Canadian GP - Post-race press conference - Pt.2.

Questions from the floor:

Q: (Daniel Bastien - Radio FM 103.3)
Question for Robert and Nick, considering the standings in both championships, is BMW Sauber now a top team today?

Robert Kubica:
I think when you are leading the world championship after seven races as a driver, you have a car that can win races and can fight for top positions, so if a team can build a top car, it's a top team. That's very clear, I think.

Nick Heidfeld:
Not much to add. We've been leading the constructors' championship earlier this season, now Robert is leading the world drivers' championship, so we must be a top team by now. I think McLaren and Ferrari have made a couple of mistakes this year, they messed up their race here, but nevertheless it also takes a top team and good drivers not to make those mistakes, so I would say yes.

Q: (Michael Schmidt - Auto Moto und Sport)
Robert, did you realise what happened on your left side when you were waiting for the lights at the pit lane exit?

RK:
Yeah. First of all I heard a big shunt and then I saw Lewis over the rear wing of Kimi. It was a similar situation to last year when we pitted under the safety car and there was still a red light [at the pit-lane exit]. Last year, Fisichella and Massa went by, I stopped as the first car. This time I stopped side by side with Kimi and after a few seconds Lewis came flat out and crashed into him. I have to thank him that he chose Kimi and not me.

Q: (Iker Migoya - Grand Prix Magazine, Mexico)
Robert, you wrote yourself out of a possible win yesterday and here you are today. Can you tell us about your feelings, about hearing the Polish anthem for the first time and how crazy the fans are for your first victory?

RK:
Yesterday I said victory is possible because in racing everything is possible but if there would be no more race, with no mistakes, with poor pace, we are still not ready. We did manage a very good race. I was helped by Hamilton because in the end we were the top three cars: Lewis, me and Kimi, so the two strongest drivers were off the track at that stage. Of course the safety car didn't help my strategy because the one stoppers were in front of me. So when I rejoined the track I was held up by slower cars and at that point I was just waiting for everybody to pit, and I had seven laps to pull out a big margin to Nick, so I had to come out in front of him after my second stop and I did it. It's a great atmosphere here in Canada and there are many Polish fans, there are many fans who are cheering for our team, for me. It's always fantastic to win here, especially after what happened here last year.

Q: (Panos Seitanidis - Drive Magazine)
David, talking to Mika H?kkinen, your long time team-mate a few months ago, he said that he was pleasantly surprised that you keep finding more motivation, but the biological clock ticks for everyone. Is that the case for you, or does today prove that it doesn't apply to you?

David Coulthard:
Definitely the clock is ticking and I'm delighted about that because I've had a great journey in my career and through life and the alternative doesn't excite me very much. I appreciate that Mika brought his career to an end relatively quickly and I think on reflection probably too quickly. I don't feel that I've done that and I guess most of you would agree. I've enjoyed it to the maximum. We're all different, we all make our choices and I'm delighted with the choices that I've made.

Q: (Marco Degl'Innocenti - La Gazzetta dello Sport)
Question for both the BMW Sauber drivers, and then an additional one for Nick. The first, for you both is do you think from now, the BMW Sauber team is able to win a race in normal conditions as well?

RK:
We are working on it. The target this season was to win a race. We did it earlier than expected, I think. We did it in a difficult race with not the best pace in the field, I would say. Clearly Hamilton was the quickest driver here this weekend, but he made a mistake. You pay for your mistakes and we did a good race, I think. Everybody has worked very well, the guys in the pit stop, on the pit wall, to switch Nick's strategy as well, to have two cars completely different during the race and it paid off with a first and second. But what it will be in the future we don't know and we have to work, we have to fight, to push. I don't think we'll be lacking motivation now after such a great result and everybody's already pushing very hard in Munich and Hinwil, so we just have to find a few tenths and maybe we can fight with proper pace in a normal race for the victory as well.

NH:
I think we should find a happy medium now and I think the team will be able to do that. First of all, we can all be very proud of this one-two for the team. On the other hand, that doesn't mean that from now on we have to win each race. As Robert said, there were other cars that were quicker on the circuit today, especially Hamilton, but in the end Robert won with the BMW and that's what counts today.

Q: (Marco Degl'Innocenti - La Gazzetta dello Sport)
Nick, you mentioned your personal psychological situation over the past weeks. Do you think this second place is a positive solution or because your team-mate won it is not so nice?

NH:
As I said before, it's a bit of both. Obviously I'm happy for Robert as he did a great job today. He deserves the win but what racing driver would I be, driving in the same team, being so close to my first victory not to be a bit disappointed?

Q: (Mark Danby - Auto Magazine)
Robert, talk us through some of the struggles from last year and the hard work that followed to get you to where you are today?

RK:
It was a few things that were not working properly which I was already pushing last year to get fixed. Unfortunately we couldn't fix them during the season. We fixed them for this season and I think this year's results, up to now, have shown how much I was struggling last year, more than I think people were expecting, and more than everybody thought. I knew what I needed. The team supplied me with this for this year and I think the result has been very positive for both sides, for myself and for the team.

Q: (Peter Hesseler - Abend Zeitung)
Question to Nick and to Robert: Nick, did you let Robert past voluntarily or were you advised by the pit? And Robert, do you think you are being promoted to number one in the team to go for the title?

NH:
Well, as there are no team orders allowed, no, but as I was on a one-stop, a lot heavier than Robert, knowing that, it's clear within the team that I wouldn't make it too difficult for Robert.

RK:
I think you have to ask this question to someone else. I don't think so. In the end, both drivers have to score points for the team, but I would say if you are leading the world championship as a driver after seven races, with, apart from Australia, our worst place finish was fourth place, after this race I think I'm the best qualifier in the field this season, so I think we have to push. Maybe in the future we won't get another chance, so I think we have to use this opportunity which might mean in five races that we don't have any more chance but while we have chances, I think we have to give our maximum and I hope the team will give their maximum. I will give maximum support to fight for it.

Q: (Marco Evangelisti - Corriere dello Sport)
Robert, can you explain your situation regarding your contract with BMW?

RK:
I'm not saying anything about contracts. We are not talking about it.

Q: (Tony Dodgins - Tony Dodgins Associates)
Nick, you were talking about the decision to let Fernando by or not. At the time I think Fernando started heavier than Robert and he was with Robert, so you are presumably aware that by keeping him behind you were sort of helping him win the race. Were you aware of that?

NH:
I was thinking about that but I'm happy to help Robert as long as it doesn't spoil my race which wasn't the case. I had Fernando behind me and it wasn't a big problem for me. But at one point I thought Robert was far enough ahead anyway even if Alonso would have passed me, to be any threat to Robert.