Giancarlo, after the opening three-race leg of the 2007 season, how are you feeling about the start you have made to the year?
Giancarlo Fisichella: Personally, I have to say that I have mixed feelings. The car is clearly not performing how we had hoped, so that makes it disappointing because I came into this season believing I had my best chance yet to fight for the title. But that is a fact of life for us at the moment, so the focus at every race, and every test, has to be on getting the maximum from the car – and performing to our best possible level.
Do you feel you have achieved that so far?
GF: Yes, I do. I am a racing driver, and I want to win, so can I ever really say I am pleased to finish seventh or sixth? Of course not. But when that is the maximum the car is capable of, and I am achieving it, then you have to find some satisfaction with the job you are doing.
You have spent two years fighting at the front of the field, yet for the moment, your battle is with a group of three other midfield teams. Is that a difficult adjustment to make?
GF: Well, the job is exactly the same: to push to the limit, to race aggressively and try and achieve the maximum possible. So in the first three races, I have been battling hard with Trulli, and my team-mate Heikki. It is all about taking every chance you get – no matter what part of the field you are racing in.
You have said that the R27 is not performing as well as you had hoped. Is it possible to diagnose the problem at this stage?
GF: That is what the team is working hard on at the moment – understanding the problems, and then fixing them, one by one. In Formula 1, it is very rare that you find simple solutions, and you need to work through everything in a logical way – otherwise you end up with more questions than answers. As drivers, we can feel that the car lacks grip, and is inconsistent to drive, but it is then down to the engineers to understand what is causing the problems – and how to solve them. I was at the factory last week, and I know everybody is working flat out on that process, as well as continuing with the development of the car.
Does that mean your role, as a driver, is diminished?
GF: Not at all – I think it is more important than ever in fact. I have been in this situation before in my career, and the driver can really make a difference motivating the team. I cannot find the technical solution instead of the engineers, but it is important to lead the team with a good example. They know that when I go out on track, I am pushing the car to the limit and getting everything out of the package; and I know that behind the scenes, everybody from the mechanics to directors are working 100% to improve the car.
Are you optimistic that the team can bounce back from its current run of form?
GF: Yes. This is a team that is used to winning races, and we are determined to improve the situation. It is also a team of world champions, that has shown they have what it takes to be the very best during the last two years, so I know we have the strength in depth to turn things around. I am confident that we will get to the bottom of our problems, and emerge even stronger. I cannot predict when, that is what we are working on right now. But whatever happens, I will be giving 100% on every lap and driving with maximum motivation. That will not change, whether we are fighting for points or for race wins.
