Q & A with Mario Theissen

Mario Theissen: Certainly the first pole position for a team is something very special. It is a proud day for the team, as well as for Robert and BMW. So it is special.

Q. Does it feel like it has been a long-time coming after the near miss in Australia?

MT: Not really, no. I still think that in Malaysia and here, the Ferrari is the quickest car. But then, you have to get your act together when it counts, and Robert did the best job today. So he deserves, and the team deserves, the pole.

Q. What is the feeling on long run pace ahead of the race?

MT: We are certainly not just looking at today's success, and today's result. But it is difficult to say. It is so early in the season with the new regulations that I don't really know what the other teams do. But our chances depend on the first pit stop. I think Nick will do better in the race that he did today. He showed a good long-run performance and certainly we want to be on the podium again.

Q. Robert has a slightly more aggressive driving style than Nick. Do you believe that has been a factor in qualifying performances so far?

MT: Could be. Nick complained a bit about struggling with tyre heat up, so that certainly plays a role.

Q. Have you noticed a change in Robert this season? He has talked about his weight loss over the winter, as part of him taking care of every single factor to make the most of the opportunity he has got this season.

MT: He has over the winter in my view become much more positive, open and motivated. We saw that in the tests and also in the cooperation with the team. And I think he can now be sure that he is ready to win a race as soon as the car is there. That gives him confidence in his own abilities but also in his team. That is very important. So I think Robert and the team are very well on track.

Q. Was the weight loss over the winter Robert's idea?

MT: It was clear to Robert that he could improve the performance of the package by losing weight, because what he loses can be added in the form of ballast - and that makes the car quicker.

Q. We've seen in the first three races that you seem to be consistently the second-fastest team. Championships can be won by just being consistent, so do you think you are in the hunt for the title?

MT: Not yet, it is too early to say. I think we have had an unexpectedly strong start to the season, but now the next important step is Barcelona. Every team will take a development package to Barcelona and we have to see who did best. That will be the next proof of competitiveness.

Q. From where the team were at the Valencia test, to where you have come now, is it too simplistic to say that since you have been trouble solving for eight weeks, that there is lots of potential to unlock from this car?

MT: I know there is more to come. And it is certainly true that we learned much more in those eight weeks than you normally learn in an entire season. It was a very systematic, structured and intense phase of evaluating all of the technical parameters and developing it.

Q. So you are in a better state having had these problems and being this quick than if you had had no problems and been this quick?

MT: That is my view, today, yes.

Q. Will the upgrade for Barcelona be a big step for you?

MT: We will have quite a significant package for Barcelona.

Q. You are the person who brought Robert Kubica to Formula One, and at the time there were some critics who said that you made a big gamble. How do you feel now when you see Robert taking pole position?

MT: It is very rewarding. I have some comments in mind from people who were quite negative on Robert, even earlier this year. It is very good for him, for the team and for everybody to see such a demonstration of strong performance here like in qualifying. And in Melbourne he could have been on pole already. It is very good and certainly makes it clear that this was the right decision. And that Robert can become one of the stars of F1.