Question:
An interesting first few laps today. Tell us about them?
Michael Schumacher:
Yeah, absolutely. It was mind-blowing what Jenson put up in front. I just told him, I thought it was raining in front of me and it was dry for him. He was just disappearing into nowhere and I was really wondering… It took quite a few laps ‘til everything got going and we got up to temperature and we were able to chase. And then his first stint… so I was really quick. I saw the lap times, low 1m 21s, and he was pulling away and I thought this is going to be a very very busy and tough afternoon. Luckily, whatever happened, we sort of kept our pace and they dropped off a little bit from their initial pace.
Question:
It was a very exciting opening lap, quite a lot of incidents going on there, as you predicted. What was it like from your point of view, going into the chicane, coming out of Tosa?
Michael Schumacher:
Well, it was very slippery on my side and I was fighting with Juan. It was a bit difficult to keep him behind me and, obviously, I wanted to avoid him getting by because I knew I was going to get faster once the first couple of laps got going. And I wanted to stay in touch with Jenson because that was the crucial point.
Question:
It turns out that you qualified with a bit more fuel on board - you stopped two laps later than Jenson at that first stop. Do you think that was critical?
Michael Schumacher:
I don't think it is important. I think Jenson put in a very good lap. I didn't and that is the end result. He deserved pole position and I deserved second position.
Question:
Jenson, you led the San Marino Grand Prix, just describe that first of all, those opening laps?
Jenson Button:
The first lap was a fantastic feeling. I was really wringing the neck of the car, I wanted to get a good gap on the first lap and it worked. And I was very happy with my pace in the first stint. It was when we got out on new tyres after we refuelled that I seemed to struggle a little bit compared to Michael.
Question:
Well, you say you struggled compared with Michael, but the difference between you and the rest of the Michelin runners was night and day. How good was the car today? Was it perfect?
Jenson Button:
No. In a race, it's very difficult to have a perfect car. It seems windier today and the car was a little bit twitchier than what we expected. It was a little bit tough to drive, but even with those problems, the pace was still very good.
Question:
Juan Pablo, let's have that first lap from your point of view?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
Well, you know Michael had a poor start. He was slow out of the first chicane, you know, the first turns two and three. I went to pass, he closed the door on me and I had to back off. Then he did the same out of the next corner and closed the door, so I went for the inside and I'm coming out beside him and, the next thing I see, he's just coming straight at me, hit me and put me in the grass. It's very disappointing to see racing like that, but I'll be surprised if he gets away with it. It's up to the FIA really.
Question:
Was there any damage to your car, you say there was a contact?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
No, no, no. He just hit me hard enough to put me in the grass. Bit disappointing, but I thought I was hard in there.
Question:
And then a race up the hill with your team-mate Ralf Schumacher…
Juan Pablo Montoya:
Yeah, you know, I came into the track and I saw him and I had to close the door. I closed the door and I had enough momentum just to keep in front of him.
Question:
And Jenson's pace?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
I couldn't believe the first lap. He was like on rails. He was unbelievable. I knew what pace we could do and we did it. We were a bit surprised by their pace really. There's nothing we can do, the car's just not quick enough.
Question:
Michael, you've heard a little bit about what Juan Pablo said, but let's talk about the day from your point of view. Just reflect a little bit on this San Marino Grand Prix, what it means to you - your third straight win here and obviously a great win for Ferrari and an emotional weekend.
Michael Schumacher:
Absolutely. More than that, it's emotional because I'm the ambassador of the San Marino Grand Prix and the State, and it's a home grand prix in the pocket where I was able to really excite all our supporters, the tifosi, outside. The emotion that's going on there is really fantastic. It's a dream come true, to come home after a successful first three races and deliver a dream result - with the exception of qualifying - for the final result.
Question:
Michael, congratulations. Your were talking about it being very slippery, do you think that was because of last night's rain, and did it affect you perhaps more than others?
Michael Schumacher:
Maybe, in a way. For sure, the rain washed off the rubber, the temperature being cool and everything together made it a little bit more slippery, and it seems like we needed a little bit more time until our tyres got up to temperature and grip, compared maybe to the competitor's tyres.
Question:
But obviously your fourth win out of this year has got to be fantastic - it can't get any better can it?
Michael Schumacher:
No, certainly not. Except maybe leaving out the mistake of yesterday - but you can't always be perfect.
Question:
Presumably, you were easing up at the end - can you just confirm that?
Michael Schumacher:
Yes, certainly. I had quite a gap and I saw Jenson's pace, I was informed of that on the radio, so I just drove the pace accordingly and eased up.
Question:
You've heard Juan Pablo's comments about the first lap; have you got any reply to that?
Michael Schumacher:
No.
Question:
Jenson, second place, what was it like, however, being hunted down by Michael?
Jenson Button:
It was quite strange because I know it's very difficult to overtake here, so when Michael was behind, I wasn't too worried until I got to the first pit-stop - where he pitted two laps later and had a huge gap after. I was actually quite shocked about that.
Question:
What about the grip, as far as you were concerned in those opening laps?
Jenson Button:
I found the grip level very low on the first lap, but I had a very good start off the line there, and then I was able to pull away. I was pushing very, very hard, the car was a little bit nervous, but I knew that Michael would try and do something on the first lap, so I pulled out a good advantage which definitely helped me.
Question:
Then, just about the same time as Takuma expired, you set a 1m 28s lap time suddenly. What happened there?
Jenson Button:
I must have been one of the first cars past his and I didn't know anything about it, so I pretty much stopped because I couldn't see anything and lost six or seven seconds going through the smoke. I was just being very cautious.
Question:
General feelings about the second place?
Jenson Button:
Very happy. I think we all know that the pace of the Ferrari is untouchable in the race, but [this is] a fantastic result for all of us. Going to Barcelona, I'm very happy with my year so far and it should be a good race for us.
Question:
Juan Pablo, third…could you have hoped for better?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
No, not really, it wasn't quick enough, was it?
Question:
But is there some light at the end of the tunnel?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
There has got to be, either this year or next year, or whenever. At the moment, we don't have anything. The car is not quick enough. In qualifying, the car manages to get a good lap but, in the race, we just…we can be quick sometimes, but it is just miles off.
Question:
Can you say if it is power or handling?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
It is a little bit of everything, to be honest. We are down on power and we are down on downforce as well. We are a bit like best of the rest, apart from that BAR have now overtaken us. We need to find a way to come back a little bit.

Question:
Juan Pablo, yesterday you told us you felt that you were in the race. Was it just a lie? And was the car damaged, was there anything worse in the car after you went on the grass?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
You know, if you damage something it was four corners into the race. The car behaved okay. He hit me right on the side, but I don't think he did too much damage. From the times everybody was doing yesterday, and our times, I thought we were in pretty good pace.
Question:
For Michael and Juan, when you are running side-by-side and fighting for position round the corner, can you just clarify what you consider acceptable behaviour and what is unacceptable?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
He said he didn't see me. He thought I wasn't there so I don't know, forgot to look maybe.
Michael Schumacher:
I saw his attack on the outside at braking, but then going out of the corner for me…first of all, I did not see him, but second, outside around the corner you usually lose ground, so I didn't expect him to be there.
Question:
Juan Pablo, in the earlier press conference, you said you didn't think Michael would get away with what he did. What do you think will happen and what do you expect will happen?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
You look at Indy, for example, when I just touched with Rubens. I was on the inside and I went onto the grass to try and avoid the accident and we still touched and I got a drive through and that killed my championship. If it wasn't for that, I could have been world champion last year. [If Michael] does that and he gets away with it, I think it would be a bit unfair really. I think the rules have got to be for everybody. It doesn't matter if he drives for Ferrari, if he is called Michael Schumacher, or anybody.
Question:
Jenson, could you see any of the spat going on behind you and were you surprised by the 2.7secs you had at the end of the first lap?
Jenson Button:
I was a little bit surprised at the difference in time, but I didn't have time to look behind and see what was going on really. All I could see was the red car going backwards, which was fantastic and that was my aim.
Question:
Can I just have a comment from Michael and the other drivers, if possible, on the fact that this might be the last grand prix at Imola?
Michael Schumacher:
From my point of view, it would be a shame if it really is, but it wouldn't be the first time we have seen changes happen on grands prix coming back into the programme. There is still hope and, as long as there is hope, I cross my fingers.
Jenson Button:
I think it would be sad to lose this circuit. It is a great circuit to drive, I think there is a lot of history in it and also the crowds are fantastic here, so it would be sad to see it go.
Juan Pablo Montoya:
I'm the same really.
Question:
Michael, you've described this result as a dream one for you. Have Juan Pablo's comments soured this is any way?
Michael Schumacher:
Not for me.
Question:
To add to that, your first victory here was an unfortunate one with what happened with Ayrton, does this sixth one mean anything to you on the anniversary of his death?
Michael Schumacher:
Honestly, we come here every year and we think about what happened to Roland [Ratzenberger] and Ayrton. Not because it is ten years... For me, it doesn't make it any more special or different.
Question:
Jenson, what do you feel is the weakness point to close the gap with Ferrari? And do you believe the rain of last night could have helped Ferrari?
Jenson Button:
I just think they are a long way in front of anyone at the moment. The rain might have made a small difference, but if it did it is not a huge difference. Michael was 27secs in front of me before he started slowing down. It is a huge gap considering I was leading for the first nine laps of the race. If I knew the reasons why they were so fast, we would work on it, but it is very difficult to understand why we are quite a long way off them.
Question:
Juan, sorry to harp on about the incident, but I think you said in the unilaterals you'd gone for the inside but, when we pick up the TV pictures, you seem to be driving round the outside…
Juan Pablo Montoya:
That was afterwards. After the first three corners, he had a bad exit and I went for the inside.
Question:
Was it Tosa?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
No, before Tosa. Turns one, two, three. I don't know. I'm amazed, I actually got in front of him when we were braking…[while watching television replays] Oh no, he didn't see me there.... No chance. You've got to be either blind or stupid not to see me. But you know, it is racing.
Question:
At Tosa, though, are you not trying to be a bit optimistic to drive around the outside?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
I've done it before and it has got quite a lot of grip. I managed to get above my position there and, when I was driving out of the corner, he just pushed me wide. I've done it before at the Nurburgring, passing him on the outside. You know, he had very little grip on the first few corners. I understand he has got to defend his position, but how far do you go to defend your position - that's the question. Or how far are you allowed to do so.
Question:
Jenson, you are watching the pictures there on TV. Can we just gain a neutral perspective on this?
Jenson Button:
I missed it. I didn't see that part.... I think I was looking away at that point....
Question:
Michael, just a follow-up question to yourself. Who do you see as your main rival in the championship? You've got a healthy 16-point lead, are you looking at Jenson perhaps to be your biggest rival this season now?
Michael Schumacher:
He is fully into it, absolutely.
Question:
Juan Pablo, have you seen Ralf?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
I did close the door, you know. I don't have anything against what I did, but it was because of the first incident. I wasn't going to lose ten positions. I don't have a problem with that, it is fine by me.
Question:
Jenson, bearing in mind how well testing went in Barcelona, do you think you could have a go at Ferrari in Barcelona?
Jenson Button:
It's difficult. In testing, you never know what fuel loads people are running and what testing they are doing, so it's a difficult one. We have been quick at Barcelona over one lap and the long runs are reasonable as well, but looking at Ferrari's pace in every race this year they seem to be very good in race trim. We might be closer, but to beat them is a big step forward.
Question:
Juan, can you explain your gesture on the last lap to Michael?
Juan Pablo Montoya:
I just said ‘what happened, what were you thinking'. That's all.
Michael Schumacher:
I thought you were congratulating me.
Juan Pablo Montoya:
I never do actually.