“It is a very demanding track physically for the drivers, because it can be very hot and there are no straights on which you can recover. The corners follow quickly one after the other, the track surface is quite bumpy and you have to maintain concentration over 70 laps. We all enjoy tackling challenges like that, feeling the car on the limit and trying to push a little bit more to go even faster. I think it’s a circuit where the drivers can make a real difference, and that probably explains why we all enjoy it!
“We did three days’ running in
Jerez last week to prepare for the hot conditions we expect in Hungary and Turkey, and everybody is determined to have a strong race this weekend. There are some more new parts on the car for this race too, so I am looking forward to starting our work on Friday.”
Team-mate
Giancarlo Fisichella does not boast a strong record in terms of results in Hungary, and last year crashed out of contention while looking good for a podium finish, and is keen to make amends this time around.
“I have always enjoyed this race,” the Italian asserted. “I like the track and I have been competitive here in the past. It’s always a fun race with a relaxed atmosphere and lots of spectators in the stands. I crashed out of the race last year after making a mistake, but the conditions were very difficult indeed. We are expecting much hotter temperatures this year, which will be a very different challenge.
“Hungary is quite a selective circuit, and the very high temperatures often make things a bit more complicated, especially for the drivers and also the powertrain. To be quick here, you need an effective high downforce set-up, good grip and good traction out of the slow corners. Since the Nürburgring a lot of work has been done to understand where we went wrong, and to avoid repeating our mistakes. It is in the past now and we are fully-focused on the race ahead. We need to carry on moving forward.”
Ferrari – Felipe Massa (#5), Kimi Raikkonen (#6):
Following its bitter defeat at the hands of arch-rivals
McLaren in the European Grand Prix, Ferrari will be determined to redress the balance this weekend, and in the closest thing he has to a ‘home’ race, Kimi Raikkonen in particular is keen to make a strong impression.
