| Question
: Michael, what news of the new car? |
| M.Schumacher
: Still in the garage at home.
|
| Question
: When are we likely to see it? |
| M.Schumacher
: Be patient Obviously our wish
is to have it rather sooner
than later but we want to be 100 per cent certain
to be reliable.
|
| Question
: So there's no decision on Brazil yet? |
| M.Schumacher
: I don't think so. We have an
important test happening next week
and then we'll make our decision based on what
we learn at that test.
|
| Question
: Did you stay out between races? |
| M.Schumacher
: Yes I have. I spent some quality time with my wife
and did a few PR appearances
for the team sponsors, but generally I
was able to get a good
rest. I feel good and ready to go.
|
| Question
: How have you
acclimatized for the race because it really is
probably the most difficult of the year? |
| M.Schumacher
: Yes, similar to last year. I stayed
out locally and prepared myself, did my training
as much as I could do and hope it
is enough. But for sure, we're all
going to suffer in this kind of heat.
You can only be physically fit. There's
not much you can do about the heat except maybe
having a little bit more fresh air
through the monocoque to cool the
driver down a bit. Physically, you
prepare anyway. It's just that you
don't come at the last moment
from Europe, five degrees
into whatever, 30+ degrees and then
struggle because that's the
only thing: acclimatize.
|
| Question
: Did you think the cooler conditions hurt Bridgestone
more than Michelin in Australia? |
| M.Schumacher
: I didn't think that was the way it was. The other way around
I would suggest. If you look at the situation
of last year, then you honestly
have to say that it looks
like that Michelin seems to have a
problem with that particularly circuit, because
last year they haven't been
very competitive there, so they haven't
been this year. Coming here, the situation
seems to have changed quite rapidly.
Saying that, since Magny Cours last year,
I think Bridgestone has made a huge
step forward in terms of consistency
in hot weather conditions. I
would be surprised to see - it's only
up to temperature, I think there must be
other reasons, being a factor of it, because
after we came from Brazil to Imola
and, if you all remember, Michelin
seemed to be rather competitive and it wasn't
too hot in Imola, so I don't think it was only
temperature factors.
|
| Question
: Are you expecting them to be more competitive here than they
were in Australia? |
| M.Schumacher
: Yes. I do, I think it's
more consistent rather than more competitive.
If you look at his
(Kimi's) race time wasn't really uncompetitive.
|
Question
: A question for the team managers and
maybe the drivers if they want
to reply. We saw eight cars out in the first corner
in Australia. Many of
the spectators thought they were robbed by
the race not being re - started.
The FIA gave what I think was a very good
reason for not re-starting the race, which I think
we all know. I wonder if you feel
that with so many cars being out, maybe
there is a case for the
race being stopped.
|
| M.Schumacher
: Procedure is procedure and either there
is intention to change it and to follow it but
that's the way it was,
that's the way it has been done and dealt with,
correctly.
|
| Question
: Michael, could you try to explain to us how the heat
affects your driving or
your physical performance compared to normal? |
| M.Schumacher
: I don't think it really affects it. You sweat more, you
take a drink bottle on
board not to dehydrate, and that's about it. You
maybe feel a bit more tired
at the end of the race depending on
how hard you had to
push but it doesn't affect really how
you plan the
race, how you attack the race
or anything. You plan to be fit to be able
to push 100 percent from the first to last lap.
That is why we all train so hard to be able to
withstand the effort.
|
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