Drivers: Rubens Barrichello (Honda), Pedro de la Rosa (
McLaren Mercedes),
Fernando Alonso (Renault),
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari).
Press conference.
Q:
Pedro, how much has your role changed this year? Are you still doing pretty much what you have always been doing?
Pedro de la Rosa:
My role is pretty much unchanged. Obviously, we are very limited on mileage during the testing season and we have to maximise every mile we do and every set of tyres. From that point of view it hasn't changed at all.
Q:
So perhaps you can describe what that is.
PdlR:
It is the normal work that a test driver needs to do. First of all you have to be at every grand prix as a reserve driver and that's why I am here. Secondly at the test sessions I am testing anything that is required by the team, backing all that work up in the simulation facilities at Woking and being of any help for the team. It is very similar to before but basically doing less kilometres at the track and spending more time in the simulator, so it is great fun.
Q:
You are not frustrated at not racing?
PdlR:
Yes, of course it is frustrating not racing. I have to be realistic as I am at that point of my career where I don't have many more years left. Not because of me but because of the other people's perception unfortunately. Every year that goes by it is just getting closer to a point where I won't be able to race again. I am aware of that. I am a realistic person and I am just hoping that something happens for me.
Q:
Lewis had a little blip at the last race. How were you able to help him during that weekend and how have you been able to help him since?
PdlR:
A blip? What do you mean? A blip could mean also to go up. We hope that the blip comes here. Yes, he had a bad weekend but all we can do from the team's point of view is to make sure that we make it as simple as possible for him not to make any mistakes. That's what we have been focussing on for the past few weeks, to make sure that this won't happen again. Not that he has to change anything, but from our point of view we make sure that is simpler for him to activate everything he has to from the cockpit.
