Q & A with Stefano Domenicali

Stefano Domenicali: I think, to be honest and pragmatically, that this weekend our main competitors were faster than us. They maybe did a better job, but in any case they were faster, for sure. We have seen that right from Friday that they had better pace and a better quick lap and we saw today that they were there, they were not covering or doing something special.

They were simply much faster than us and this is the reason why I have to say that if you consider what we could achieve in these conditions we achieved the maximum, because honestly today Lewis was in another league, he was driving perfectly, fast, consistent and we couldn't even think of attacking him. What we said this morning in our briefing was try to attack Lewis, above all at the beginning, to see how the situation was, but we really couldn't do it, because he was too fast.

The thing that we need to understand, going to Brazil, is why and how this is possible, considering that in Singapore and in Fuji we were really fast, both in the fast laps and in the pace.

So we need to understand that. For sure, this race was the worst, from the performance side that have had this year in these conditions, together with Germany, and the only point that was common was that it was the same kind of tyres and we need to understand that was enough, but I don't think so, because for sure on one side, we were complaining that this weekend we hadn't enough grip to do the performance but also we didn't have the car handling in the first sector, above all.

And so we need to work and understand because for sure we cannot be in Brazil fighting - as we said at the beginning of the season - for the titles in the condition where our car is less competitive in these conditions, with such a big gap to our main competitors, to McLaren.

Q. Is it a big concern that McLaren could be the fastest car at the end of the season?

SD: To be honest, no, because one week ago it was not the case. Two weeks ago, it was not the case. We need to understand why there was this kind of changing performance side... the performance was the position, so we need to make a careful analysis to understand exactly the reason why we lost performance, because if you look today, this weekend, we were slower, the others were more or less consistent with their pace or their expected pace, so we were the ones that were not so strong to be honest.

I don't expect that in one week all the others have made a step which we haven't, so it's something connected to our performance, this is why we need to work hard because for sure we are ahead of the last race of the season and we need to make sure that we do everything in order to make sure we have a good car for the last Grand Prix.

Q. Was the tarmac too cool for the tyre compound?

SD: Honestly, I don't want to say that, because I want to understand the analysis from the technical guys. As I said before, the only consideration I can see is that we had the same spec of tyres but today it was hotter, so I don't know, it's too early, but it would be wrong on our side to make just a tyre consideration. We need to do an analysis on the set-up of the car, the configuration of the car, so I think it's a week where we really need to understand if we can take some points that can be important to have a good performance for the last race.

Q. What in your opinion is the difference between this race and Austria 2002?

SD: I mean completely different. I understand your question but I can't reply to you. You don't remember what happened in Germany and no one has complained, between Kovalainen and Hamilton? I know why you are asking that question so I am saying the same thing. You can ask the same question in that respect. Today was pretty normal, I would say. The drivers know the team's interest without saying anything so... I respect what Lewis has said in the press conference. Lewis said it's a team game and we did a good job.

Q. Now there's a seven-point difference, and the title is no longer in your hands, you need the help of the competitor. Does that change the approach in any way?

SD: No, I think that the approach cannot change because on one side, as you said, the destiny is not only in our hands, because to win the title with Felipe we need to win, first of all, and we need to see a not really good race from Hamilton, so I think it will be very difficult but in any case we will fight until the end. On the Constructors' side, the situation is different because we know that we have this margin which is not enough because you never know, you saw today that once again Kovalainen had another problem.

He may have a puncture at the wrong moment so it's still open, but this can happen to all the four drivers that can be part of the result of Drivers' and championship teams. The only thing we can do is try to first of all work very hard on trying to understand the performance of the car. We don't need to panic because, as I said, only a week ago it was different, and to make sure that we working well, with the right concentration. That's the only thing that we have to do.

Q. Last season you went to Brazil seven points behind Lewis; the gap is now seven points; how are the pressures and challenges different this year compared to last season?

SD: Well, I think that the pressures are on both sides to be honest. I was discussing this morning with Martin Whitmarsh before the meeting, so we know that everyone is concentrated but terrified that something can happen, so I think that the pressure is really on both of us as teams. For sure, I'm expecting Lewis to think 'oh my God, I'm not expecting to have another difficult race.'

He maybe have something in mind and on the other hand you may think that Felipe is doing the same, and we are doing the same as a team, so I think that in a way, it will be very important to keep cool, drivers' side and teams' side , and let's see what will be the outcome of both championships in Brazil.

Q. A Brazilian driver in Brazil; are you a little bit concerned about the pressures he will be under. What will you do to try and calm him down a bit?

SD: I think that to be honest, I don't think so because I think that today was the most tense race for Felipe because today, you know that there was the possibility for Lewis to be the champion at this Grand Prix. Considering the fact that he has seen that he was not competitive enough to beat Lewis today, and the fact that you never know about the reliability, you have to really arrive at the point where you say 'listen, OK, we've done what we could have done, as a maximum.'

So I am expecting Felipe to be more - I don't think it's correct to say relaxed - but more tranquil in Brazil rather than here, and I'm pretty sure that he will handle the pressure in a positive way.

Q. Kimi seems to have seen quite a competitive weekend, and he seemed to have slightly different components on the car. Has he gone his own way, is this why he's made some sort of breakthrough?

SD: As a team, I think that we try to address the point from the technical side, that he wanted to be solved and I think that we are in the right direction on that. Today, I think also on his side he was not quick enough to be able to win the race, or to attack Lewis, so I think that for sure we are going forwards in the right direction, but today was not enough.