Q & A with Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosberg: You know, in Formula One sometimes they say this, like Trulli or whoever, but somehow I can never really say that. Like today - it was a really, really good lap, but there are always little things you can do to improve it. So it wasn't a perfect lap, but it was very, very good! Driving around I didn't think it was going to be so special - okay, but not that special - but I'm really happy that it worked out okay and that I got pole, and the gap was great.

Q. And sitting on pole gives you a great shot at another win.

Rosberg: I don't know - we'll see - but the race is quite long. Starting on pole helps a lot, and hopefully I can get a good start and we'll see what happens after that. We've got to make a few changes in the set up, because there are always things you can improve on the car, especially for the race. So we'll try to get that right for tomorrow and then see what the weather does - hopefully it will be dry, although we were quickest in the wet at Paul Ricard so it shouldn't be such a problem, but there are always bigger risks when it rains.

Q. Scott was quickest this morning, but you seemed to turn that around in qualifying.

Rosberg: Yeah, we made some good changes from free practice, because we had quite a few problems, and now we've turned it around but tomorrow is another thing - we'll keep our heads down and see.

Q. How much of a difference has it made for the team now that you and Alex have had a bit of success lately?

Rosberg: There is a better ambience, for sure, so it's bringing them together. And they're starting to respect me more too, as a driver - of course they know me from last year, but I think I've got a lot more respect now from them. Of course that helps me, because it's not so easy to get that - I know that with the name, for example, I've realised that it helps you immensely to get to a high level, but once you're there the real experts always think that somehow you are just there because of the name, and that you can't really be that good. The real experts use this name thing quite negatively I think, so it's important for me to get that respect.

Q. Once you get there, you have to prove yourself all over again.

Rosberg: Exactly - that's it. I think eventually, in the last little bit, that the name may have a negative effect sometimes, and you have to work around that.

Q. The rain has started up now, and may be here tomorrow - how is your form in the wet?

Rosberg: I was really good in karting and back in the day, but in Formula Three it was terrible - I think it was more how the car ran than anything else. But I think it should be okay now, especially after topping the wet test in Paul Ricard.