Jos Verstappen - star of the Canadian GP
Jos Verstappen finally got a monkey off his back when he took his Arrows to a fine fifth place in Montreal. It's been a long time since the Dutchman finished in the points, and recently team-mate Pedro de la Rosa has hogged the limelight. However their rivalry is productive, and the Spaniard was quick to seek out Jos and congratulate him after the race. Both drivers started with light fuel loads, and the intention of running a two-stop strategy. From 13th on the grid Jos moved swiftly up to eighth place, before pitting on lap 24. Luckily for him the rain came before he made his second stop, so he was able to switch straight to wets without losing ground. In the rain Jos was one of the few drivers doing any real passing, and got past both Alexander Wurz and Jarno Trulli to claim two well-deserved points. Adam Cooper spoke to Verstappen about his busy afternoon
"I had to work very hard to get the those two points! It was a very good race for myself, and I think we all deserved it. I'm obviously very pleased with it."
"It was a very good race. We planned the stop very well for the wet, and that's where we made the race. But at that time I was in seventh or eighth position, so there were still no points, so I had to go for it really. And that's what I did. I made a mistake and Ralf came past, I past him again on the straight, and then I had the thing with Wurz at the first corner. We were battling very hard, and that's what we enjoy."
"We knew it was going to rain. We were watching the computer very much. But you never know what time. We had it in our heads, and as well we were running a bit more downforce than we were originally planning. So I think that's why we were very quick in the rain. The car felt very good on the brakes, and that's where I was making all the time. I had problems in the beginning, but I adjusted them very well for the wet, and that's why our car was very good."
"The thing is if somebody is on the inside of you, if he makes a mistake, just locking front wheels, he will take you out and I didn't want that. I had to be careful. Obviously I was on the right hand side, and he had a bit of oversteer on the next corner, and that's where I passed him. It was very good. He was pushing very hard."
"In the wet I went straight once at the first corner, but I think everybody went off there. Still, it's good to keep it on the road and it's good to finish, and a lot is down to the team for calling me in at the right moment."
"I don't know what happened to Coulthard - I guess he had to come in because of the start problem. But we were racing. I feel sorry for him because he's racing for the championship. It's easy to let him past, but I have to think of myself. These things happen."
"We'll be trying very hard. Our car's not bad, and I think when we gain a little bit here and there we'll be looking good. For sure the development continues."
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