Q: Kimi after all the promise, poles and speed, a great and reliable run from start to finish…
Kimi Raikkonen: Yes it was very good the car has been perfect the whole weekend and we knew that we should be pretty strong in the race. From the beginning, I pushed until the pit stop and then I saw I was leading by so much that there was no point really, anymore to put the car under so much pressure so I kept the pace up, but I didn't go full speed and won quite easily. Finally, it happened. Last race was close already. I am very happy for myself and also for the other people who have put so much effort into the car and everybody is working hard and finally we get some results. The test team has done well and everybody is working perfectly. So, hopefully we can now start winning more.
Q: It was a slightly disruptive start with the Safety Car coming out. Talk us through that. And, also, your thoughts in the closing stages bearing in mind your problems this year when the chequered flag approached…
KR: Of course, you can never be 100 per cent sure until you cross the finish line so there is also something that can happen, but so far, in this race, it was perfect, but I had some small problem on a pit stop when the engine did not run very clean when I tried to pull away and I don't know what it was, but not a major problem and on the start of the race I had already a little gap and then I saw in the third or fourth corner I saw some yellow flags and Safety Car signs and so I slowed down straightaway, but I don't know what happened really because it happened at the back of the field.
Q: And going into this race, a very technical circuit, a lot of debate about how the tyres will perform with these new regulations, your thoughts on that…
KR: No. The tyres were very good, I think. So, the circuit is not as hard on the tyres as it used to before now they have resurfaced it. I could have done much quicker in the end if I had wanted, but there was no reason to push anymore so I would say the tyres worked very well, they lasted great…
Q: Fernando, a great day for you, obviously not the win there, but first of all what were your thoughts when Kimi was pulling away from you at those speeds in the early laps?
Fernando Alonso: Well, I was thinking that it was not possible to follow him, he was too quick at that moment. So, I was a little bit conservative with the tyres because I knew it was the risky part of the race and after that they didn't feel too good so I wasn't pushing too hard and then the car started to feel better and better after lap 25 or somewhere like that and in the end it was perfect. But like Kimi was, there was no time to push and I had nothing in front of me and behind me Jarno was 20 seconds behind. So, when the car was good, there was no time to push, but anyway this second place here at home is like a victory for me. It's eight points in the pocket again and that is a fantastic result for me and the team and again for Monaco as well because it means we start quite on the back for quail one and Monaco is one of the circuits where that should be an advantage so I really want to finish this race and another podium is a dream for sure.
Q: Are you surprised at the difference in pace between McLaren and Renault today?
FA: Well, I think it was not too depressant at this race. I think we will have problems to beat McLaren at the moment because they look very strong, but also we are strong and I think Giancarlo set the fastest lap of the race and I think we are there, we are very close and we need to find something more and at the next races some new bits are coming for the cars so we are totally confident that we can still win races.
Q: And of course you still have reliability. This was your fifth successive podium today.
FA: Yes, five races, five podiums. I have said many times this year this start of the season is something that I never expected and I hope to continue like this and to finish races and to score points and this is the only way to be happy and to have more confidence, race by race.
Q: Jarno, you weren't that confident yesterday, but a podium finish today and a great drive…
Jarno Trulli: To be honest, yes, I have to say that it was one of the best races of my career because the car wasn't very good and I had to fight very hard and I managed to keep ahead of Ralf. I had a different strategy. I was quicker with more fuel and slower with a bit less fuel its because of the car set-up. But in the end, it was a really tough job to be ahead of Ralf who was very quick and probably today deserved a third position the same as me. It is good because Toyota are doing a good job and I will never thank the Japanese enough for what they are giving me.
Q: So from your point of view, flat out the whole way and getting the maximum from the car?
JT: Yeah, right from the beginning to the end I had to push really, really hard even during my pit stops. At my first pit stop, I had a problem with the fuel rig but in the end everything worked fine and it is a great feeling to be on the podium again.
Q: Kimi, just returning to you, what is it about McLaren, Finland and Barcelona? Mika Hakkinen, your countryman, three victories here and now you have got a victory, is something going on?
KR: Yes, it seems to be a good place for us, for the team and for the Finnish people. But I hope it would have happened already last race because it would have helped us a lot in the championship because, basically, we don't have much to lose any more and we need to win the races and that's the only chance to get back in it. Its going to be difficult, but it's a long season and you never know what is going to happen in a race so we need to do our best and hopefully we can get back there.
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