So there are many new questions to be answered and I think with '07 coming along with the tyre and the controlled engine side of things, we may have as good a base line to start a year off as we have seen for a long time. That is going to produce better racing and hopefully some different results. One thing is for sure, we won’t have any results with
Michael Schumacher at the top of the list, because that is not going to be anymore. So that is the end of that, but as I say, new stars are coming.
Q:
How much are we going to miss Michael Schumacher and does his exit mean 2007 will be even more open?
MB:
It will make it open in many ways. Open on the circuit because there will be one less guy with the level of ability and resource to take top results. It will also be open as there will be one guy who is not going to be in the
F1 arena, who has such a big history behind him that he swamps the rest of the pit lane. It just opens up F1 a little bit more.
That is not to say it is a good or bad thing, it is just a change. I think, everyone at this point now, is quite looking forward to that and there is some excitement to see what does come out.
Q:
Can Renault continue to maintain their form in light of the fact
Giancarlo Fisichella will be leading the team?
MB:
That is the big question - can he do it? I think everyone will be looking at him to try and prove many people down the pit lane wrong, because there is a lot of belief that he won’t be able to cut it.
Personally I believe that Giancarlo Fisichella can step up and can take the team leader role. He has learnt a great deal, even in the environment he is in now. In some ways he has probably learned some stuff from Alonso even though there is a difference in the level of experience and age. Obviously, Alonso is a great talent and he has seen how he operates and if he can emulate that, he can produce the goods for
Renault.
