Pole position press conference

Barcelona, Spain

MS: Well, we were trying it to see whether it worked or not, and basically it didn't work. There was not much difference, and I am not sure even now whether the second lap was the faster one, because my own display showed exactly the same lap time for the two laps while the official times were a little different. But I wanted to see how the tyres went, and having experienced that I decided to go for just one fast lap in the later runs.

MS: The circuit temperature went up, of course, but at the same time the wind also became a little stronger. That made it a bit more difficult. We made a little adjustment for the last run, which didn't take us in exactly the right direction. I couldn't get the car quite the way I wanted it, which is probably the reason why I was slower. I did have a clear run, though.

MS: Yes, of course we have, but I only had bad starts in the last couple of races because there were so many cars in my way - especially at Silverstone. I thought I had a very good start at Silverstone, but you can't practise avoiding cars that get in the way. I don't know how to practise avoiding cars at the start. Perhaps you would like to ask Mika if we would do some practice starts together.

MS: No! You're telling me now, because I honestly would not have known. I believe my record is the same in this respect that it is in Brazil. I hope we get the same outcome here ...

MH: I am definitely happier. It is not 100 per cent there, but we have made big progress through the day. I made my best time on the last run - and being quick here is all about technique. Yes, changing conditions can also affect the performance, but when the sun went in at the end it did not affect. I personally think my first two runs would have been a little better. It wasn't until my last run that the weather changed, and it did not affect my lap time.

MH: It's going to be really heavy, really difficult. Our experience is that on this track our car is not easy to drive and it is physically very demanding. Tomorrow will be very difficult.

RB: In a way, yes. This morning I thought the car behaved a little bit better, but this afternoon, because of something, I couldn't get the maximum out of it. In one of the two last runs the time wasn't at all good, and I had to abort the other. I never could get the car right for all three sections in one run. Barcelona is pretty much about that, but I thought I would be able to compromise and have a better run. I had the same problems this morning. The computer is saying that the steering wheel is straight, at zero, but for me it isn't. I think we are getting on top of that problem, which isn't the same one that we had this morning.

RB: It's going to be quite difficult, because although the tyres last well, you have to treat them nicely. You can't push, push push, you have to look after them. In the simulation we did last week I think I got the hang of it, so in case I don't get past the other two here at the start, I still hope to be quite close.

MS: I take your point about the angle of the barrier there, which is never a good thing. In the circumstances the organisers have done their best. What I am not happy about, though, is the corner before the last one, which is quite fast but still has only two rows of tyres in front of the barrier. I don't think the safety there is up to the top level. It's not perfect and I would like to see changes in the future.

MS: Honestly, we have been asking for many years. But not very much has happened, which is why I am talking now, to put a little bit of pressure on the organisers here in the hope that they will respond - if they hear this message.