Jean Alesi Q&A

Finishing races was not a strong point for Jean Alesi either at Sauber or in his first year with Prost, but a record of six out of six this year isn't too shabby. The only problem is that he's always been in that no-man's land between eighth and 10th place, which isn't too much to write home about. So far Prost has been completely overshadowed by fellow Ferrari customers Sauber, and the promise of those surprising winter testing times has not been fulfilled. Monaco could be a chance for Jean to creep into the points; he qualified the awful AP03 seventh last year, so anything is possible. Early in his career Jean had some fine results at Monaco, taking second with Tyrrell in 1990 and third with Ferrari in 1991 and again in 1993. Incredibly he has not finished in the points there since he finished fifth in 1994. Could this be the year? Adam Cooper talked to the French veteran

"It's not difficult to have a better car, because last year was so bad for us. But obviously we were looking for a better position, because to be 15th in qualifying on average, and to have eighth as a best position in a race, is not what we were looking for. But it's still the beginning of the championship, and our new designer Henri Durand is bringing in some new stuff."

"You know, the level of competition is extremely high. And when we have found something on the car, when we improve the car and make it two or three tenths faster, sometimes the other teams are doing the same. You need to be really together with your team to not be depressed."

"The main problem is our aerodynamics. There we know we can make a big step."

"Yes. There are some good people, and they're very nice to work with."

"No, honestly. It's not bad to drive, but it's a shame because it kills a little bit of competition between us. If someone uses his tyres too fast, then at one stage of the race he starts to have a loose rear. With traction control it helps him too much, so it's a shame."

"Exactly. The start, racing, the wet... it makes everything too easy!"

"It's just confidence, and the love of racing."

"I feel a help from God!"

"It's one of my best, yes. It's fantastic to race in a street circuit. It reminds me of when I was young, and when I was racing in Macau."

"You feel the speed. Because when you go 350kph on the straight in Hockenheim or Monza, the trees and everything are far away from the circuit. In Monte Carlo if you put your hand out of the cockpit, you can touch the people who are watching you!"

"The technology has been really improved, but especially in a safety way. For overtaking and these kind of things maybe we have to adjust something, but the cars are now a lot safer, and that's been a good work."

"It's very hard to make an answer about that. In some aspects it's much better, in some aspects worse, or let's say different."

"I have more white hairs, and I have some more pain also in my knees and my arms!"

"Probably much more controlled."

"My motivation is not difficult to have. I have a passion for what I'm doing, and as long as my body is following what I want to do, I'm OK."