Q:
Turning to the midfield,
Renault seemed to take a step forward at the Spanish Grand Prix last time out. Do you think they can maintain that over the course of the campaign, and how far can they go with
Fernando Alonso back again now?
AJ:
I don’t know. They took a big step, didn’t they? From being relatively uncompetitive to being up there on the front row is a big step. I don’t know whether it was just a matter of circumstances for that one particular meeting – it will be interesting to see how they go in Turkey.
Q:
Your old team Williams obviously had a great start in Melbourne when
Nico Rosberg got up onto the podium, but since then they’ve slipped off the pace somewhat…
AJ:
Once again I think that could be circumstantial. I never underestimate
Williams. I know the people, I know the facilities and I know their capabilities. Yes, they have been off the pace of late and have had a quiet time over the last couple of years, but they’re just too good to discount. They will bounce back.
Q:
Australia has not had a grand prix winner now since yourself back in 1981, but Mark Webber’s habitually rotten luck seems to have finally turned in 2008, with three points finishes on the trot. What can he achieve this year do you think?
AJ:
I think he’s proven that if he’s in a reliable car he’s capable of doing the job. He’s had an enormous amount of bad luck and unreliability, but I think
Red Bull are probably now making inroads in that area and I think Mark will take advantage of that.
Q:
Are there any other drivers or teams who have perhaps surprised or disappointed you so far this year?
AJ:
[Heikki] Kovalainen has gone a lot better than what I thought he would; he’s jumped in the
McLaren and really taken it to them. I think he’s been very impressive. Other than that I think all the people are in the same spots where they deserve to be.
Q:
Obviously one of the biggest talking points recently is the scandal surrounding
Max Mosley. Some of your contemporaries like Jody Scheckter and Nelson Piquet have spoken out on the matter, with some saying he should resign and others supporting him. What’s your view on the subject?
AJ:
The only crime that he did was to get caught! At the end of the day I honestly believe that what a person does in their private life – providing they’re not breaking the law or hurting anybody – should be up to them. He should be judged on the job that he’s doing, not his out-of-work-time pleasures.
Q:
The
FIA Senate are due to hold a vote of confidence on Max’s future in just under a month’s time. Do you think he’ll survive that?
![A1 Team Australia seat holder and 1980 Formula 1 World Champion Alan Jones at Brands Hatch [pic credit: Gary Parravani/www.xynamic.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/437342.jpg)
