Monaco Preview Quotes: Ferrari

Michael Schumacher: "Whatever else one thinks about it, the Monaco Grand Prix is just special. Rushing round the track almost touching the barriers not only increases one's motivation but is also a real challenge. The real peculiarity about it is that it is really narrow. There are some parts where you cannot even see the apex of a corner until you are actually on it and that adds to the excitement. Even the slightest error here is punished. Finding the limit on a road generally used for normal traffic, which is completely different to a usual race track, is always difficult. You also have to consider how much you can let the car slide, which it wants to do all the time. It is very exciting and I can't wait to get there."

"Every year, Formula One asks itself why it races in Monaco and every year it decides to return. Yes, it can be a bit risky, but that is part of the attraction of the circuit. If Monaco had been the first race under the new rule then it would have had an enormous effect. But now, everyone has got used to running under the new rules, they know how it works and what to do. At the end of the day, the same rules apply to Monaco as they do anywhere else: it is best not to make a single mistake in any area."

Rubens Barrichello: "I am looking forward to flying back to Europe for the Monaco Grand Prix and I will arrive in a very positive frame of mind. Let's just say I am getting bored with finishing third! There have been some races where I could have done much better and maybe won. At the last race in Austria, I felt I had the most consistent car on the track and my strategy meant I was planning to do a lot of overtaking. However the rain rather spoilt that plan and I had to settle for third.

"Formula One in general has produced better racing for the spectators this year. But I think that in Monaco and also quite possibly in Hungary, we are going to see a weekend that is about qualifying rather than racing. That single lap on Saturday is going to be the key and you will need a car that can do a quick one lap even with a relatively heavy fuel load. I am sure though that this weekend we will see some cars which do not usually appear near the front of the grid, doing just that. It is going to be tough, but very interesting in terms of spending a lot of time working out the strategy. But a quick driver towards the back of the grid is going to struggle and most of the overtaking will take place in the pits. This race has traditionally been a one stop race, but I think that might not be the case this year.

"I am looking forward to seeing the track, as I know there are some modifications, particularly at the Swimming Pool section and also many parts, including the pit straight and the run to the first corner has been resurfaced to get rid of some of the bumps. That should make a difference for the start. Obviously, from a car point of view, we will be running an aerodynamic package suited to the slow nature of the course and tyres will be another critical factor this weekend. You need a tyre that comes up to temperature quickly and provides plenty of grip for the qualifying lap, but is also consistent for a long stint in the race.

"Overall, this is always a race to look forward to. It is one of the most important races in the world, up there with the Indy 500 for example. I love the fact we still come here, even if you have to accept it is not the safest of tracks."