Q & A with Nick Heidfeld

Nick Heidfeld: Yes, it was a good test. We were kind of lucky with the weather, on the third day there was some drizzle. But never enough to really make the circuit wet for a long time. It was also good for me. I got to test a lot of the normal things, but my main priority was to try a couple of things on the set-up side.

Normally we just test wings and new parts and we don't have time for set-up, and after the problems I have had lately, especially in qualifying, I have focussed on just some set-up tests.

Q. Does the car feel more comfortable now?

NH: Yes, I think we have made some good progress - clear results that should help me, not only in qualifying but also with race pace, which wasn't that bad anyway. I think the car is quicker for me now and easier to drive."

Q. What was difficult about it before.

NH: Well, as I said the race pace was usually good, like in Canada where I had the second quickest lap. I have already had a fastest lap this season as well, but I have struggled a couple of times in qualifying. I think most of the time the problem was to use the full potential of the tyres, when they are new.

Obviously it seems they work in the race when there is more laps, and I think there were two problems. One was the heat-up of the tyres, and the movement of the car on new tyres. That's more on the softer tyres.

Q. Was the car moving around too much?

NH: For me yes, so we tried a couple of things, and I think we have found some positive changes.

Q. Do you think the problem is completely solved now?

NH: I don't know yet, we will see here. I just know that it was good step forward in Barcelona. In the beginning I hoped that I would change one thing and boom suddenly it would work, but now I have more the feeling that it is a couple of small things that should bring the result.

Already before the test we had a couple of positive ideas that worked. Now I feel more changes, and I'm optimistic that we are going in the right direction. But I no longer think that changing one thing will make qualifying fantastic. Unfortunately, I think it is more of a process. I thought I would solve it more quickly.

Q. How do you feel about the Canadian Grand Prix result now?

NH: Not much different from immediately after the race.

Q. You didn't look particularly happy?

NH: No, I was not fully satisfied as I had a good chance to win my first Grand Prix. However it was a great result for the team finishing 1-2, with a perfect strategy for the team. Converting me to a one-stop and having Robert on a two-stop, in the end even if there would have been a safety car, I would have been lucky with the win. So it was great for the team, but of course if you are so close to your first win then you cannot be satisfied.

Q. What do you think your chances are this weekend, where do you expect to be?

NH: I think now we are a couple of races into the season so everybody has a rough picture of where everybody stands. So far this season we have been pretty strong each weekend. And we did need a bit of luck to finish one-two in Canada so it doesn't mean we will win races from now on. We were lucky in the circumstances and the way Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton crashed, otherwise it would have been more difficult.

But nevertheless we have a good pace and we have the best reliability compared to the other teams. I hope it stays like this. Also the drivers don't make a lot of mistakes.

At the moment we have good strategies and it is not for nothing that Robert is leading the championship and that we are very close to Ferrari and clearly ahead of McLaren right now. In terms of pace we still lack a bit, but I think overall we have a very good package.

Q. Will it possible to close that gap this year?

NH: That is what we hope to do but it is impossible to forecast what is going to happen. I think to get closer over the season is more difficult than over the winter, at least that is what we have seen over the last three years. We do everything of course but I think it is not going to be easy.