Luciano Burti Q&A

"Very much, I was expecting to come here and maybe be last, with no practice, no power steering... I was really expecting to struggle. But the team made quite good changes from Friday to this morning, and I managed to improve the car even more in the practice. I had good communication with my engineers, and we understand each other quite well, and the whole team was behind me for the whole time, and that helps a lot."



"I was trying to do my best, but of course it's a plus. But I think I just have to try to do the job. Jean's going to be difficult to beat because he's very experienced and very fast of course, but I have to say I'm just pleased because I achieved what I wanted to achieve."



"It's pretty good isn't it! It's the first time since my F3 days that I feel relaxed. I'm just here to drive the car and go fast."



"In qualifying with new tyres you don't need so much assistance. We were running traction control, but probably if you have a better balanced car or better tyres or whatever, you can afford to turn it off. In the dry it doesn't do much - maybe you can find three-tenths in one lap. In the wet it will be a big difference."



"The main thing was that I knew that I wouldn't have a place in Jaguar next year, because Eddie and Pedro are going to be driving in the team in 2002. So it wouldn't make a lot of sense to stay there, because I wanted to be in a team where I could develop and learn and improve, but also have a future. I think I can see a future in Prost, and I'm pretty sure that I can do a good job, and have a chance for 2002 to really make it work."



"Actually to adjust to a new team is quite easy. They are very friendly in Prost, I've felt very welcome since the first time. The French and Italians are very similar to Brazilian people anyway. But to adjust to the car is a bit more difficult. I still don't have my position right, and it still hurts in a few places. So this weekend is about learning about the whole thing."



"A huge difference. The step is as big as when I went from F3 to F1. Everything is just different, so it does take a lot of time to get to used to it."



"I would say just to get used to F1 in general, get used to how you have to work, how people work and react. Once you get to know how it works, then I think driving the car is not the most difficult thing. So if you are a good driver in F3 or F3000 or whatever, then you can do a good job in F1."



"Some people were saying even before the first race that I didn't have the job for the rest of the season, and that affects your mind a lot of course. I kept calm most of the time, but it's not ideal. It's hard, but I've learned how to deal with it."



"Especially if it's not true, and you start to think it's possible to happen or not, and you start to get confused. You lose your concentration in the car and the driving, and start to worry about things that are not important. It has been quite difficult, but at least now it's all in the past."



"I have to say that I'm very lucky in that area, because I worked a lot with Jackie [Stewart], and I learned a lot with him. I've spoken a lot with Alain, and I can see that I will learn a lot with him as well. I've been very lucky to work with two drivers who've done so much in their careers."