Q & A with Marc Gene

CS: When will you drive the new car?

MG: Maybe in Bahrain (for the pre-season test), but even then it's not decided yet. That's the first test where I'll be testing and there will be a new car there.

CS: Have you had your seat fitting yet?

MG: Not yet.

CS: What are you expecting from the new car in terms of difference to the 2004 V8 car that you have been testing?

MG: We hope it's similar and not so far away from the one we are driving today. We expect that it will be much better than the 2005 car, that's our goal. We don't know yet, but after the first test we've done it looks promising

CS: You've been doing the V8 testing, how has the car felt different to the 2005 car in terms of the chassis and engine?

MG: Of course it has less power and top speed is less. But I have to say with the V8 engine it's different, but not that different. I'm not driving differently, I don't have a different driving style. On the car, the 2004 car was a very good car and won many races, but we hope that the 2006 is closer to the 2004 than the 2005.

CS: In terms of the V8, when are you feeling the vibrations?

MG: More in the pits, more when you are idling and not when you are driving on the track. If you told me it was a V10, I couldn't feel a difference in terms of the vibrations.

CS: Is there less of a push in your back when you go back on the power?

MG: When go you back on the power, you feel less torque.

CS: This year you have Felipe Massa as the other race driver. He has an exuberant driving style. Do you have to take that into account when giving feedback at tests?

MG: I haven't driven with him, so the day I test with him we will see how different our set-ups are. Normally the drivers all want the same thing. We want a neutral car; no oversteer and no understeer. Some drivers accept oversteer more than others. I have heard Felipe accepts oversteer like Michael does. If that's the case, then I won't have to change much, as I don't drive so differently to Michael.

CS: Whereas last year you had Rubens Barrichello

MG: Rubens liked more a car with understeer, so we had a set-up difference.

CS: Are you the third driver on the race weekends now?

MG: I think both Luca Badoer and myself are needed. I know in my contract it says if I need to race, they can ask me to race, and I would not say no! I wouldn't say I am not a third driver, I am a reserve driver, as is Luca. I honestly don't know if it happens, who they would take. Whatever they do is fine with me.