Q & A with Robert Kubica

Robert Kubica: I will not say that. I don't think it's the most disappointing one, because in some ways, at least I was prepared for it already from Thursday. Unless a miracle will happen, but I think miracles are not happening so often, especially if we're talking about performances in F1. In some ways I was maybe not expecting it, but prepared to struggle to get into Q2. T

hat's why this is not such a huge disappointment. It's the reality. Maybe this is the moment where we will see now that the problem is quite big, but the problem didn't just come two days ago - it's quite a long time that we are struggling now.

Q. In Spain the team seemed to be back to some good form. Here you're back to where you were in Bahrain.

RK: In Spain we were not where we were starting the season. Spain is a special track; everyone knows it very well. The grip level is totally different; it's a totally different characteristic track. In Bahrain we had many more slow speed corners and different grip levels. Also here in Monaco. If we point out to one track than it looks okay, but the car has to be quick everywhere. In Barcelona I think we were not quick. Okay, reasonable, but here if you take averages then you will see we are quite slow. Also I think some people stepped up a lot.

I don't know. We had one package in Barcelona which put us closer to the top, but if you compare it to February or even the last test before Australia, McLaren was miles away, not even the same pace, they were much, much slower. And now, if Lewis didn't crash, then I think he'd be able to fight for pole. Our pace is very similar though. It shows that it's possible, if you are struggling, to come back with a strong package, and we have to try and do that.

Q. How bad is the car here for you as a driver? Do you feel like you're struggling?

RK: I think if I would not be struggling, I would not be P17. Just look at the position.

Q. What's so bad about the car? Everything?

RK: I don't know what you call everything. Normally when you are slow, you are lacking grip. Then when the grip is coming, if it's mechanical, aerodynamically or some other part of the car, it's too difficult to explain. It's a complex problem. It's not something that's easy to fix in one minute or five minutes.

Q. Some drivers said they couldn't switch the tyres on, no matter what they did to the set-up. Is that a problem here?

RK: I think so, but I think it's a consequence of lacking downforce, a consequence of driving slow through the corners so you don't put enough energy through the tyres. If you look at the top cars here, you can see clearly that the tyre is moving, it's working, there is energy there.

Our tyres are just sliding, so it's a consequence. Clearly I've had traffic on the out lap and you all know that if you slow down you're leaving the tyres to cool down and they will never start working that way. This is a problem we've had since the winter, so it's nothing new. The problem of making the tyres work is a consequence of other things.

Q. Has the team done enough to listen to your suggestions this season, to make the car better? Or could they do more?

RK: I think always you can do more. If it's enough or not, it's not for me to judge. You can always do better - even if you are winning. I personally don't have any problems. Yes the car has a problem, but I think the problem is clear for everyone to see.

Q. Have they done enough?

RK: Ask them. I don't know why you're asking me. I'm not the one in the workshop every day.

Q. You're driving it though.

RK: Yes I'm driving it. I assume the team is doing everything it can to make the situation better. I hope they will achieve it sooner or later. Now, we have not achieved it yet, but if they have done enough, I cannot judge.

Q. How frustrating is it knowing that a race win is maybe not going to happen this season? Have you started to think that way yet?

RK: In some way, inside your brain you are prepared that one day you will not have the car to do it. Last year when I was pushing to convince them I could push for the championship, it was just a reason because I say a second chance might not be there again. It might come one year later, five years, 10 years... So in some ways I'm not frustrated, it's the reality. Why should I be frustrated?

Q. Because you like to win.

RK: Sure I like to win when possible. But frustration doesn't help. It's a normal way of racing. Sometimes you are on top, sometimes not. The time is very important, so we have to make sure we can come back as quickly as possible and if we can come back to be able to be able to fight for the top positions this year in three races, 10 races, never... we will see.

Q. McLaren realised how much trouble they're in at the Barcelona test. Do you think this weekend's performance will help BMW see how much work is needed?

RK: We don't have to wait for today to see the situation. Lately we've been struggling. Barcelona was a bit of small oxygen. But we shouldn't relax. We should keep on working and improving and this is, I think, we might... because we will never have a 100 per cent guarantee to achieve what we want. I think is this very clear, but we don't have to wait until today. We had a very similar performance in Bahrain, so I think already before now the team realised what was going on.

Q. On a brighter note, is it at least nice to be on home soil?

RK: Yes. After the race I can go straight home. It's nice. It's nice to have the fans here, but unfortunately the position is not the best, so it's not one of the nicest races. I have been always very quick here. It's difficult. We might have a few tenths going forward, but it changes nothing. I don't see the difference starting 14th or 17th. If there is a chance to be on first row or second row you try your maximum and even exaggerate it. Forcing the car to do that to be in P15 isn't worth it.