Q & A with Colin Kolles

Heading into the 2008 season, Kolles is more excited about his prospects than ever before - especially for the longer term.

Autosport.com caught up with him to find out how pre-season preparations were going.

Q. Is the new car looking good?

Colin Kolles: Well, definitely better. The reality will be Melbourne. I think eighth and ninth is a bit too optimistic, but we are driving a legal car and there is nothing hocus-pocus. It might be the case that we might be in front of some other teams.

Q. Is it a plausible scenario?

CK: Yes, because we have some more parts coming for Melbourne. The driveability of the car definitely improved according to the drivers. You can never quantify it in terms of tenths of a second, but they feel more comfortable with the car and there will be new bits coming for Melbourne. And there is obviously a development in place to further upgrade the car.

Q. Do you feel you have a good combination of drivers?

CK: That is my opinion. I might be wrong but I think we have one of the strongest driver line-ups, even as a small team. Giancarlo Fisichella had 300 points in his career, was two times constructors' champion alongside (Fernando) Alonso and there were not too many drivers quicker than Fisichella in his career. And he has contributed hugely to move us at least one step forward.

Q. Is it a help for him the regulations have changed?

CK: This is one of the reasons to take Giancarlo, because he was driving for a long time without traction control. We know Giancarlo has a smooth driving style. So this is one of the reasons. This also helps Adrian (Sutil) because he can see how a very experienced driver is driving. He is quick, but he can learn quickly -- and then maybe be quicker. There is a simple, logical strategy behind it.

Q. Some ambitious targets have been set, like a podium by 2010. How plausible is it, as it sounds like quite a tough challenge?

CK: It will be a tough challenge, but F1 is tough anyway. And you have to have these challenges, otherwise it gets boring. We are working and we will try even this year to be on the podium, it is not as if we are not trying. You have new regulations in 2009 with everyone starting from zero. We are working already on the 2009 car; we have the model in the wind tunnel so there is enough funding for it. There is no excuse for the engineers, we just have to perform.

Q. You've seen all the changes through Jordan, Midland, Spyker and Force India. Is there the right attitude here at last?

CK: Yes, the attitude is performance orientated. Everything that has asked by the engineering groups or heads of departments and presented to me, and I have presented to the board, has been approved. I don't want to hear excuses and the board doesn't want to hear excuses. It is simple and logical.

Q. India is a country where motorsport is in its infancy...

CK: Yes, but it is not as infant as it is in China. So there is still a huge difference. There is a culture, it is not as huge as it is in Japan or Europe, but there is a culture. And if the fire is getting bigger and bigger and more and more people like what Force India are doing, then there is something positive for the F1 world.

Q. Do they realise how difficult F1 is though?

CK: This is part of my job, to make the board understand how the system is working.

Q. Do they understand then?

CK: Yes, I think so.

Q. We still haven't got a Concorde Agreement in place. What is the latest? Will it be signed before Melbourne?

CK: No, I don't think so.

Q. So is the Memorandum of Understanding that everyone signed legally binding?

CK: Yes, but it is also legally binding that it should only be a tidying up of the current Concorde Agreement. And in the current Concorde Agreement customer cars are not allowed. And if you do a new Concorde Agreement that says customer cars are allowed, that is a fundamental change.

Q. So your arbitration action will continue?

CK: Yes, it's going on. Of course it is going on.