the constructors'...
• GF: Absolutely. I go into this race with the aim of doing the absolute maximum to win. You cannot drive with the idea that only points are good enough, you have to be aggressive, to attack and aim for the top of the podium. It is too early to make any predictions about performance until we see the cars running on Friday, but we know that the R26 is competitive after our performance in Suzuka. But my objective will be to fight at the front of the field, and score maximum points for myself and the team.
• Bob Bell: "Winning championships by winning races"
• Q: Bob, the Renault F1 Team took its first victory since June in Suzuka. Was it a lucky win?
• Bob Bell: Only in the sense that we have no direct influence on Ferrari's reliability! This team has worked flat out all year and even in the tougher moments of the season, we have never given up. Fernando was in the best possible position to capitalise on Michael's misfortune in Japan thanks to the pace of the car, and one might argue that we pushed them to use their engine harder than they would have liked. Just like in life, I think you make your own luck in Formula 1.
• Q: As the team goes to Brazil, there is a dizzying array of mathematical possibilities for winning the championship. How do you establish the team's targets for this crucial race?
• BB: The most important thing will be to change nothing, and to not feel pressured to do so. We go to every race weekend aiming to win, and we will approach Brazil in the same way. We want to do our normal job, and take nothing for granted. We will race hard and react accordingly should the circumstances of the race demand it. There are many mathematical scenarios that could see us win or lose, but for the team, it will be business as usual. I think we have always believed that the best to win championships is by winning races.
• Q: Michael Schumacher practically conceded the drivers' championship in Brazil. That must make Fernando's life easier?
• BB: Make no mistake: Michael will be racing flat out in Brazil, as always. His hallmark trait is that he never gives up, and that is why he has been testing in Jerez since Japan. And he has an extra reason to be going flat out in Interlagos. This will be the last race of his career, and I am sure he is determined to go out on a high.
• Q: Looking at the demands of the Interlagos circuit, it is often said to be very bumpy. Could the absence of the mass damper particularly affect the car?
• BB: To be honest, it is no longer the very bumpy circuit it once was. Last year's race in Brazil was the first time we ran the Tuned Mass Damper, and the drivers certainly noticed the help it gave them. But we have worked very hard to re-optimise the car since it was removed, and we have been very competitive at a wide range of circuits since then. The R26 has been quick at all types of circuit this year, and we are confident it will once again be so in Brazil.
• Q: Suzuka was a strange weekend for the tyres, with a performance deficit in qualifying reversed in the race. What do you expect in Brazil?
• BB: We have worked hard on our tyre choice for the race, and Michelin's effort over the past months has shown how determined they are to leave Formula 1 on a high. But we need to wait for the first practice sessions before making any predictions. We are confident that we will have a competitive, consistent race tyre.
• Q: You mentioned that this will be Michael Schumacher's final race in F1. It will also be Fernando Alonso's last Grand Prix with Renault. What are your thoughts?
• BB: We have known for a long time that Fernando is leaving after this race, and we have maintained an excellent working relationship throughout the year. It will certainly be the end of an era for the team, but we are determined to finish on a high by winning both titles, as we did last year. After that, we will begin to look ahead with great optimism, and relishing the new challenges of 2007.
• Q: Finally, what is your perspective on this year's championship battle with Ferrari, compared to fighting with McLaren in 2005?
• BB: First and foremost, they have both been equally hard! The team has raised its game for 2006: we have scored more points and finished more races than in 2005. We are up against Ferrari at the peak of their abilities, and Michael Schumacher at the peak of his. Should we win, that will mean the prestige of our victory is only greater , especially when we reflect on the adversity we have overcome this season. We won the first and last races of 2005, which was a true reflection of our effort all through the year. We are determined to do it again in 2006.

McLAREN PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Preparations for the final Grand Prix of the 2006 Formula 1 season are drawing to a conclusion as the Team McLaren Mercedes team fly out to the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This original five mile circuit layout, which was built in the 40s, has modernised over the years and still encompasses part of the old track, making it an exciting circuit at which to compete.
• The first Grand Prix took place in Brazil at Interlagos in 1973 and was won by reigning Champion and local hero Emerson Fittipaldi, the year before he moved to McLaren and took his second title. In 1974, Emerson also took the chequered flag first, this time at the wheel of his McLaren M23.
• In 1978 the race was moved from Interlagos to the Jacarepaguá circuit near Rio de Janeiro. Twelve years later, the race came back to São Paulo.
• Another legendary McLaren driver took the most recent win at Interlagos secured by a Brazilian, with Ayrton Senna winning the 1993 Grand Prix at the wheel of an MP4/8. The race was an example of the Brazilian's extraordinary talent, as Ayrton completed the final third of the race in sixth gear.
• Interlagos has seen many historical moments in the history of the team, including in 1995 when on March 26th McLaren, Mercedes and Mobil 1 made their Formula 1 debut as team partners. The race saw Mika Häkkinen and Mark Blundell take fourth and sixth respectively for the new team.
• Since 1998, Team McLaren Mercedes drivers have won the Brazilian Grand Prix four times within eight years. In 1998, Mika Häkkinen won ahead of his teammate David Coulthard; one year later, the Finn repeated his success. On both occasions, he started from pole position and posted the fastest lap of the race. David won in 2001. Last year, Team McLaren Mercedes took another 1-2 victory at Sao Paulo with Juan Pablo Montoya winning ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.
• The race also sees Kimi Raikkonen's final outing as a Team McLaren Mercedes driver.
• Kimi Raikkonen: "I have always had dramatic races in Brazil, I guess the track encourages exciting racing. The atmosphere is always amazing, the Paulistas are crazy and I hope we can put on a great race for them. Overtaking is possible here, there are a number of places, but the main one is into the first corner, you slipstream up the hill and along the straight and then pass under braking into the left hander."
• "You do need good grip to be quick, and set-up of the car is not to either extreme to try and be quick in the twisty section at the back of the track and also up the hill and onto the pit straight. Another couple of the main features of Interlagos are that a lot of the corners have adverse camber and we run anti-clockwise."
• "This will be my final race with Team McLaren Mercedes; I am of course sad to be leaving the team. We have had some great times together and it would be fantastic to go out with a win. It is going to be tough, but we are all pushing hard to try and make it happen."
• Pedro de la Rosa: "After the disappointing race we had in Suzuka, I am looking forward to getting back on track and working with the team to finish the year on a high. The test in Jerez this week has been positive, with a lot of the focus on tyres with Michelin and as a result, we feel confident we will be able to get more out of them at Interlagos. The track tends to be fairly abrasive on the tyres, but we are fully prepared for this."
• "Qualifying is vital here, so we have to improve our performance from Japan. Because of the gradient of the start / finish straight, you need to be near the front of the grid otherwise you start on a much steeper hill. The track at Interlagos is bumpy, this does lead to significant vibrations and it makes it quite a demanding race on the car. Braking stability is also very important in Brazil."
• Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes:
• "It is fair to say that the 2006 season has been far from ideal for Team McLaren Mercedes, and as a result it would be fantastic for the team and our Partners to bring the season to a close with a victory and there has been a massive final push by everyone involved toward making this happen in Brazil. As with any race this will be a challenge, but you cannot predict anything in motor racing as we have seen over the past few races."
• "As we go into the winter, we have exciting prospects ahead of us for the coming season and the motivation and determination within the team is incredibly high. This race marks a definite end of an era for us as a racing organisation with the departure of Kimi. Ron spoke for the team in Monza when he said how much we have enjoyed working with Kimi since the start of the 2002 season and we wish him all the best."
• Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
• "Interlagos will be a great finale to a great season from many viewpoints. Of course, all the interest will be focused on the Drivers' Championship, which has not yet been decided. With regard to our team, we certainly want to end a difficult season with a good result for Kimi and Pedro. We have won four out of the last eight Grands Prix here; a fifth would be a good conclusion to a season in which we wanted to finish first and finally ended up third."
• "In Brazil, Kimi will drive his 88th and final race for Team McLaren Mercedes. During his five years with the team he has been Championship runner-up twice, in 2003 and 2005. On behalf of Mercedes-Benz I thank him for his efforts and achievements, and I wish him all the best for the future , which will begin in the next Grand Prix, the last one of 2006."

BMW PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• In the run-up to the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship finale, the battles for the drivers' and constructors' titles are still up in the air. Likewise, there is a great deal in the balance for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in this 18th and final grand prix of the season, to be held in São Paulo on 22nd October.
• The young team embarked on its debut season from eighth place and is currently fifth in the constructors' championship with a one-point lead over Toyota. Drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica aim to defend this position at the Brazilian Grand Prix. If they manage that, it would mean a successful conclusion to a maiden season in which the BMW Sauber F1 Team has already achieved far more than could be expected.
• Nick Heidfeld: "I always enjoy coming to São Paulo. Not only is Interlagos one of my favourite circuits, I also love the flight path into the city. It's incredible to be hovering for minutes on end above those endless housing districts and shanty towns. Unfortunately crime is an issue here, as it is in many of the world's major conurbations. But we drivers don't really get to see any of it."
• "Of course my fondest memory is of winning my first podium place here in 2001 with the Sauber Team. It was a difficult race in wet conditions, but everything worked out and in the end I was able to take third place on the podium next to David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher."
• "I would rate the Ferra dura turn as one of the best in the whole racing calendar, although the bumpy surface of the track is not so nice. But they say it was improved last year, when I couldn't race due to injury. I'll have to see for myself, and I hope to round off the season with a successful race."
• Robert Kubica: "I know the São Paulo track from racing there in 2002 in Formula Renault 2000, as I was invited for the last round of the Brazilian championship. It is a very nice track and I like the configuration, even though it is a bit bumpy. There is a really big uphill section that you cannot see on television after the last corner, which brings you to the main straight. There are some difficult corners, but I think it will be a good experience to go back to Interlagos with Formula One."
• Sebastian Vettel:
• "Carnival, nice girls, good weather, football, magic, rainforest - that's what comes to mind when I think of Brazil. I know a bit about it as I have had Brazilian team-mates. They are great fun. I think the people here are open for anything. Now with Felipe Massa they maybe have another hero coming up."
• "I think the circuit is one of the hardest of the whole season because it is very bumpy and old, and you feel every bump in an F1 car because it is very hard. I think for the race it is physically a very tough job to get through 71 laps. Every time the race finishes the drivers look completely shattered. Also in the race itself I remember two years ago seeing Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso laying their heads against the headrest."
• Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: "We came back from the two Asian races with three points and are heading for Brazil and the final race of the season one point clear of Toyota in the constructors' championship. We will do everything we can to defend this position. However, even before the last race of 2006 it is quite clear that we have achieved more than we could have expected in our first season with the BMW run team."
• "In qualifying we made it into the top ten 17 times, and on one occasion even got onto the second row of the grid. In the 17 races so far we have made it into the points 15 times and even taken two podium places - thanks to Nick in Budapest and Robert in Monza. The bottom line is that we are ahead of schedule. But even more important than that is the fact that we have made steady progress during the course of the season. We are on a good path."
• "The circuit in Interlagos is very varied and challenging. And then there's the weather, which is often unpredictable in São Paulo. The engines take the strain on the start/finish straight, which is not only long but also on a rising gradient - and that makes for an exciting start to the race. A particular feature of the São Paulo track is its altitude: due to the low air density, engines lose about eight percent of their power as compared with sea level. I am certain we are going to witness an exciting final to the season."
• Willy Rampf, Technical Director: "In terms of aerodynamics, Interlagos presents a real challenge. While the first and third sectors feature long flat-out sections, the middle sector with its many turns ideally demands maximum downforce. In the end it's a question of finding the optimum compromise. At any rate, high aerodynamic efficiency in the car is crucially important."
• "Although the track has been repeatedly resurfaced in parts, it is still quite a mogul field. That's why it's even more crucial here than on other circuits to work out an optimal mechanical set-up. Tyre choice is also difficult because temperatures can fluctuate greatly at this time of year. The rough asphalt means that tyre wear is definitely an issue."
• "The strong likelihood of rain often calls for a compromise set-up to cope with both dry and wet conditions on the circuit. As at Imola and Istanbul, the GP at Interlagos is run in an anti- clockwise direction. That involves a corresponding strain on the drivers' neck muscles."

SHELL PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

HONDA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The final race of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, Round 18 - the Brazilian Grand Prix, takes place next weekend at the Interlagos circuit in the city of Sao Paulo. A unique and exciting circuit, infamous for its bumps and occasionally torrid weather conditions, the race at Interlagos will bring to a close one of the most exciting Formula One seasons in recent years.
• As well as being the home grand prix for the Honda Racing F1 Team's Rubens Barrichello, the weekend will also be particularly poignant for the team as it marks the final race for former team owner and title sponsor British American Tobacco after nine years of involvement in Formula One.
• The Honda Racing F1 Team hopes to end the season on a high as it continues to close the gap to 3rd place in the Constructors' Championship with an impressive run of form that has seen a points finish in every race since the German Grand Prix. Not only that, but Jenson Button has scored the most points of any driver since his first victory in Hungary in August.
• Rubens Barrichello: "My home race in Brazil is very special to me and always gives me a little bit of extra motivation. I was born very close to Interlagos and whenever I dream about racing, it's always around this track. The first race that I saw there as a spectator was in 1980, when Rene Arnoux beat Elio de Angelis, and I've wanted to win it ever since. It is frustrating that I've never won at home, especially as I should have won in 2003, but there was a problem with the fuel. I had such a robust car that year, yet it decided to let me down in my home race!"
• "The track is physically very tough because it's left-handed and quite bumpy. Some people say it's easy, but that's not the case because you need to have a good compromise between the low and the high-speed corners. You can't concede straight-line speed for extra grip through the slow corners, otherwise you will be overtaken."
• "Away from the track, there are many advantages to racing in my home city. I have my family around me and I can go home every night and sleep in my own bed - all of that is a huge plus. The race weekend itself always goes by so fast because it is really hectic but it's one of the most enjoyable weekends of the year for me."
• Jenson Button: "It's great to be heading into the final race of the season with a run of solid points finishes under our belts. It really goes to show just how much progress we've made in the second half of the season. I know no one is thinking too much about 2007 yet but it's always important to end the season on a high note as it's a great motivator as the team prepares for next year's campaign."
• "I think we can expect the same level of performance in Brazil that we have enjoyed in the past few races. The engine was looking strong in Japan and I think the car will be well suited to the track. It's a circuit I enjoy, and it can be tough because of its anti-clockwise layout and notoriously bumpy surface. It should be a great climax to the season."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "Interlagos is a challenging circuit because it is one of the few anti-clockwise tracks on the calendar. Furthermore, the circuit is notoriously bumpy, placing particular emphasis on mechanical set-up, however we expect that this should suit our car. Clearly our second half of the season has been much-improved and we have been competitive in most of the races."
• "Jenson has delivered a fantastic string of results of late, and for Rubens, this promises to be an emotionally-charged weekend in front of his home crowd at a circuit where he has always performed well. The latest specification of Honda engine showed good performance last time out in Japan, so there is no reason why we should not be able to continue our current form next weekend and end the season on a high note."

WILLIAMS PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

TOYOTA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• A long, hard season comes to an end for Panasonic Toyota Racing with the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. After a double points finish in its home race in Japan last time out, the team heads to Sao Paulo for Formula One's only visit to South America. The annual trip to Brazil brings a samba flavour to the paddock and the undulating, bumpy Interlagos circuit, in a suburb of sprawling Sao Paulo, throws up a unique challenge for drivers.
• In front of some of the most passionate motorsport fans in the world and on one of Formula One's most historic circuits, Toyota hopes to finish the season on a high. After 17 tough races, Toyota has fifth place in the Constructors' Championship in its sights and Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli will be giving their all to end the season on a positive note.
• Ralf Schumacher: "Interlagos is one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar - both for the drivers and for the technical team. For the drivers it is difficult because of the bumps, even though it is less bumpy than it used to be after they changed the track surface."
• "From the technical side, you need a compromise between achieving the maximum downforce and getting the best top speed. It is important to have as much mechanical grip as possible in the tight infield, particularly in corners such as Pinheirinho and Bico de Pato, but on the other hand, you need a strong top speed for the two long straights, where ideally you would have as little wing as possible.
• "This weekend is the end of a challenging year for us but we have worked hard and improved a lot in the second half of the season. I had a pretty tough race in Brazil last year but I at least managed to get into the top eight. I think we can do the same this year - but I hope this time I can score more than one point!"
• Jarno Trulli: "I have always enjoyed the Brazilian Grand Prix. Interlagos is a technically demanding track and I enjoy the mix of low and high speed sections. There are also other aspects which make it quite complicated, for example it is one of only three anti-clockwise tracks on the calendar and that can make it tough on the neck as the race goes on."
• "As far as the car is concerned, the circuit demands a strong engine from Turn 12 to Turn 1 as it is flat-out with a steep uphill climb. But you must also compromise a bit on set-up. You need downforce for the twisty parts but there is only really one overtaking opportunity, into Turn 1, so you have to make sure you don't have too much rear wing and become an easy target on the straight."
• "Last year I had a weekend to forget, losing 10 places on the grid before getting stuck in traffic in the race. I hope to improve on that and, after our strong performance in Japan, end the year with a result for the whole team to celebrate."
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis:
• "One of the first things you think about at Interlagos is the bumps - they have made several attempts to get rid of them but they are still there. They particularly affect the car early in the weekend and that seems to be either because the driver needs to get used to them or because their effect is worse with low grip. When the grip increases it is not that much of a problem so the best thing you can do is not to over-react and make too many changes."
• "The flat-out up hill section is quite demanding for engines but overall the demands on the car are pretty standard - the tyres are in the middle of the range and it is average in terms of brakes, aero and engine contribution to lap time."
• "The only exceptional aspect is in the wet because it can rain in hot temperatures and that is really tough for the wet tyres as they run at much higher temperatures than usual. Normally when we go there it is hot and if it rains it is very heavy but dries very quickly and you can go from extreme weather tyres to dry tyres in just a few laps. Personally, I have good memories of Brazil and, even though you should never be too confident, we should be strong at Interlagos so I am optimistic."

(TOP OF PAGE)