Questions from the floor:
Q: (Ian Parkes –
The Press Association)
Robert,
Fernando Alonso has confirmed this afternoon that the GPDA are looking at the cost of the super licence, the thousand per cent increase in how much more that it is costing the drivers, how much more you're going to have to pay per point. He's also mentioned that there's a possibility that if the worst came to the worst, the drivers could go on strike. Could we have your thoughts first of all on that, Robert, and to the other three drivers, although you're not members of the GPDA, would you actually support your fellow drivers in this instance should the worst come to the worst?
Robert Kubica:
Well, I agree with what Fernando has said about the costs of the super licence which has increased quite a lot compared to last year, I think eight times, or something like that. It's quite a lot of money, especially if you are scoring points like Lewis did last year and it's your first year in
Formula One. But another point is that experienced drivers who don't have a quick car are not scoring points, so they don't care because they don't have to pay. So I think it will be difficult to get all drivers to have the same idea but we are trying to convince the
FIA to reduce the cost.
Lewis Hamilton:
I've always said that even though I'm not a member of the GPDA, I've always said that they have my support and it's something I agree with as well.
Felipe Massa:
It's the first time that I've heard that, I didn't hear about it before because I was in Brazil, but if it's what Robert says, for sure I support (them) one hundred percent because I don't see a reason for the price to be different for the top drivers and the guys who are in smaller teams. I think the super licence has to be the same for everybody.
Kimi Raikkonen:
For sure, I support (them). Of course it's better if it's not so expensive and it's the same for everybody, but I don't think there's any reason to go on strike and not race. I don‘t think that's the right way to go but it would be nice if we could reduce it.
Q: (David
Croft –
BBC)
A stupid question, perhaps, but I assume you all pay your own super licences?
KR:
Yeah.
FM:
Yeah.
Q: (David Croft –
BBC)
Kimi, is there another way that a compromise could be found, if you're not agreeing with the possibility of a strike? What is the compromise that could be worked out?
KR:
I don't know. I don't see that first of all you can say that we strike but it's never going to happen that all the drivers will strike. Hopefully there is some nice solution that can be found at some point.
