Marc Gene Q&A

"I'm really happy about it. Obviously I'd be happier if I was one of the two guys racing, but I have to admit my position here is very good. I know the way the team worked in the past when it won, and they way I'm seeing it work today for 2002 - it's very good. I've completed many more miles that either the team or I expected to do this year. Next year, I'll be doing even more."



"Yes. Not only did I do a lot more miles, they were a lot more quality miles. The season's not over yet and I've done over 12,000 kilometres, and that's more than I did with Minardi in all the Grands Prix and a few tests. It's not only the miles. When I do tests I do race simulations, so I encounter pretty much all the situations you might encounter during a race weekend. I know as a driver I am so much better now than I was with Minardi, both in terms of speed and technical knowledge. After another year of this I hope that will increase, and that it will lead to something for 2003."



"I've enjoyed the job this year as a driver. Obviously on Sunday afternoons you don't feel as good, for sure. OK, a win from the team is a win for myself too, but it's not the same. I miss that nervousness before a race, and the car against car racing itself. Now I'm doing things that most racing drivers don't do. I'm much more involved in the technical meetings with the engineers and I go through things with them to a much deeper level. It has some good sides too."



"That has probably made it less difficult for me this year. When Williams win, and I'm testing the following week, you can see it in the eyes of the whole test team. Everyone is really happy about things. It all makes my life easier, for sure. I think the job I have, besides a race seat, is one of the best in Formula 1. They take care of me really well. I've been lucky that this has been the year that Williams has got back to its winning ways. Although that's not down to me, I've tried to contribute as much as I can to the cause."



"The side which has impressed me the most has been the electronics. One of the strongest points of Williams is that its personnel doesn't change much. I was working with people who were responsible for traction control, automatic gearboxes and launch control when it was first in Formula 1 in the early Nineties with Mansell, Prost and Senna. I was shocked when I realised, because they are still young people. I think we were one of the first teams to develop it properly - on launch starts I think we're on top. I think this is the reason. They opened the draw from the old days and I just managed to help them make it more up-to-date. It's a key point with Williams, keeping those people there.

"I think I've done the most testing of any driver with Michelin tyres. They were very good initially, then I think Bridgestone got the handle on us halfway through the season, but now I think we'll see Michelin back on the same level for the next two races, if not ahead. The development with Michelin has been really good, they're top people. In terms of BMW, the engine has been extremely powerful since day one, so that hasn't required that much development.

"The area we were lacking on was aerodynamics. Every month, something has been developed for the car that gives it more downforce. Now, it's good. Last week I was in Magny-Cours and we were really quick - much quicker than during the French Grand Prix. It's mainly down to aerodynamics."



"I have to say I've driven for a lot of team managers and I have to say that he's the one who has left an outstanding impression on me. But that's not just for me, I'd say that goes for all the team personnel at Williams. He's someone who you can talk to if you have a problem, and he's always willing to speak to you directly. He really knows what's going on in the team, so I was really happy to know that he was pushing for me to stay in the team. I guess it means he thinks I did a good job. He takes test drivers seriously, history proves that with Coulthard and Montoya. I have to say that I feel on exactly the same level as Ralf and Juan Pablo in the team. That's down to Frank and Patrick Head. They make it feel like there's three drivers but one is just doing testing. It's nice to be appreciated."



"Obviously I want to go back to racing, but not at any cost. I have raced for Minardi, a very good but modest team. OK, for a driver who has not raced in Formula 1 it is better to take a race drive for a modest team than a test drive for a top team, but once you've learnt about F1 racing, you really want quality work. I don't need to just race, because you're just gonna lose.

"I didn't plan it this way. I wanted to take a year out of racing to test and go back to the racing arena. After the job I have done, I don't mind staying for another year. I think that will open up more opportunities than I had for next year. I think I'm in quite a good position, honestly."