Q & A with Stefano Domenicali

With the British Grand Prix coming up next - with Silverstone's fast corners likely to highlight aero deficiencies - team boss Stefano Domenicali admits things are unlikely to get better for his squad until Germany.

AUTOSPORT heard from Domenicali after the Turkish race.

Q. How will you analyse your performance in Turkey?

Stefano Domenicali: The most important thing we have to analyse is that we've seen that the car was very good on Friday and on Saturday morning, considering we were with high fuel for the whole of practice. Then we didn't understand why from Q2 onwards and during the race, the pace performance was not there.

So this is the main analysis that we have to do in the next days. The performance we expected was confirmed in Spain and Monaco, but here we didn't bring home what we were supposed to bring home given the car that we have now, so that's the main element of analysis that we have to do.

Q. Does the fact that the progress did not carry through to this race make you less optimistic for the rest of the season?

SD: No, I think for sure we know that Silverstone is not the kind of track that is the best for us because high-speed corner downforce is very important there, not really good braking areas to charge the KERS. That's the reality of that track, so we know that Silverstone could be difficult but I would say that for Germany, Hungary and some other tracks we should see the situation improve again.

Q. Two drivers expressed their concern about the empty grandstands here. How do you feel about it?

SD: I think this is one problem we need to solve. Now we are concentrating too much on other things and it seems that we don't care about the public, the show, about the motorsport around us. I know the television and the media are very good, but it's like to be in a football stadium totally empty.

This is something that we need to make sure that all the stakeholder of Formula 1 realise this is an issue that we can solve together, teams, commercial, promoter, FIA, organiser. This is for me one point that has to be put first on the table between all of us.

Q. What's your mood heading into the week with the entries announced on Friday, and how do you predict the scenario turning out?

SD: Well, you know that I am a positive guy, but let's see. We have a very constructive approach, no fighting with anyone. I think it's important to understand that all the points that the FIA has raised have been achieved by the proposal of the teams, so I think this is a very important thing to consider.

To make sure that all the teams that are now racing in Formula 1 will be there for the future is very important. We have historical teams like Ferrari that wants to stay, no doubt. It will be interesting to see how is the reaction, as I said the other day I think that common sense should prevail.

Q. The Turkish GP weekend has gone by with no action taken. Does this concern you?

SD: Yes and no at the same time. Because of course discussions are going on, but we need to find a solution. If the solution is not there then we need to see the reaction. But I really hope, like I said before, that common sense will prevail.

The co-operation and vision that all the teams and constructors of FOTA are sharing is totally agreed, so at the moment if there is a different point of view, there's no alternative but the fact that all the teams are together. I think this is one very important point to consider in the framework of Formula 1.

Q. Do you feel you can win races this year?

SD: This is our approach and our feeling. In racing you never say never.

Q. Are you considering the possibility of a breakaway championship?

SD: First of all we need to make sure to do everything in order to make sure that the FIA world championship of Formula 1 will stay for the future, and then we will see.

Q. There were some rumours that FOTA was considering a boycott of this race. Can you confirm that that was not discussed, and that FOTA is keen on settling problems politically rather than militant action?

SD: Absolutely, I think that was a joke that came out, I don't know from where or what. It has never been discussed at all and the position of FOTA is pretty clear that we want to find a solution.

Q. Has your confidence that there will be a solution with the FIA increased or decreased during this event?

SD: As I said, I hope we will find a solution because the points that we put on the table are accessible and logical. If you want to be constructive and logical, you should find a solution.

Q. Would you be prepared to drop KERS for next year if all the other teams wanted it?

SD: That was a discussion we had in FOTA. We are thinking about cost saving for the other teams. We are the only ones together with McLaren who is using our KERS. We invested a lot, but it is difficult for the supporters to understand why there are some cars with KERS and some cars with no KERS. If you have a totally logical approach, if we are all together, fine [keep KERS], if not it is better not to have it.

Q. How important is it to find a solution to the FIA row quickly?

SD: For sure we need to know what is our future. For us, for the people that are working with us, and for our supporters. We need to find a solution as soon as possible. The 12th is an important day no doubt, but depending on how the situation will evolve it can be a day when you may see certain interesting things, or you may consider that this is Formula 1 and it is better to double think what is the future of racing.

We need to find a solution as soon as possible. The more you go ahead the more it is complicated for everyone. At the moment we are damaging the sport. What I think as a normal guy is that we all around this area are too involved. It's totally impossible to understand the reason why we are in this position, so it is the moment to wake up and to make the right decision. Because nobody wants to spoil the sport, from a Ferrari point of view we love Formula 1 and we want to make sure the values of Formula 1 remain forever.

The rules are clear. The ones that have been published are the ones that we should follow if you want to race in the next season. If you want some things to enter in the championship, cost cap or not cost cap, this is the situation. We have submitted a provisional, all the teams of FOTA, we would like to solve the issues that the FIA knows and then we will discuss. For us it's very important to start from the old rules and to make changes that will be done by the right process of rule changes. This is what we want.