Q. (Andrea Cremonesi – La Gazzetta dello Sport) A pair of questions for Michael: you drove a lot for Ferrari. How do you explain the situation they are in now? You are very close to Felipe; what do you suggest to him at this very critical moment for him?
MS: First of all, concerning Felipe, if I look at all the winter testing I think it was very clear that the two drivers were very close together. If you look at the optimum lap time achieved in the Barcelona tests, it's again very close. So to see the big difference that we saw in Melbourne, I can only assume there must have been something not right for him. He's been around for so long. He's been fighting for the championship in 2009, he's always been up front so I don't see any reason why he should not be capable of doing so in the future. I trust he will do so, and that the team will do their utmost to give him the support that he needs. The first of your questions: there's no reason to speculate because I'm not inside so I don't know the details and there's no reason for me to comment.
Q. (Paolo Ianieri – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Sergio, there have been a few rumours these days of your name linked to Ferrari should Ferrari decide to replace Felipe. How do you take these rumours, and what do you think about them?
SP: Well, it's only the first race of the season so it's very early to speculate. I'm really focused with my team, with Sauber. I think we have a great car and there's nothing more that I can say, just focused on my team, to try to make as many points as possible because we have a very competitive car and I was to trying to make the most out of the car we have. Melbourne was a difficult weekend for me because I had the gearbox issue so I couldn't do a lap in qualifying so I qualified last and finished eighth. So it was a good race, and hopefully this weekend we can manage a good weekend. And as for the rumours… they are only rumours.
