Q & A with Michael Schumacher

MS: Basically I was at home with my family and kids and watched the game. I had two days off feeling a bit like a winner, part of my heart is Italy but a majority of it is Germany but we had a nice little final on Saturday a good celebration and then quite a nice Sunday evening and was happy about the result on Sunday evening.

Q. How is the atmosphere in Ferrari? Because in Italy everyone has gone insane now.

MS: I have to say that I just arrived this afternoon so I had a couple of conversations, everyone was very happy and very excited but I have not seen my guys yet.

Q. Someone told me you know what Materazzi said to Zidane?

MS: Yes, because I was there... it was very easy for me to hear!

Q. After a great race in Indy and a good test, are you ready for France?

MS: We hope so. We hope to be as good prepared as we were in Indy or other races that we did win, but in F1 things are very tough and very efficient, and the main thing is going to be tyres.

We have see this in the last races in particular, if the tyres work out then we are looking good and if we have some trouble then we are in trouble because our car is a great car, but if the tyres don't perform on the optimum then the car cannot really do anything. We have had a great weekend in Indianapolis and we look forward to repeat that absolutely.

Q. How much will you miss Montoya?

MS: Next question...

Q. What was the effect of Indy on Ferrari?

MS: Naturally you are excited, that was the important point to take down the championship lead on Alonso. And I don't think it has created a special atmosphere because that is not really true, but it has probably released some extra efforts, but it is difficult to release a lot.

We are really on a very high level, everyone had been focused all the time so far and maybe a little bit more now.

Q. Was it important to get the points gap down into the 19 rather than 20 or more?

MS: Obviously this was quite a major step and if we could keep that rate then you can imagine how long it would take to get us back in the championship.

Q. What about the Jerez test?

MS: We have a couple of aero bits on the car but nothing major, honestly. It is a normal small progress at this time of the year that we are looking for.

Q. What are your thoughts on the championship now?

MS: It is possible within 19 points, you can calculate that yourself. It depends on how the rest of the season will go. But mathematically it is open and we will keep on fighting until that is the case.

Q. Montoya was a big character. Is that something F1 will miss?

MS: I don't really want to get into it too much. You don't need to be friends with everybody and you cannot really say I was friends with him. I don't know him enough and I don't really care what other people comment on him so I don't have an opinion on him.

Q. How do you feel about his move to NASCAR?

MS: Well...personally I wouldn't do it. What would you do in NASCAR? What is exciting there? I cannot see that, running around in ovals. And I don't know how heavy these cars are, but having a very low developed car compared to a Formula One car. I don't see the challenge for me.

Q. How easy is Magny-Cours?

MS: Every year you come here with a new car and you have to find out how easy it is to adapt your car. At Magny-Cours it is a very difficult circuit because it is very easy to miss out if you don't get the car to the optimum you can lose quite a lot, the difference can be quite big.

Q. Do you feel a different with Williams and Toyota on Bridgestones?

MS: Generally and naturally you would expect it is a quicker development rate, looking at the facts I don't think there is anything obvious.

Q. Do you think tyres will be the deciding factor in the championship, rather than car or engine developments?

MS: If tyres stay the same, it is what you say it is teams themselves. But tyres unfortunately are not the same in a way and therefore I think yes, tyres will be the most important thing.