F1 Tickets

Lewis Hamilton comes to Valencia in the same frame of mind he approached every Grand Prix in 2007 and 08: expecting to fight for victory.

Since his surprise success in Hungary, which yielded his first victory since China last year, the reigning world champion believes that McLaren can now fight for wins for the rest of the season. Part of that is because his cars KERS energy storage system will come into its own on the remaining tracks, and part is because of further revisions to its aerodynamic configuration.

Fresh from a break on the beaches of Los Angeles with his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, of the Pussycat Dolls, he is raring to go racing again.

“We know we are on track to compete for more wins and definitely to compete at the front of the grid a lot more often,” he said. “Our aim now is to win as many races as we can.”

He is no longer a contender for the 2009 title, but there is a strong likelihood that his performances will influence the outcome of that battle.

On the one hand he could spell bad news for championship leader Jenson Button, whose lead has steadily been whittled down by Red Bull rivals Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. If he gets the MP4-24 between the Red Bulls and Brawns, Button’s lead could be decimated in next to no time. On the other, if McLaren beat Red Bull, it could help Buttons prospects.

“Valencia went very well for me last year,” Hamilton added. “I was second there last year and we were very competitive with Ferrari and Felipe (Massa).

“It definitely suited my driving style and hopefully now with the car being a bit better we should be able to compete again for at least a podium. I think this weekend should be good for us.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has described McLaren and Ferraris KERS systems as a major headache for his team and Hamilton said: “As our car gets better KERS is going to become more and more valuable. I think if we were to take our KERS off then currently we are not as fast as, say, the Red Bulls. But with our KERS on I think we are now just as fast as them. Hopefully once we get our car to match theirs we will have a clear advantage.

“I think that in Valencia – and in fact quite a lot of the races coming up – KERS is going to be quite an advantage to have, especially off the start.”

Hamilton said his one regret here is that he wont now get the chance to race Michael Schumacher, whose F1 career ended the race before his own began.

“As I said at the time, it would have been a real privilege just to be on the same grid as him, but I’ve just got to wish him well and hope he has a quick recovery. If he decides to come back at some other point in the future then I will welcome him with open arms.

“I was just so psyched to have the opportunity to race against him.”

David Tremayne

Red Bull Racing have announced that they have extended their contract with driver Sebastian Vettel until the end of 2011, with an option for 2012.

Twenty two-year-old Vettel is a graduate of the Red Bull Junior Team, which he joined at the age of 12.

He has already won two Grands Prix this year – in China and Great Britain – bringing his Formula One win total to three and he currently lies third in the 2009 drivers championship.

Welcome to the opening day of practice for the 11th round of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia.

The weather is scheduled to be settled throughout with weekend, with partial cloud and an ambient temperature high of 28 degrees Celsius each day.

The race will run over 57 laps of the 5.419-kilometre (3.367-mile) circuit, or 308.883 kilometres (191.919 miles). It starts at 1400 hours local time, which is two hours ahead of GMT.

Reproduced with kind permission of the FIA

Drivers: Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Luca Badoer (Ferrari), Jenson Button (Brawn GP) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).

Q: Firstly, a question to you all. What have you been doing during the break?
Jaime Alguersuari: I was racing World Series by Renault, my other championship. I did a race in Portimao and it was really good. I won and after this I was back in Barcelona. I spent a couple of days in Ibiza with my family, thats all.

Q: Luca, I suspect you have got quite a story to tell?
Luca Badoer: I did not have a holiday. I just worked very hard in a physical way because after Felipes accident and Michael tried to drive the car it was very clear for us that, if Michael was not able, then it was my turn. I kept really concentrating and thinking about everything I could do to be in the best position for the race. I did really a lot of training.

Q: So training every day in the gym. Any driving?
LB: I drove a go-kart because I think it is very good for general training. Obviously I did the special training for the neck with my special machine to improve all the muscle and the resistance of the heart, so I was pushing really hard.

Q: Lewis, what have you been up to since the last race?
Lewis Hamilton: Not too much really. Nothing particularly fancy. I spent some time with my family and then I spent the rest of my time in Los Angeles with my girlfriend, so just chilling at home.

Q: On the beach in LA?
LH: I did go to the beach on two days in LA but the water is freezing, so I didnt go in the water. And otherwise I did a bit of training and just good food.

Q: But you havent put on any weight?
LH: No, no way.

Q: Jenson?
Jenson Button: I spent a couple of weeks in the South of France with my girlfriend and friends. I did a triathlon as well in the UK which was quite fun, the London Triathlon. I did the painful bit then I had some fun.

Q: And Fernando?
Fernando Alonso: Nothing really.

Q: You dont look as though you have been in the sun?
FA: No, not much.

Q: Just at home?
FA: Yes.

Q: Jaime, your feeling after doing your first grand prix. How do you feel you got on?
JA: I got quite used to the car and at the end we managed to finish the race with no mistakes which was a little bit our aim, our main objective for that weekend. Now we are back to Valencia. For sure it has to be a little bit better step-by-step and hopefully we can get a little bit more in qualifying and also try to finish the race. That is the main objective again for the weekend.

Q: Were there any surprises in Formula One as far as you were concerned in Hungary?
JA: Well, I mean I expected to be very bad. I expected to be physically really bad in the race but at the end we managed to finish it. I think it was not as bad as I expected, so I am looking forward to the next races.

Q: And what are your feelings about racing in Spain, in your home country?
JA: I think it is always good to race here. I raced here last year with F3 and I have a good feeling for this track and hopefully we can do a good job this weekend. It is always good to be in Spain racing.

Q: Luca, do you remember your last race? When was it?
LB: I read in a newspaper that it was Japan 1999.

Q: So how prepared do you feel for this race?
LB: I mean my last race was 10 years ago more or less but I did in these 10 years close to 150,000kms with Formula One. I am used to doing two races in one day because of the tests, sometimes we did two races in a day, so it is not that really I am worried for this aspect of the situation. I am used to the race as before I did a lot of races. If you think for somebody who had never raced maybe it is a problem but I know what it was in the past, so I have an idea. I am in a better position than somebody who didnt have a race, so at the moment I am very calm, very quiet.

Q: Not excited?
LB: Yeah, in a way I am very excited as this is my dream. To drive for Ferrari in Formula One was for all my life being simply a dream. Now I can have it and I am the happiest driver in the world.

Q: Do you think you have probably earned it after all the testing you have done?
LB: Yes.

Q: Lewis, after winning in Hungary how was that feeling for you?
LH: It was a great feeling. It was fantastic going back to the factory and seeing all my team in the red tops and being greeted by everyone and just to see the smiles on all their faces after clearly a very tough season so far. It was a great way to start everyones holiday as well. It was quite a good period for everyone to see everyone able to relax and go back and spend some time with their families. I think it was a perfect weekend to begin that.

Q: Give us some idea what it has taken for the team and yourself to get to that stage, to get back on top again?
LH: Well, I think before the beginning of the season, before the first race we were a good two-and-a-half, almost three seconds off the pace. For the first race we brought a huge amount of updates to the car. The team were pushing way beyond our means and way beyond the actual power that we had as individuals. Everyone was working way overtime and whilst we were making those changes to catch up, everyone was making a step forward, so perhaps you did not see the impact it had but in the car we felt it bit by bit get better. Clearly at the last two races we had made a much, much bigger step to be able to keep up with the other guys. That is really just due to the team never giving up and never thinking for a second I am going to leave that aside, I am going to leave it for another day. No-one lost the determination. Everyone just kept pushing and even I have been back to the factory and seen everyones determination and enthusiasm and it had an impact on me. It is just a family environment with us all pushing together and working to achieve our goals.

Q: And the chances of you staying on top now?
LH: I hope so. We are going to do the best job we can. Again we just have to take it race by race. We know we have got a lot of very competitive teams around us who will continue to improve during the season but it is just a great feeling for us to know that we have that competitiveness back in the car.

Q: Jenson, what has been going wrong? Do you genuinely feel that you can be back on top again?
JB: Well, you know we have got to hope. I think we understand the car much better than we did one or two races ago. It looks positive and we have got to hope when we get onto the circuit tomorrow that it feels positive and it is not just what we see in the data. We have made some steps forward since the last race and I think we have also looked at a few of the areas that we thought we had improved in over the last couple of races. We have looked at the possibility of going back on those changes. There has been a lot of work going on in the time that we have been able to over the break and we come here with a positive attitude. We have had a great season this year. If someone had said to me you could win six of the 10 races I would have bitten their arm off. It is just they all happened at the start of the season. But we can be strong again. This car is not bad. I think that we have just maybe gone slightly in the wrong direction. But we will pick up our pace for sure. I really enjoy this circuit. I think it is a real buzz to get a good lap around here, so I am looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and seeing where we are.

Q: Is it operational or engineering changes that you have made in the past?
JB: The changes with the car that we have made, some of them are definitely positive. Some of them maybe arent so. It does make it very difficult in season if you do take slightly the long direction because you cant test and you cant do comparisons and it is very, very difficult going to a circuit that is dusty on a Friday. It is very difficult to do a back-to-back with a big change as it can take a long time to make that change to the car and you lose a lot of circuit time. But I think going through the date we understand the car which is the most important thing and as I said we have made some improvements which should help us a little bit. I know everyone is making improvements but we have got to try and stay on top of it as we need to get some good results. We cant finish off of the podium. We need to be on the podium as often as possible but it is very, very competitive now. You havent just got the Red Bulls who are strong. You have got the McLarens, the Ferraris, the Renaults and even the Williams has been competitive. Nico (Rosberg) has finished in front of me the last three races, so we need to get back on top of it. I have got an 18.5 point lead but that could disappear very quickly. We are not going to get to worried, we are just going to stay positive and work out our issues as we do have an advantage. 18.5 points is quite a bit but we need to make sure that we go into this race and we have a positive attitude and hope that we can get back to the front again.

Q: Fernando, how confident were you that you were going to be here at all at this race?
FA: 99 per cent.

Q: So you didnt think that the penalty was going to stay?
FA: I was hoping not as I think the penalty was too hard on us. I was confident that at the end everything was clear for us and we were ready to race in Valencia. I think the team was quite optimistic on that and they sent the trucks and everything one week before the appeal, so I think in our heads it was 100 per cent racing in Valencia.

Q: Your race here last year was pretty rotten. How are you feeling about being competitive this year?
FA: We will see. Obviously it is going to be a tough weekend. I may say now that I think the times are very close and it is so competitive now. From second to 12th it is only two or three tenths, so we will try to be in the front part of that pack. At the Nrburgring we were the fastest lap in the race or in Hungary with the pole we try to do some good races and try for a good performance here in front of the home crowd. We know it is going to be difficult. Last year it was a bit difficult as we only did one corner before Nakajima hit me, so hopefully this year I can finish the race as I said in front of your own people the worst thing that can happen is if you have to retire.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Rodrigo Franca VIP Magazine) Fernando, you said about the home crowd. In Barcelona in 2001 you were just like Jaime. You had no pressure in the Minardi and Pedro de la Rosa was the centre of Spains expectations. Do you miss something about that time or do you prefer being a champion?
FA: No, not much. I prefer to be in this position. If you are the centre of attention it is because you have some possibilities and you have some performance in your car that maybe you are able to do some good things. To have no pressure is okay for one race, two races but we are all competitive people and we want to win.

Q: (Andrea Cremonesi La Gazzetta dello Sport) Luca, in a recent interview, Nicola Larini said one of the worst things for Luca is that hes not used to racing any more. Its a long time since he raced, that the start is a very critical moment, then overtaking, fighting with other drivers. What do you think about this?
LB: I will be very careful but all I can say is that we will see.

Q: (MC) Is it something that a racing driver loses, the ability to understand the whereabouts of other cars?
LB: In a way, yes, but as I said before, Ive done a lot of races in my life. I did F3000, F3, go-karts, so this was just a pause. Ive raced in the past, I can race again in the future, so honestly, for me Valencia will be a race in which I have to learn everything. I have to get used to being back in the car because its a long time since I drove its not so long but its enough. So I have to drive a lot on Friday. I have to get used to this kind of qualifying and I have to get used to being at a race again, so if I had only Valencia, only one chance, I would be very worried, and I would try to do everything, and maybe with a lot of pressure and maybe with a lot of mistakes but thats not the case because until Felipe comes back, the car is mine, so I have some time in which to improve, to develop the situation.

Q: (Ed Gorman The Times) Jenson, Ross (Brawn) talked after the last race about having to work back through the data to see what changes had been made, to perhaps try and pinpoint where they might have taken a wrong turning. Have you got any sense from them that they might have indentified the point at which the car went slightly off the rails?
JB: Yeah, for sure. All the way through the season, at every race you arrive at you bring something new and you try something new, be it aerodynamics or mechanical set-up. There are lots of different things that you can try throughout the season and you have to do it at the races. And we know we think we know where we went wrong. You never know a hundred percent, for sure, unless you go down to the circuit and you do a back-to-back which we will be doing here but we think we understand the car and the issues that we have and hopefully they will be solved at this race. As I said, in the data we think we know a hundred percent where weve gone wrong but until you get on to the circuit and test it you never know. A drivers point of view is very important.

Q: (Ed Gorman The Times) In a very general sense, you can give us any indication of actually what that area is, just so that we can get a sense of what youre talking about?
JB: I think its better for us to leave it as it is at the moment and just get on with the weekend. After the weekend we might tell you.

Q: (Livio Oricchio O Estado de Sao Paulo) Fernando, what didnt you have from your ex-team-mate that you can expect from your new one?
FA: I think that I always had a good relationship with Nelson. I consider him to be a very good driver and a very nice person. Im sure he will have more opportunities in Formula One because I really think he has the talent. Obviously something went wrong with him, with the team or whatever. Technically speaking, I think we always had the same car; this has to be clear because there was a lot of information this summer. But maybe on the other side, on the human side with the team he was maybe never very happy with the team or whatever, so it was difficult. I also remember my time in 2003/4 with the team, it was not so easy when you arrive in Formula One and being a hundred percent confident and happy with the team, so I think this was one of the problems with Nelsinho unfortunately. We will see with Romain (Grosjean). I think its a good opportunity for him to come into Formula One now, to arrive in Formula One without too much pressure and for the future, for next year, all the races that he does this year can be a big opportunity to consolidate his Formula One career. I hope the best for Nelsinho as I said and I also hope the best for Romain to do well in these races and help us to score more points in the Constructors Championship because were now a little bit behind.

Q: (Joris Fioriti AFP) Luca, you were not Ferraris first choice in the first place. Were you frustrated by that? And then a question which is linked: everyone was expecting Michael Schumacher to be on track this weekend; does that put more pressure on you?
LB: Honestly, Im a big fan of him as well. It was also fine and good for me to see him again on the track. I have spent a lot of time with him over the last 20 days. We trained together, we drove go-karts together. As I said before, I have a great relationship with him. We are very good friends. So we live this time together. It was funny because we knew immediately that it was him or me and honestly, I dont feel that to replace Michael Schumacher is like a second choice or a bad choice because Im replacing the best champion in the world at the moment.

Q: (Andrea Cremonesi La Gazzetta dello Sport) Luca, could you describe to us what you felt this morning when you arrived here in the paddock? You are the first Italian for 15 years to race a Ferrari.
LB: I just tried to understand the circuit. Its the first time Ive been to Valencia, so everything is new to me: the car parking, the entry, the pits, so I was looking around for all these things and then I went out onto the track. I did two or three laps of the track, to better understand physically the corners, the kind of asphalt, the walls at the side of the track, everything, with my engineer. The feeling at the moment surprises me but Im very calm. Its like being in a test situation because a lot of the time, at the test, I was with all the team and we are pushing very hard in every way, also at a test, so until Im not in qualifying or on the starting grid, I dont think I will feel a big difference. Tomorrow will be like a normal test day, all the team together, at the track.

Q: Carole Capitaine (LEquipe) A question for all the drivers except Luca: a question about Michael Schumacher. Do you believe its a shame Michael cant race in Valencia, and are you curious, like many people, what he could have done in the race after two years off?
JB: Im sure everyone was very excited about Michael Schumacher racing again. Hes achieved more in the sport than anyone and having someone whos achieved as much as he has back in the sport is for sure very good for the sport, and also another World Champion. For him, Im sure hes really, really disappointed that he couldnt be here as well but he cant race, so we move on and I think we have a very competitive field anyway without Michael. But I think the most disappointed man, forgetting all of us, has got to be Michael himself. Hes had his neck injury and hes not able to be on the grid but as I said, life goes on and weve got a couple of World Champions on the grid at the moment well, three World Champions on the grid at the moment and its a pretty competitive field.
FA: Same.

Q: (MC) Jaime, would you like to have raced against Michael Schumacher?
JA: Yeah, I think that it was unbelievable for me, a great opportunity especially because I have just upgraded to Formula One and I think Michael has always been a reference for young drivers and especially for me. I think it was really good, but now, as Jenson said, the situation is like this and we accept it and we race and we have fun all the same.
LH: These guys have commented quite well, I think. Hes a racing legend and it would have been a real privilege and an honour for all of us to have competed against him. Obviously you guys have, I havent, but to see him back, I think, would have been great for the sport and I think all we can do is wish him well, wish him a strong recovery and look forward to us racing together.
LB: If I can say something as well, because I spent a lot of time with him, I can let you understand that he was really pushing very hard. He was training a lot, he spent a lot of time (doing that) because he wanted to come back. He did everything, he tried everything, he lost three kilos in seven days, he was really pushing one hundred percent because it was sort of his dream to come back and drive in Formula One again. You have to keep in mind that he was missing something; he really tried everything but it was not possible because of the neck problem.

Q: (Rodrigo Franca VIP Magazine) Question for all, starting with Fernando, so he cant say same! Where will you guys be in 2010? I know its difficult to say anything about that at the moment but what can you tell us?
FA: The same, they will say! I dont know, in Formula One for sure.
JB: You hope! The same for me, yeah, basically.
LH: I have to say the same.
JB: Youve got to stay, havent you?

Q: (MC) Havent you got a contract?
LH: Absolutely.

Q: (MC) Jenson, have you got a contract?
JB: No.

Q: (MC) Fernando, contract with Renault?
FA: Same.
JB: Same us.
JA: Yeah, I hope its the same.
LB: I was talking with Ferrari before Hungary to renew my contract for next year but after Hungary everything is I dont know, I honestly dont know what will happen next year. We will see.

Q: (Naoise Holohan Manipe F1) Luca, whats going to be your aim for this weekend, is it for points or are you just aiming to finish the race?
LB: No, I have no objective for this weekend. As I told you before, its a sort of test for me, so it would be nice to finish the race.

Q: (Carlos Miquel Diario AS) Fernando, do you think its possible to fight for the podium or is it a poor track for your car?
FA: I really dont know. Looking at the last two races, as I said, we have to be optimistic because the car has improved a lot and we look more competitive now but I think the competition is also quite difficult at the moment. As Jenson said before, its not only the Red Bulls, its the McLarens, the Brawns, the Williams, Ferrari, so there are a lot of cars in a very close gap, so if we have a perfect weekend, why not? We can fight in the top five maybe, and hopefully, possibly the podium but if we make any little mistake, we can easily be twelfth, eleventh position. So thats the good thing about the championship at the moment; everything is so close, so competitive. You have to be really perfect all weekend and we will try to be so. I think it will be more difficult than in Budapest which was maybe a circuit that was a little bit better for our car. I think here in Valencia we might have a few more problems with all the braking and things like that but we will try our best anyway.

There had been speculation about BMWs withdrawal from Formula One racing for some time, but when it became reality two days after the Hungarian Grand Prix it still came as quite a shock. Now the quest to secure the future of the team and its employees is paramount – and some good results at the remaining seven races would definitely help things along. Team principal Mario Theissen says that everybody is one hundred percent committed to completing 2009 with their heads held high…

Q: Mario, how do you imagine the rest of the season will develop for the team? And what about the 2010 car? Obviously you have already started working on it
Mario Theissen: We will keep on working on this years car as planned, as results are the best argument for a possible buyer. And in regards of next years car, as long as we are looking for a solution for the team we will be continuing with the development work.

Q: How painful was the decision to withdraw from Formula One racing for you personally?
MT: If this is painful for me or not is not up for debate this very moment. We have the decision and we now have to focus on the team – the people in Munich and especially those working in Hinwil – to find the best scenario possible for them.

Q: What options for the future of the team are on the table at the moment?
MT: Priority has been the search for a partner who will invest in the team and keep it up and running. Another possible scenario is to use the Hinwil department as a development base for BMW, but also for external use.

Q: Development base for what?
MT: Formula One cars could be developed there, but also other motorsport projects are possible. Also automotive lightweight construction or aerodynamics, as Hinwil is a centre of excellence with outstanding installations and top class engineers.

Q: When you say that you are looking for a buyer, what kind of qualities do you expect from a possible candidate?
MT: I cannot speak about details but negotiations are taking place. There are many interested parties and the spectrum goes from simply inquiries to very professional approaches on how the team could be run. It is not only the financial issue, but also important is how the team would be structured and how a possible handover could be orchestrated. We are in the middle of an evaluation process.

Q: How difficult is it to keep up the motivation when many staff members probably fear losing their jobs?
MT: At no point have I had the feeling that motivation was lost after the withdrawal announcement. This was one of the most impressive experiences after the decision was made. We all in the team know that the best argument for a new owner would be to raise our game – but that also goes for the respect that the team seeks in the public eye.

Q: Has the FIA set you a date for an application for the 13th team slot for 2010?
MT: Not that Im aware of.

Q: What does BMWs withdrawal signal for the BMW brand?
MT: I think we have to separate the sport view from BMW as a car manufacturer. And we have to separate recent occurrences from long-term paradigms and decisions. In the press conference the board said that the long-term strategy of the company was the reason for the decision. But such a decision is never made based upon one parameter only: first we have the new strategy for the company – for sure, not something that will happen overnight, but in the long run was the main reason – then there was the performance issue, the financial subject, and then, as the actual trigger, the need to commit at a fixed date for three years. You could argue that if we were leading the championship right now the decision would not have been made at that time – and should we have won the championship it very likely would have been made then. The new long-term strategy of the company was indeed the main factor for the decision to withdraw.

Q: Is Formula One racing so unimportant for the BMW brand that the board came to such a decision. That must leave all supporters of the team baffled
MT: I also come from the sporting side and see that aspect as very important. But if you look at the press coverage of the last three weeks then we naturally have that aspect from the side of the sport but from an economic view the decision was applauded. The share price went up and the commentaries in the economic papers were positive throughout. You always have to look at the whole picture.

Q: But when focusing on the financial issue, the new cost-saving initiatives will allow companies to run a team at a percentage of what it invests now. In a best-case scenario a Formula One team could become a profit centre. Is the decision to quit not taking away a source of income?
MT: No, I dont see it that way. I dont believe that it ever would become a profit centre. True, the costs, which have already decreased substantially over the last couple of years, will decrease even further – Formula One definitely will become more affordable – but a profit centre, no, at least for manufacturers.

Q: A decision like that is not something that comes overnight. Were you personally surprised?
MT: Yes, I was surprised. True, there have been discussions within the company, but as I said before it was the concurrence of a number of factors that led to that decision at that time. The trigger was the postulation to commit for three years.

He may be modest about the significance of his breakthrough win in the recent German Grand Prix, but Red Bulls Mark Webber appears more relaxed and self-assured than ever heading into this weekends Valencia race. With his new-found confidence, the Australian lies second in the drivers standings and is definitely looking for more, both for himself and his team

Q: What a difference a day makes. What has changed for you since July 12 – other than that the quest for that first victory is now history?
Mark Webber: Not a huge amount to be honest. Its nice to get a victory under my belt, of course. And what was also very important to me was that I got the victory fair and square. It wasnt because people had retirements in front of me and I always wanted that to happen when the day came when I won a Formula One race, that it was one that I earned. But life hasnt changed so much. A bit more media, but in general the whole team has had that, with a little bit more attention through both team performance and my performance. Its been all positive. Wheres the trophy? At the factory, actually.

Q: First pole, tick. First win, tick. Seems this season is your now-or-never year – feeling bold enough to go for the title?
MW: Well, if you look at what Ive done in the last five to six races you can say that there have been some good moments and I need to focus on repeating that. The world champion will be a deserving world champion. At the moment it looks like Jenson (Button) is in the right position as he has a two-race buffer in terms of points. Im a bit closer, Sebastian (Vettel) a little bit further away, but its still a long, long way to go. But, of course, when you are second in the standings you have to think about it. Its normal and Im not thinking of finishing fifth, but thinking about going one step better, if I can. Its not going to be easy, but Ill try!

Q: The Brawns have struggled in the last three races. Could that be Red Bulls chance, at least for the constructors title?
MW: What weve been doing since Melbourne is focusing on ourselves and that is what we are going to do all the way to Abu Dhabi. Whatever we do is one thing but we cannot control how Brawn performs. We only can control how we perform and so far, along with Renault, what Red Bull Racing has done as a team is clearly an amazing opportunity for us to have a good season. We still have seven races to close the championship up and, of course, it would be disappointing if we dont win one of them. Of course, I think that the constructors championship will come before the drivers championship, because it simply works like that. Jenson has a lot of points on his own, so lets see! We have two even drivers at Red Bull, which is helping us in the constructors, but you can argue maybe not helping us in the drivers championship.

Q: You are second behind Jenson. When Sebastian was in that position you were asked whether you would be willing to play a supportive role. Now the situation has changed. When would be the moment for you to ask for support from your team mate?
MW: Ah, that particular questions now for me. Honestly, the team has handled it very well up until now and they have realized that they have two guys trying to get the most out of the car at each race weekend. If we are both slowly catching Jenson – which is still a tall order – then its a good problem for the team to have because one of us will get him. If only one of us is catching, then maybe the roles will change a bit in the future.

Q: Lately weve seen some unfortunate race accidents. Youve always been an advocate for safety. What conclusions do you think should be drawn and what changes should be made?
MW: If there are any adversities, or problems, or accidents, you can always learn from that. Whether that is how the spring came off from Rubens (Barrichellos) car, or how the wheel came off, or how Felipes (Massas) helmet was taking the impact of such a heavy item and how he was dealt with after he hit the barrier, we have to look at all these things. Actually it was handled fantastically, but from all these things you learn a lot because fortunately it doesnt happen that often. So the learning process is important and we need to action how and what decisions are made thereafter by the experts. We as drivers will ask them and help them, because its our skin. People might argue, why didnt Felipe see it? But, of course, you cannot see if youre close to 280 km/h and the spring is spinning. Sometimes they are asking us questions of how life is from our world – and they need to do so.

Q: In Hungary we saw Fernando Alonso lose a wheel that hadnt been secured properly. As a result Renault were suspended from the European Grand Prix. That penalty was then overturned on appeal. In the light of the recent accidents was that the right decision?
MW: Yes, I think it was. I think there was absolutely no malice involved. He was going slowy and he was trying to get the car back as safely as possible. There was a chance that the wheel might come off, but theyve lost so many wheels in the 70s and 80s and now we know that this is not a safe thing to happen, but all drivers would have done exactly the same thing as Fernando did. He knew that there was a problem with the car and that the wheel was loose, but he would have never guessed that the wheel would come completely off. You have a locking system and the wheel would just be wobbling, but the locking system would hold it in place. In fact the whole incident was bad timing so shortly after Henry Surtees fatal accident. But you dont have much time at a pit stop and it was a shame that there was a mistake made – and there was a mistake made. It was a bit unfortunate.

Q: Last year Valencia was not a great track for Red Bull. Will that change this weekend and how important is it to be on the first row of the grid here?
MW: Qualifying is always important but we also hope that well do much better here than last year. This was probably our worst track last year. It was a tough race for David (Coulthard) and me. But this year has been so different to last year for so many reasons and I hope its also different here.

Q: Do you like this track?
MW: No.

Q: The championship race really hots up from here – no more room for experiments or mistakes. What upgrades do Red Bull have up their sleeves for this race – and for the rest of the season? Can you map it out?
MW: Of course we will continue to fight as hard as we can, but this is probably a good question for (chief technical officer) Adrian (Newey) and those guys. For sure, we will bring some developments, but, for example, Monza and Spa need different packages and aerodynamically Singapore will be back to this race, so the aerodynamic upgrades will be relevant to each particular track. The low-downforce packages are taking priority at the moment to get them ready for the low-downforce tracks and the standard car on these kinds of tracks we need to keep developing. Hopefully we can stay towards the front as long as possible.

Q: Any dream result in mind for Sunday?
MW: A victory, of course!

The ban on refuelling during Grands Prix next year will mean a return to low-fuel running in the top-ten shootout for pole position during qualifying. The move is one of a number of changes confirmed by the FIA in the newly-published 2010 regulations.

With up to 13 teams expected to feature on the grid next season, the first Q1 phase of qualifying will see eight (rather than the current five) drivers eliminated after 20 minutes, with another eight ruled out at the end of the 15-minute Q2 phase, leaving ten to participate in Q3.

Minimum car weight has been raised by 15kg to 620kg, to give teams running KERS more flexibility in terms of weight distribution and set-up, and tyre warmers will still be legal, despite previous talk of the heated blankets being banned.

For full versions of the 2010 FIA regulations, click here .

Team US, one of the three new teams lined up to join the Formula One grid in 2010, has revealed YouTube co-founder and CEO Chad Hurley as a primary investor. The American squad, which is led by former Ligier technical director Ken Anderson and ex-Williams team manager Peter Windsor, is based in North Carolina.

Hurley founded YouTube along with Steve Chen and Jawed Karim back in 2005. A year later, the trio sold the video-sharing website to Google for US$1.65 billion, with Hurley maintaining a position on the board.

“Chad’s addition to the team is a victory for the team explained Anderson. Bringing in a businessman with his level of credentials, and experience in developing and fostering a vision for start-up companies, is an honour, and we look forward to taking on the Formula One challenge together in 2010 and beyond.”

Windsor added: “This is a great day. Chad’s commitment to this team is vital and his visionary expertise and leadership will help steer us into the future as we look to attract best-in-class sponsors, drivers, employees and fans in our quest to compete at the highest level of motorsports.”

The preparations for Team USs debut next season are already well underway, with a growing headcount back at base and their Cosworth-engined car scheduled to make its track debut in November.

Adrian Newey is about as close as a Formula One designer comes to being a household name. Having previously penned championship-winning cars for Williams and McLaren, Newey is now targeting his first title with Red Bull. We spoke to Newey, the teams chief technical officer, about the RB5, the forthcoming RB6, and about life back at the front of the F1 grid

Q: The team arrived for Junes British Grand Prix with a significantly revised RB5 and there were further upgrades in Germany and Hungary. Are you planning any more major upgrades this season? If so, where and what will it involve?
Adrian Newey: It is difficult to be specific as we are continually testing and developing the car in the wind tunnel, but any parts we find that will enhance the performance of the car will be produced and added to the car as quickly as possible.

Q: A lot has been made this season of the relationship between temperature and relative team performance. We saw in Hungary that the RB5 didnt seem as strong in hotter temperatures as it was at the cool British and German races. Is this issue solely to do with tyre management or is there more to it than that?
AN: We believe the issues mainly relate to the temperature of the tyres, certainly with particular compounds that Bridgestone bring to the track at any given race weekend. It certainly does cause swings in performance between teams, but circuit characteristics also play a part. Hungary is quite a slow, bumpy circuit and therefore different in its make-up compared with a circuit such as Silverstone or Germany where our performance was stronger.

Q: The team are clear title challengers this year. How does it feel to be back at the front?
AN: It obviously feels very good, however the irony is that it never feels as though you are doing anything different. We continue to work hard and be intelligent with our resources and it is extremely rewarding that this year the fruits of this determination are at last being realised.

Q: How easy has it been to adjust to the in-season test ban? Have you enjoyed the challenge of trying parts out in the factory and during Friday practice alone, or do you miss the data from testing?
AN: As with all regulation changes it is something we have to factor in to our plans. We have had to change the way we introduce parts to the car and we test more on a Friday than we have in previous seasons. It is all part of the challenge.

Q: Had you known double diffusers would be legal, how different a car would you have designed for 2009?
AN: The car would have been very different, for sure, and it has been difficult for us to properly integrate the double diffuser as our rear suspension package is very much suited to a single diffuser arrangement. It has certainly been more challenging with the double diffuser.

Q: The main rule change for 2010 is set to be the ban on refuelling. How will this influence the design of the RB6? Can we expect an evolution of the RB5, or something more radical again?
AN: The ban on refuelling is primarily a packaging challenge as we have to integrate a fuel tank which is almost double the size of the existing one, whilst trying to maintain the basic design of the existing car. I would consider RB6 to be more of an evolutionary design rather than a radical departure.

Q: You obviously relish the challenge that comes with a major rules shake-up. Does that mean you will find 2010 a bit of an anti-climax after this season?
AN: In a sense yes, stable regulations mean that the designs along the pit lane converge and become evolutions of each other. I do like the challenge of major regulation changes as it offers opportunity for fresh thinking.

Q: How is the team currently splitting its workload between RB5 and RB6?
AN: RB6 development is currently centred initially around long-lead items, these primarily being the monocoque and gearbox. We are in the research stages at the moment and continuing to develop the RB5. It is always a difficult balance to maintain and we try to use our resources as efficiently as possible.

Q: What part of the design process do you enjoy most – the initial creation of the car or the ongoing development that comes once it has started racing?
AN: In many ways I enjoy the initial creation of the car, when the ethos of the car is set down.

Q: Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have been among the closest team mates this season in terms of performance. If you had to put money on it, who would you bet on finishing higher in the standings?
AN: Im not a betting man.

Q: You have talked before about employing your skills in other fields. If the RB5 wins the title, will that make you more or less tempted to try something new outside of Formula One racing?
AN: I dont think what happens this year will affect what I do in the future. I still tremendously enjoy Formula One, but at some stage I would like to be involved in another area outside of motor racing before I reach pension age!

The relatively low-key rule changes for next season will mean the design of Red Bulls 2010 car is unlikely to be as radical as that of this years race-winning RB5. That is according to the teams chief technical officer, Adrian Newey.

Faced with the most dramatic shake-up to the technical regulations in years, Neweys 2009 design took many in the paddock by surprise, with its high, u-shaped nose and its return to the use of pull-rod rear suspension. It has developed into a proven race winner, despite not featuring a double diffuser in its original concept.

But with the outlawing of in-race refuelling the only major rule change for 2010, Newey is anticipating evolution rather than revolution for the RB6.

The ban on refuelling is primarily a packaging challenge as we have to integrate a fuel tank which is almost double the size of the existing one, whilst trying to maintain the basic design of the existing car, Newey told Formula1.com. I would consider RB6 to be more of an evolutionary design rather than a radical departure.

Like all of their rivals, Red Bull are currently juggling development of their 2010 car with ongoing modifications to their 2009 machine – something that presents every team with something of a dilemma.

RB6 development is currently centred initially around long-lead items, these primarily being the monocoque and gearbox, explained Newey. We are in the research stages at the moment and continuing to develop the RB5. It is always a difficult balance to maintain and we try to use our resources as efficiently as possible.

Newey admitted that after the challenge of the 2009 rule changes, next season could prove something of an anti-climax as a designer. Nevertheless, he insists he still relishes the creative process involved in conceptualising a new car.

In a sense yes, stable regulations mean that the designs along the pit lane converge and become evolutions of each other – I do like the challenge of major regulation changes as it offers opportunity for fresh thinking, he added. In many ways I enjoy the initial creation of the car, when the ethos of the car is set down.

Red Bull lie second in the constructors standings heading into this weekends European Grand Prix, 15.5 points adrift of leaders Brawn. However, in the last three races Brawn have scored only 18 points to Red Bulls 42.