Q & A with Robert Kubica

Autosport.com heard from Robert Kubica about their expectations for the season opener this weekend.

Q. How happy are you with the car now?

RK: As you said, at the beginning of testing we had some unexpected problems with the car. Most of them got better and better, and we were improving. But it is difficult to judge where we are exactly.

A small answer will be given in Saturday qualifying, but I think we can expect ourselves to be in a similar position as it was last year. But everything can change in the future.

Q. Are you confident that you are the third quickest team?

RK: Yeah, I think. Okay, everything can happen because I remember last year at the last test in Bahrain, Ferrari were nearly one second per lap quicker than everyone else. But in the second Grand Prix in Malaysia, McLaren won the race. So everything can change. But from testing, from what I have seen, we can achieve at least what we achieved last year.

Q. So are you in the mindset of looking over your shoulder, or looking at the cars ahead of you?

RK: The target of the team is quite high, to win a race this season. And after a very good season of the team of last year where we scored more than 100 points and a big improvement, if you want to win a race then we have to concentrate on the front.

So I think that is why the car is to help us drivers and the team to achieve that target - which will not be easy. I think for now we are not able to do it, but the season is very long and I think we are on a good way.

Q. Are you over the problem-solving phase?

RK: I think there are a couple of issues where we are working on it to improve, to help us to get quicker. But to win races you have to be the quickest. If you want to win races properly with your speed and your power, and to do this we have 100 percent of each area from the car. This will be the key.

Q. What were your problems in testing?

RK: Yeah. Balance wise and handling, in the end what makes you go quick is the grip. We have seen we have grip but we could not extract our performance from it. But with a couple of mechanical changes, and with a big effort of aero department, we have I think made a very big step forward to improve the situation.

Q. Do you still believe the win target is achievable?

RK: Well, as I said, for now it is too early. We don't have enough speed and we are not strong enough for this point of the season. But every single team is working hard to improve the car during the season, and if you see how much the teams improve from the first GP to the last GP, anything can happen.

If we find something that can give us a good couple of tenths on a lap, then maybe we will be closer. It will be much easier to discuss after this race or after Malaysia. Then we have a clear idea of what is going on.

Q. Do you think you are clear of the group of Williams, Renault and Red Bull, or do you think you are in this group?

RK: I don't know if this three are in the same group, so I can't say if we are there.