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European GP: Post-race press conference

NEWS STORY
07/05/2006

Michael, congratulations. Just talk us through those early stages when you were trailing Fernando as you were.
Michael Schumacher: It was no surprise that it was difficult because we were driving pretty competitively and as quick as we could. It's a bit more difficult behind when you're driving in the slipstream and the wind conditions today made it a bit tricky in certain areas. But at the end of the day, on the tyre side, the car side, the engine side and fuel and everything was just superb.

You did two superb in-laps, the fastest lap of the race and a great out-lap as well.
MS: Yeah, well the out-lap was not that important – it was just getting out of the pit-lane in front. I always thought we could do it at the first pit-stop, but then I pushed a bit too high at turn six and almost lost it and that was probably the reason that I had to spend more time behind until the last pit-stop, which was interesting because it was varying quite a bit in certain parts of the race where Fernando sometimes seemed a bit slower and then sometimes I seemed to be a bit slower and then I was picking it up again and he had a pit-stop where he was pushing very hard, but we could match his sort of pace.

And perfect strategy. You didn't seem too happy after qualifying yesterday, but it's all panned out perfectly as it's turned out.
MS: We obviously chose to stay out extra lap, which honestly doesn't give you two tenths. The reason Fernando gained the two tenths was because I didn't get a perfect lap and he obviously did and that's where it went. Because I felt we had a good strategy and I felt good about it, and I knew we had a good race pace because on new tyres I knew we could push and it all worked out.

Fernando, a great second place and eight valuable points. Talk us through the race from your point of view.
Fernando Alonso: It was a quite interesting race. I started from pole position and I was controlling the race with the pace. I knew there was an area for Michael, so we had new tyres at the first pit-stop. It was okay and I came in-front of Michael at the end. In the second pit-stop it was not so good because we stopped maybe three of four laps too early and that was too much. I think sometimes in a race you have traffic, but sometimes nothing helps when you are leading the race and second place is a fantastic result considering we were a little bit down from Ferrari's performance this weekend. Also, I think the tyres were not perfectly okay for this weekend, so even with everything, to get the eight points means that we have everything okay and we should win again.

Third stint for you, once Michael had got the lead, how hard was that and how hard did you try to push it for a couple of laps?
FA: I tried for two or three laps and we had similar lap times, but from then we just turned the revs down and this engine has to race next week in Barcelona and we need to always get on the podium.

So you had Felipe under control?
FA: More or less yes. Maybe it was a bit close at the end, but clearly it was controlled.

Felipe, a great drive from you. A lot of pressure on Fernando in the closing stages and equally on you from Kimi Raikkonen.
Felipe Massa: I'm really happy – it was a great result for us and especially with my first podium. The whole car was quite strong, especially at the beginning when I and Michael were both pushing Fernando and then suddenly they got the pace. My car was quite consistent all race and the tyres were working well. Only in the last stint – where I had scrubbed tyres – it was not working so well. It was a great result, it helps the team out for the championship and especially me and Michael for the fight. In the first three races we were not on the pace, so hopefully now there is a chance for us to fight with Renault for the races.

You made a great start too from P3 on the grid. Michael was alongside you in the first corner.
FM: Sure, I had a very good start and I could manage to put my car side-by-side with Michael but he was on the inside so he was able to go ahead. Really, it was a great start and I think the whole thing was perfect with the strategy too. The management of the race was very good.

Michael, a great result, two wins in a row. Next race next week is the Spanish Grand Prix. Fernando usually goes pretty well there.
MS: Yeah. It's no surprise to expect Renault up at the front, and also they shouldn't be surprised to see us at the front either. We will battle to win.

Press Conference

Michael, that seemed a pretty perfect race.
MS: Yeah. If you finish first, what can you say? That's the way it makes everybody happy who wants to see us winning, obviously. It was a great race, great strategy, great performance all the way through.

Did the strategy basically come from Ross?
MS: Obviously Ross is the man who finally decides, but we're a team and there are several people involved in working out our strategies and preparing everything so it's a team effort.

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