Drivers: Pedro de la Rosa (HRT),
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Sergio Perez
(Sauber),
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari),
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) and
Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus).
Press conference
Q:
Gentlemen, a question to you all to start with: what are your impressions of the circuit so far; your feelings about being back in America. What it's like to be back here?
Pedro de la Rosa:
Good morning to everyone. I've just been doing a lap, just walking around. I don't know much apart from this lap, and apart from what I've been able to see from the internet – from the lap Jérôme [D'Ambrosio] did in the Lotus -– and it looks fantastic… a very difficult track, with very big gradient changes and very challenging because most of the corners, the apexes are blind. So let's see tomorrow, but it's one of those tracks that you can say it's going to be difficult and challenging.
Q:
Lewis, have you done anything on simulation?
Lewis Hamilton:
Good morning everyone. Yeah, I think everyone's done simulations probably. It's quite an interesting track. It's quite difficult to learn initially but it looks fantastic to drive. I really started to enjoy it once I got used to it, which took perhaps a little bit longer than some of the other circuits to learn but it's going to be very interesting this weekend.
Q:
Sergio?
Sergio Perez:
I haven't done any simulator, we don't have one with Sauber. I've seen some video of the track and I walked the track and it's amazing. I think it will be very enjoyable for all the drivers.
Q:
Fernando, have you been around the circuit, done any simulation?
Fernando Alonso:
Yeah, we did some simulator programmes, after Singapore it was that we started. A bit more intense this last week and yesterday I also did two laps on the bicycle. The programme is to do some more this afternoon. So, we are more or less ready. The track seems spectacular, very, very nice. It will be challenging for us drivers and for the engineers as well. I think it will be a good show for everybody and hopefully some good overtaking opportunities as well around the track. It can be a very good weekend.
Q:
Sebastian?
Sebastian Vettel:
We also prepared in the simulator but apart from that I haven't seen much. I will walk the track this afternoon but I think if we have to wait until we get out until we have a judgement on how the circuit feels. So by the looks of it, it looks quite interesting, but you know it's always the feeling you get inside the car that is most important, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
Q:
Kimi?
Kimi Raikkonen:
I've only seen the video from when they did the demo run here, but I haven't seen the circuit itself. I will see tomorrow how it goes.
Q:
You won't even walk the circuit this afternoon?
Kimi Raikkonen:
I don't know yet. I'll have to see.
Q:
After the comment from the last grand prix, it's good to see…
Kimi Raikkonen:
Well, I mean, if I found a golf cart or something.
Q:
Some individual questions now. Pedro, there have obviously been some stories around about HRT etc. What can you tell us? What are your own personal plans? What do you know? Maybe you can't tell us anything.
Pedro de la Rosa:
Well, unfortunately there's not much I can say really. It's a corporate decision, which I'm not involved in. All I can say is, we are here, that there are two grand's prix to go and no matter what's going on in the background, we will give it 100 per cent like we've always done. No matter in which position we fight and who we fight against we will do a professional job. We are here to do that and there are two very interesting grand's prix left. Hopefully there's some more retirements than in the last few races, even more and we can achieve a good result. But first we have to finish the races and make sure that we do as much as we can on both Friday sessions that are left.
Q: