Jarno, Hockenheim holds good memories for you: are you looking forward to racing there?
Jarno Trulli: I am definitely looking forward to arriving in Germany. I have always enjoyed racing at Hockenheim, ever since I was in German Formula 3, and even since the changes, it is a circuit I enjoy. It is technical again, because although most of the corners are low speed, you really need to concentrate on good performance through them and also responsiveness through the quicker sections, so the correct compromise can be quite difficult to find. There is a big physical challenge with the heat which is a good test and, of course, I scored my first podium there for Renault in 2003.
Are there any after-effects from your Silverstone crash?
JT: Not at all. The car did an excellent job protecting me, and I felt fine immediately after the race. I just want to get back in the car, and put in a more positive weekend than we had in Silverstone. We didn't achieve the performance we wanted in the race, and that was a disappointment, so we must step up and take the fight to our immediate competitors.
How optimistic do you feel ahead of the race?
JT: Predictions are becoming so hard to make - we really have to wait until Friday in order to judge where we stand, once we have tried the tyres. Getting that choice right will be absolutely critical, as it seems that each weekend, it is a different Michelin team challenging Ferrari: for this race, we will be working hard to ensure it is us so that we can consolidate our championship position. We have updates to the engine and the aerodynamics, and they will definitely help us with these objectives.
Fernando, what are the challenges for the drivers in Hockenheim?
Fernando Alonso: Hockenheim is often all about concentration for the drivers. It is usually very hot there, so the conditions in the cockpit are quite demanding, and to be quick we need to be very precise in how we drive. There is a lot of heavy braking into slow corners, and especially on heavy fuel loads or in the race on worn tyres, the slightest slip can mean that competitors will get by you on the exit of the corner. This is a circuit where overtaking is quite easy at certain points, and if you make mistakes, the cars behind will often punish you.
What about the car: what areas does it need to be strong in?
FA: Well, with the current layout, the most important areas are getting good mechanical grip, and also very good traction - but keeping the top speed quite high into the hairpin at turn 4. The R24 has been strong in these areas, as we have seen at circuits like Monaco and Montreal, so I think we should be optimistic. Equally, the team will be looking to bounce back from Silverstone with a good result.
In terms of performance, what can we expect?
FA: Personally, I was pretty frustrated after Silverstone, because I spent the whole race following slower cars and just couldn't find any clear track. So hopefully, we will have a problem-free weekend so that we can run at our proper pace. However, this year, it has become more and more difficult to predict who will be strong at which circuits: we have expected to be good in some places where we were not, and have had a nice surprise at other circuits, like France. A lot will depend on the tyres, of course, but we will hope to be one of the main challengers to Ferrari on Sunday afternoon. We need to start scoring points again to maintain our championship position.
