Post-qualifying press conference

Fernando Alonso seemed very happy with his pole position in front of his home crowd, of course the Spaniard hopes to win tomorrow. Alonso and team mate Giancarlo Fisichella joined Michael Schumacher for the FIA press conference

Fernando ALONSO: "Yeah, first pole position in Spain and for sure, a great atmosphere for all the team and for me especially. I think we all enjoy this qualifying with the people in the grandstand supporting Formula One as a sport, because at the end of the day they are enjoying so much what is a new sport for us in this country and I enjoyed the lap also."

"Yeah, the times were really close at this circuit. We test here a lot during the winter and also down in 1m 14s, the times are really close. Yeah, it was tough. The main worry was to get through Q2 and then Q3 was the easiest part, but in fact it was the same thing as Nurburgring: Q2 so-so and then Q3 again in pole position for the second consecutive time, so a fantastic feeling."

"Yeah, I think Ferrari and Michael are obviously strong again this weekend but you know we have to concentrate in our job to take the maximum from our car. In five races, the worst place was a second place in the race, and if we keep up this consistency we will be good for the championship and I think that’s what we have to do: concentrate on our car, and on our job. OK, when Ferrari’s too strong for us we have to be happy with second place, but I think that we have to believe that victory is possible tomorrow."

Giancarlo FISICHELLA: "Yes, it’s true. It’s nice to be here. The Renault performance was very good today. We expected to be really competitive, obviously first and second on the grid tomorrow is a great result. We are really optimistic that we have a good package. I’m a little bit sad for the last couple of races, because with a better qualifying session there was a possibility to get on the podium and it was better to score a few more points for the championship but anyway, we are just at the beginning of the season so I am just looking forward and I hope to do a great race."

"It’s tough. It’s very tight. Ferrari and Bridgestone have made a big step forward together so that Ferrari has been very very competitive in the last couple of races and we expect that competitiveness during the rest of the season."

Michael SCHUMACHER: "It’s all about the strategy, whether you can be disappointed or you should be rather happy. In general, I think we knew we might have a little sacrifice for qualifying but we have a very strong race pace and that’s what we have to concentrate on and that’s what we obviously knew when we started the weekend: no surprise."

"No, I didn’t have any… yeah, it’s true actually. I had Jarno in front of me. The lap wasn’t a great lap, but luckily the last lap was free of traffic."

"Yeah, yeah, we maximised our performance in a way. Although my last set didn’t feel as great honestly – I should have been quicker on it – but nevertheless, we’re third, I am on the clean side of the starting grid which should be a little better for me."

FA: "Yes, a little bit different. But there’s no pressure, it’s more motivation. After testing here all through the winter with empty grandstands, when you come here to the Grand Prix it’s a completely new feeling, new emotion in the car, and I enjoy it so much - every lap – and for sure tomorrow the 66 laps won’t be enough to enjoy all the race."

PRESS CONFERENCE

FA: "Next one, we will see tomorrow. The important thing today was getting the maximum from the car, get a good qualifying, again with no traffic, no problems and get through the last part of qualifying with no problems and we did our job. We did a good set-up in the car this morning preparing for qualifying and everything works OK. Again, both laps with no traffic and no problems in the car, and again, pole position after Nurburgring, second consecutive time so nothing to say, really."

FA: "Yes, to be honest. We found a different car this morning as we expected, a little bit too much oversteer in the car and then we made some changes for Q1 and everything started working OK, but in Q1 maybe there was the possibility that everything was wrong and qualifying was over, but we were lucky. We did the good job again with the engineers and all the team worked hard to be on the first row tomorrow."

FA: "After yesterday’s times and the analysis we did last night, I think Ferrari was the strongest competitor again. Honda were quick this morning, but not so much in qualifying and McLaren were a little bit down. But you never know in qualifying. Sometimes you are close to going out in Q2 and then you fight for pole in Q3. It’s a little bit strange."

FA: "Looking forward to the race. As I said before in the press conference, for me it is a fantastic feeling driving here with this support from the grandstand. I see people enjoying the race so tomorrow’s 66 laps will not be enough for me. There’s only one opportunity a year, so I need to enjoy tomorrow."

GF: "Yes, of course we made some adjustments in the set-up and especially little things to make the car okay. The performance in the Grand Prix tomorrow looks very promising. I am happy for today and I think tomorrow we can do a good race and a good result."

GF: "I think it’s important to be there and I think looking at the performance today I’m really disappointed with the laps that happened in the last Grand Prix. There is a chance to do much better and score a lot more points. But certainly we’ve had the potential since the beginning of the season and it’s another chance to score a lot of points."

MS: "Not so much really. It was fairly straightforward."

MS: "It’s in the past."

MS: "There seems to be two options. I’m not sure whether it is so clear."

MS: "Honestly, I knew what Fernando’s time was and so that was my aim. The rest I worry about later. I didn’t actually know the time he (Massa) had done."

MS: "I’ve seen that our tyres were not superb for qualifying all weekend long so maybe a little bit down there. We believe more in the race. It may be it’s a characteristic of the two tyre manufacturers. That’s what we have and what we live with and we’re very happy with that."

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

MS: "I didn’t say this."

You suggested it. MS: "I said there are two possibilities for the strategy. I don’t know what these guys have. They’re not going to tell us. Ask them."

MS: "Yeah, it’s true that I give my voice for a sort of cartoon movie, yeah."

MS: "A Ferrari car, what else?"