Q & A with Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso: It was more or less as we expected. I think the times are not very representative because five minutes to the end I was P18, and in the last minute I was P1. So we are not as bad as P18, but we are not as good as P1. So we see tomorrow.

The best thing from today is that we found some good answers in terms of setup changes we did. Some of them were quite good and some of them were quite bad, so at least we learned something. We need to keep improving the car tonight because we are not totally happy with the balance of the car so far.

Hopefully tomorrow we can be a little bit quicker and that is what we need because the times here are very, very close. In one second, there are maybe 15 cars or 16 cars, and one extra tenth we can find in the setup or from myself driving a perfect lap can make a huge difference tomorrow in qualifying. That is the target for tomorrow - to improve and maximise the performance.

Q. Do you think you can mix it with McLaren and Ferrari?

FA: I don't think so. It is the same as China and Fuji. Even if we are quick on Friday and also in the race when we arrive in qualifying (it changes). I was P4 in Fuji, P4 in China and I had Massa behind me in Fuji and Kovalainen too, so I can be fighting with the last of the fourth. But no more than that. They are a little bit too quick for us at the moment. Hopefully we can repeat the performance here again, be in the top five or top six cars and if you start there then anything can happen in the race.

The forecast is not 100 percent, there are even today some corners with drops of rain - and if these are the conditions for the race it will be very, very tricky for everyone to make decisions and tyre choice. If you are in the top six you are in a very good position to take advantage of anything.

Q. Last year graining was a big issue. Is this year a little bit better with the harder tyres?

FA: Not really, to be honest. We have huge graining today with the soft tyres, and it was the same for everybody I guess. There is still a problem. The tyres are harder than last year but the times are quicker than last year so we stress a little bit the tyres a bit more than previous - so the tyres are graining. And the cold temperatures are not helping the tyre.

Q. When you came to Brazil in the past fighting for the world championship you only needed to score points. How much easier or harder is it adjusting to that task, compared to going all out for the victory?

FA: It is much easier! My case in 2006 is I only needed one point. It was okay. I did qualifying like a normal race. I did the first lap very, very careful in the start and Turn 1, and on the third or fourth lap I dropped the revs on the engine - because I just needed to finish. It is much better. If you have to fight for the win you need a perfect weekend. As I said yesterday, the seven points advantage this year is quite a lot.

Q. Do you have any personal targets for the last race? Do you want to move up in the points rankings?

FA: No. I have no real target. I just want to enjoy the race. Hopefully there are some corners wet and some corners dry - something fun.

Q. What do you think of Felipe Massa's progress over the years?

FA: It is very good, especially this year. We all knew that he was very fast, but this year he was very consistent as well. He had some engine failures and mechanical problems in some races this year - and without those he would be leading the championship right now. He did a very good championship and the result is that - he is fighting for the championship until the last moment. So it is a great season for him and a great season for Lewis as well. To have a seven points advantage going into the last race means you are better than everyone.

Q. What kind of a guy is Felipe?

FA: We have a normal relationship, as many of the drivers here. We respect each other. We talk not too much, only on the parade laps and in the briefings. I don't know him too much personally, but it is okay. He is a nice guy.

Q. There have been a lot of stories in the UK today regarding a Spanish website featuring racial abuse of Lewis Hamilton, and those comments seem to come from fans of your. Do you have a message for those people?

FA: Actually I don't know this thing. I heard the question of one of your colleagues now, so I cannot say much about this thing now as I need to have more information.

If it is true then it is not possible (acceptable). In these days, in 2008, we cannot have these kind of people in our world. It is not only F1, it is not only sport, it is life as well. This is not possible (acceptable) in our days.