Saturday press conference - Canadian GP Pt.2.

Drivers: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)

Questions from the floor:

Q: (Randy Phillips - The Gazette)
Lewis are you going to be able to sleep tonight?

Lewis Hamilton:
I think so. I think what is important is to enjoy the moment and then go back. We've still got a hard job to do tomorrow - so I make sure I'm fully relaxed tonight. I'll probably just have a nice evening with my dad and my trainer, get a good night's sleep and come back tomorrow and try and do the same again.

Q: (Randy Phillips)
Fernando, do you have any advice for your team-mate starting for the first time from pole position?

Fernando Alonso:
We will see tomorrow, I think today has been a good qualifying for the team again, a good job by everybody - first and second. The team should be very happy today.

Q: (Randy Phillips)
But do you have any particular advice for Lewis?

FA:
No advice. Don't be too aggressive in the first corner and let me go through [laughter]

Nick Heidfeld:
The same for me please.

Q: (Livio Oricchio - O Estado de Sao Paulo)
A question for Alonso. In Monaco, you were on pole and Hamilton was second and you said you expect some orientation from the team. What do you say now that you are in second position and Hamilton is on pole?

FA:
No, I didn't say that. What is normal in Formula One after the second stop or with ten laps to go... fighting with your team-mate... Normally, you are not as aggressive as if you are fighting with a Ferrari or someone else. Tomorrow, how many laps is the race? 65, 66, 70? If I'm not P1 and I'm not fighting with the main opponents like Ferrari or BMW, I will not risk anything. I need the eight points. I need to win the championship in Brazil, not here.

Q: (Fr?d?ric Ferret - l'Equipe)
Question for Lewis: is it important for you to get pole?

LH:
It's obviously a great feeling, it's another step I've taken in my steep learning curve coming into my first season in Formula One. To be honest, I knew I had it in me but I wasn't sure when I was going to get a pole. I'd never really been a driver that sticks it on pole if you look at my past years, apart from in F3, I'd always been in the top three and it's not my strongest area. But today I was really happy with the job I did and it's a great step forward for me and also for the team.

Q: (Mathias Brunner - Motorsport Aktuell)
For Fernando, you said before that you were off in T10, did you realise immediately that the hunt for pole position was over for you?

FA:
The only thing we realise is the time belt that we have on the steering wheel but I was three tenths slower than my previous lap after that corner, so I knew it was impossible to improve the lap that I did before. But I didn't know if someone was improving their time. At that time I was P1 and I didn't know there were guys coming quicker than me, so you realise after you cross the line.

Q: (Carlos Miquel - Diario AS)
For Fernando, do you have more fuel in your car than Lewis?

FA:
We will see tomorrow. That's the question that everybody wants to know after qualifying. We would like to know how much fuel Nick had... the Ferraris... everybody. It is something that is unique in Formula One, after Saturday you are always thinking 'what is going to happen tomorrow?' It keeps the expectation up for everybody.

Q: (Livio Oricchio - O Estado de Sao Paulo)
To both McLaren drivers: are you surprised by Ferrari's performance today? Do you expect anything different tomorrow for the race?

LH:
For me, I think, we were surprised. Going into P3 we saw that the Ferraris gained some time and we knew that it wasn't going to be the same as it was in Monaco because Monaco is a unique circuit and they were always seen to be quite strong here. I think we were definitely quite surprised at our pace but the improvements we have made on the car have resulted in the time that we have. But I think they are still strong. They are very good on the long runs. They are better than most teams, so we still have work to do to improve.

FA:
Same thing. I think tomorrow they will look much better than they looked today.

Q: (Dave Stubbs - The Gazette)
Lewis, this is the first time officially that you go into a race as the hunted rather than the hunter. Does that change anything about the way you approach the race?

LH:
I don't think so. For sure there is a slightly different approach but generally I'm used to it. I've had experiences being at the front but it's been good to be hunting throughout the season. But it's good to make a change, I've been qualifying fourth for most races and it's good to be a bit further ahead.

Q: (Fr?d?ric Ferret)
A question to Lewis: who will be your main opponent tomorrow for the race?

LH:
I've not seen the times but I'm guessing both of these guys are extremely quick. Obviously, being on the front row, Fernando is the closest but I don't think we should take anything for granted. I think Nick here will be extremely quick as well, so I just have to make sure I have both my mirrors covered, I'm on the right side of the road and try not to give up any space at the first corner.

Q: (Bill Beacon - The Canadian Press)
Just one for Nick Heidfeld. Has BMW taken a step forward today by out-qualifying the Ferraris?

NH:
I'm quite sure that we've made a step forward. I hope not just for the weekend, I hope we will continue like that for the rest of the season. As I said earlier, this circuit is a little outstanding in terms of the high speed and also of the amount of kerb here to take. But yeah, so far so good, I would say.