Saturday, July 25, 1998

Post-qualifying press conference

With Giancarlo Fisichella (Benetton), Jean Alesi (Sauber) and Mika Hakkinen
(McLaren).

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Q: Giancarlo, tell us who decidied the setting?
GF: Of course me and my engineer. I was a little bit worried because before
qualifying the set-up was good for the dry conditions and in the wet
conditions it was difficult for everybody. Anyway I very pleased and very
happy for my first pole in Formula One. This is just the beginning. At the
beginning it was so difficult because it was so wet for us on Bridgestone.
I spun twice and then I decided to change tyres and at the end the circuit
was much better. I hope to get on the podium for tomorrow. I want wet
conditions now, we will see.

Q: You want wet tomorrow?
GF: Yes, why not?

Q: Was there much damage to the car when you went off?
GF: Fortunately just a little bit, but it wasn't a problem because I am on
pole position.

Q: What where the tactics of staying out at the end?
GF: I was third after three or four laps and my engineers after I spun
called me to ask whether I wanted to change tyres or stay to the end. I
asked him if there was time and he told me yes. I said okay, I come in,
change tyres and we go.

Q: You have already had to choose tyres for race. What did you decide?
GF: The race tomorrow depends if it is dry or wet, but I had chosen the
soft compound for race and today it was no good. I will choose hard for the
race.

Q: What about pit stops?
GF: This year it will be two stops. Last year was one but I think that will
not be enough. Maybe three is the way to go.

Q: Jean, did you think you had pole position?
JA: Difficult to know what was going on, espeically in these conditions,
because so many cars were on the circuit.

Q: Would you prefer wet or dry conditions tomorrow?
JA: Obviously I have more chance if it is wet, but I don't think it is nice
for the public. But on television it will be very exciting.

Q: How many tyres did you use?
JA: I used two sets. I started with full wet and at the end I used
intermediates. I kept trying, the grip was coming and coming, especially in
the last two corners, so I was trying to push really hard.

Q: What about the settings of the car?
JA: I didn't change anything from this morning, except the tyres. The
engine mapping was changed to make it a bit smoother, but that it is
especially when I found a good set-up. I don't like to make a change in the
wet because when it is like that you just have to drive carefully.

Q: Track conditions Mika?
MH: Definitely the very first corner, that was very difficult. You were on
the brakes and everything started sliding, then after 50 metres you could
lose the back end. Then the grip changes so radically at the first corner.
The second corner is extrememely difficult, while the third corner is
downhill so you don't know how late you can brake. The rest of it was more
or less easier.

Q: There was a lot of water out on the track at some corners?
MH: I had a couple of moments there and surprisingly after the session it
didn't change there, even though everywhere else it was drying up.

Q: What about tyres?
MH: We tried intermediates and did use intermediates at the end. I am sure
it was too wet, and at the end it was just on the margin. I think the last
lap the conditions were perfect for intermediates. I was going flat-out but
I had somebody in front of me at the first few corners, Ithere was somebody
in front of me, they are the most important corners so I had to back off
and couldn't go flat out.

Q: Was it a lottery?
MH: We never did run here in wet conditions, we have no idea what this
track really needs for wet conditions. Without previous experience, I had
to use those settings. I wasn't extremely comfortable with the car in those
conditions, we wanted to make some changes for the race.

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