Q & A with Nick Heidfeld

Nick Heidfeld: If they did all they could do, they didn't do well.

Q. From your perspective, what happened?

NH: I was on my last lap, my first lap on the option tyres, which was the quickest should have been even quicker, if not for the two McLarens driving in the middle of the racing line at 80 or less km/h, while I was doing 289. It was not really normal, and that just caused me some laptime.

I was happy to make the corner, because when I approached it I saw the problems I had with them in front. At first I thought I would miss the corner but then I just made it and lost a little bit on the exit.

But unfortunately the laptimes are so close that a little bit means a lot. Five hundredths it would have been fourth, and one and a half tenths it would have been third so that's disappointing.

Q. How much time do you think it cost you?

NH: One and half tenths for sure.

Q. So third place should have been yours.

NH: I think so, yeah.

Q. It was not just a question of blocking, but it was also pretty dangerous too.

NH: Exactly. That comes on top. Usually the car go slowly but they move off line but they were in the middle of the racing line and unfortunately on the braking zone. It it was in the middle of the straight I could overtake, but I was coming to the left from the right and I had to brake and it was difficult to get the right braking point because they blocked the boards.

Q. Beyond drivers needing to pay more attention, do you think today highlights the need to change the rules?

NH: We should try to avoid this situations, with drivers and teams paying more attention or by changing the rules. As for example we've done on the lap to the grid. In the past some drivers went very slow to save fuel and others went very quick. It was very dangerous, so we have a minimum time now. Maybe there could be some things that could be introduced. We already spoke about it and I think it's been discussed.

Q. How has the car been this weekend?

NH: Generally it has been good. Obviously Ferrari seems pretty strong, which was expected after the disastrous weekend they had in Melbourne. I think we can be happy with our performance so far. It will be interesting to see tomorrow the fuel loads, especially on the Ferraris, but right now I'm still disappointed because P3 or P7 is a huge difference.

Q. Did the stewards think that you were right?

NH: I didn't get any feeling, whether it was wrong or right. We just wait now.

Q. Do you think you can be stronger in the race here in Malaysia that you were in Australia?

NH: We don't know yet. It's the same reason as before. We don't know the fuel the others are carrying. Looks like Massa is quite far ahead of the others, so I would guess he's probably light, but who knows.