Q:
Jenson, what are your feelings about David retiring?
Jenson Button:
In a way for sure I am disappointed. If you look at David's career he has achieved a lot and a lot more that most drivers will ever achieve in their
F1 career. I have also always got on well with DC since 2000. We have been pretty good friends around the paddock but also away from the circuit. I will miss him at the races for sure but I'm also happy for him that he has made the decision to do something else next year. It is nice when you can make that decision yourself and find something else that can take up your time. Obviously, he has a beautiful fiancée to look after also.
Q:
You spoke recently about how sure you are that
Honda can provide you with a winning car. How long do you think it will be?
JB:
It is not going to be this year for sure. Next year I can't say we are going to have a winning car. I can say we are going to make some very big improvements and obviously the regulation changes will make a big difference to all of us. It helps us get back what we have dropped behind. When you have one bad year in F1 you lose a lot of time and to get that back within one or two years is almost impossible. It is going to help us a lot with the rule changes. I know at the factory that we are doing everything we can as I am sure every other team is. But we are a more complete team than we have ever been. I think we have got a lot of very talented people in the right areas and they are all working together very well. I know we will make a much better car next season, but it is what other people do. We really cannot see the future and see what other people can achieve. But I am happy with the way things are going. I am in a happy place at the moment.
Q:
What sort of changes have you seen in the team in the last few months?
JB:
I think a lot of it is the way of working and obviously the technical leadership of Ross (Brawn – team principal) has made a big difference and making sure that people within in the team working in their own areas do everything they can but also working as a team, not having the mechanical, aerodynamical side, all the different areas doing their work individually but bringing everything together. The atmosphere is pretty electric within Honda at the moment. We are very excited about the future. I know it is easy to say when you are having a bad season but a lot has changed in the team from last year and for sure it needed to. Things are moving in the right way and we will definitely see the results in the future.
Q:
Any improvements for this race?
JB:
We have got a few improvements. There is a different front wing – front and nose which is definitely better plus a few other improvements. Last week's test was a pretty positive test. I am happy with the car and the way it feels, but that mid-pack is so competitive. If you don't get the balance perfect every race weekend, if you don't get the maximum out of the car, you are not going to challenge for points and you are not challenge the middle group. That's the position we are in, but it just means we have to give it our all this weekend and get out heads down and concentrate on the important things.
Q:
Lewis, you have been so busy these last 10 days. How have you managed to stay focussed and how have you managed to cope?
Lewis Hamilton:
I don't see that I have been any busier than perhaps last year. For sure I had a lot of commitments which you are contracted to. But a lot of events you do, you do actually get quite a bit of energy from. For example the Abbey National event I did last Friday. I went there and obviously there were a few kids from Great Ormond Street. On days like that you really enjoy it. I have had time at the weekend to get some rest and focus on my training. Through the whole time I have not lost focus. My mind has always been on preparing for the next race. You just have to make sure that every bit of time you try to maximise it.
Q:
How do you approach this race after the two non-scores in the last race?
