Ross Brawn Q&A

"I guess so. It's always very frustrating to have a car that was so good in the race, and then not win the race. But really it was a story of qualifying and the start. In all fairness to David, he made a super start. It still didn't look too bad, and we had an idea at that stage that we might do something. But then Juan Pablo had his problems and immediately dumped 6-8 seconds behind David, and then it became very difficult. We anticipated our stop to see if we could do something, and it looked very good, but McLaren did the right thing and they anticipated their stop as well before the gap got too small. It was a race of a few opportunities, and I guess second is not too bad. But as I say it was very frustrating not to have won it, because the car was super in the race."



"We didn't quite get things together, but as you saw we had a very good tyre in the race. And it's not easy to have a good tyre in qualifying and in the race. It's difficult to get the combination right. In retrospect we had a bit too good a tyre in the race and not too good a tyre in qualifying."



"Obviously there wasn't a lot we could do at that stage. Juan Pablo had a problem, because as soon as we got past he let Ralf past, because clearly he was going to hold Ralf up as well. It was bit of a hectic middle of the race, because a lot of things started to happen, and we were trying to piece it together to do the best we could. I think we probably called the pit stop as well as we could and McLaren were bright enough to get in and anticipate their stop. I think another one or two laps, and Michael would have done it."



"I asked Michael how much faster he thought he could go, and when he gave me the answer I figured we ought to make a pit stop! We had a little bit of info, because Rubens had his problem and went back out again, and set the fastest section time straight away. So I could see what was possible."



"I think when you've got such a good car, and you're sat behind people for a whole race, it's frustrating. I think he thought he had an opportunity, and it didn't quite work out."



"Yes. We were looking at the data on the way in to see if anything was strange, and as soon as it went out again we had a very close look at the data and all the loads looked normal. We have a system of alarms if any suspension component exceeds its normal load, and we didn't have any alarms. It looked a bit spectacular, leaping up in the air, but compared with the forces this season on high downforce corners it was nothing unusual, so we were comfortable to send him out again. Unfortunately he got caught out with the speed limiter, and by then he was fighting a rearguard action."



"It should be OK. The good thing about Canada is at least you can overtake. We've obviously got to work on qualifying between now and Canada, but I think we have a good tyre for Canada. Even if we don't get it right in qualifying we can look forward to a slightly less frustrating race there."



"It's particular difficult where there's no way you can test to evaluate the tyre and understand what it does. Monaco is a new experience when you arrive with a tyre. The tyres are so soft there's no track where you can evaluate them."



"Not really for us. If anything it strengthened our people. I was really impressed by the spirit of our people in difficult circumstances. If anything it brought the team closer together. That's the nice thing about Ferrari - in adverse circumstances we do stick together. I suppose it was a bit of a distraction, but you could see in Monaco the car was quick and reliable, it was just the tyres worked the wrong way round in that they weren't so good in qualifying and were fantastic in the race. And theirs were fantastic in qualifying and didn't look so good in the race. It's only really in Monaco where you can get away with that."



"I'm glad you said that, because I was going to! It's absolutely the point we're trying to make. Of course Michael has extended his lead, but anyone who thinks each race is a certainty doesn't understand motor racing. It could change on a tyre. Michelin could come up with a big step forward on tyres, and it could then become very difficult. We could come up with a big step forward on tyres and it becomes much easier. It's a long way away from winning a championship."