San Marino Preview Quotes: Michelin

Pierre Dupasquier, Motorsport Director: "After Interlagos, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is the second - and final - anti-clockwise track at which we race this season. Average lap speeds are quite high, at about 220 km/h (135 mph). The circuit is notable for a number of long straights interspersed with chicanes and longitudinal tyre loads will be higher than they were at the first three tracks of the season. The penalty for running a heavy fuel load is quite high - about 0.4 to 0.5 seconds per lap for every extra 10kg you carry."

Pascal Vasselonm, F1 project manager: "Our most recent test session at Le Castellet enabled us to finalise our options for San Marino. Our partner teams finally settled on a range of 3 dry-weather tyres. The 3 Michelin tyres options in San Marino have not been used before during a race weekend. For the first time this season, the compounds come from the 'softer' side of our range. The Imola track surface is not consistent over the course of a lap and there are a few 'rogue' sections here and there. Some chicanes are smoother than other parts of the circuit, for instance, and that's the kind of thing that can sometimes catch drivers out - especially when it rains. The pit entry and exit are fairly short here and scheduled stops are not too punitive - about 25 to 27 seconds, as opposed to 40 in Interlagos. This allows teams to contemplate a number of strategic possibilities - but if you want to qualify on pole position a two-stop fuel load will probably be the shrewdest option."