Jean Alesi Q&A

"I was really happy because in the end what I was looking for as a racing driver was what exactly what I have found. It's a very good series, very competitive, very tough. When you go in the pits you look at the data, and you are five tenths slower than your team-mate. You don't change anything, then you go out and you push and you understand it was coming from you."



"Yes. It was clear in this series to have respect from your team and from the other drivers, you need to be on the top. Otherwise especially when you have the name of an F1 driver they start to give you a hard time. But I have to say I enjoy this series very much."



"In terms of results, but in the last race in Austria I was going to win but I had to stop to give my first place to Schneider. Unfortunately somebody else was in between us, so I finished third. But Donington was fantastic. It's been a long time now without a win, so I was very happy."



"It's not just Mercedes, it's every team. For me it's very understandable. Before the race I knew I had to protect Bernd, and give my first place away if he was behind. This is what happened, and I did it with a pleasure. When the team helps you all season, and you have the possibility to give something back, it's good. It was the first time I had team orders. If Aiello was just behind us, then the championship was over. We know he will win the championship, that is clear, but for our series it was so important to not close it with two races to go. That was the point of it."



"Yes, the public must want to change circuits!"



"No, I don't think it's going to be hard at all. This season I did some mistakes, and it's easy to understand, because it was the first time for me. But next year I will not make these mistakes, and it's going to be hard for him to beat me."



"I enjoyed it like you can't believe. For me now to race in F1 is over, but I know I can drive very, very well. When I'm doing that I enjoy it a lot."



"For another team, no. Clearly I'm a Mercedes driver, and that's it. I'm not looking for another drive. But I'm completely available if McLaren needs me."



"You always miss something you love. For sure when I stopped F1, it was because of business, so for sure I miss it, that's clear. On the other side I have had to understand by myself that it was not possible to drive any more a good car, and it was better to do what I did. I left the fans with a lot of respect, because maybe it was possible to carry on."



"Jordan is very successful, and I like him like a brother. But you know him -sometimes he gives a priority to the financial side, and now he pays a little bit for this decision."



"Honestly, I don't care, because at the moment you're out, you're out. I've changed books now. I understand the situation, and that's it."



"You know, there are two aspects. The first one is the way Ferrari has made this fantastic and unbeatable team. We cannot say to them, it's boring, because they won everything. But for sure, it is boring, because there are no competitors. Now I'm watching the GPs from the outside, and I'm with the Mercedes family, I'm looking for McLaren to be more competitive."