Post-race press conference - Japanese GP - Pt.1.

Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren), Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault), Fernando Alonso (Renault)

TV unilaterals:

Q:
Kimi, a sensational win from you from 17th on the grid. First of all, talk us through the first lap, I think a bit of contact with your team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya....

Kimi Raikkonen:
Yeah, there was quite a lot happening in the first and second corner so, as I was turning into the second corner, Montoya touched me on the rear wheel a little bit and got sideways. He got past me but, luckily enough, we didn't damage our cars, so it was alright. The first lap was quite exciting, but I ran wide in the chicane and then, unfortunately for him, something happened and he went off. Otherwise, it was a good race.

Q:
Then some sensational competition and Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher...

KR:
Yeah, I was behind them but, unfortunately, we had a slight problem with the gearing and seventh gear was a little bit too short. Every now and then, when I got really close, I started to hit the rev limiter, so it was very difficult to get past people but, in the end, the car started to get better and better all the time and we were able to catch up in the later part of the race.

Q:
Well, it looked like a phenomenal move at the end there on Giancarlo, talk us through that.

KR:
Yeah, just before my last pit-stop, I was able to go fast and I pulled out a bit of a gap. I was not too far behind any more when I came out, so I thought maybe I would have a chance to catch him up and try to overtake. Just into the last lap, I was able to get him on the main straight, and then I started to hit the rev limiter again, but I just went as quickly as I could outside on the first corner and, luckily, I made it through, so it was very good.

Q:
Obviously, it was a disappointment not securing the drivers' championship, but how does this race rank in your mind in terms of enjoyment and achievement?

KR:
Of course, it was much more difficult than any other of my wins but, in one way, it is much nicer when you have to fight for it. So it is one of the best ones. It was great, you know, with all the problems in practice with the engine, then the ten-place penalty and all the problems in qualifying with the weather. We were still able to win and now we have a perfect place for qualifying in the last race.

Q:
Giancarlo, a great result for Renault, taking the lead of the constructors' championship again by two points. Talk us through the day - it looked like the win was there for you....

Giancarlo Fisichella:
Yeah, it was a tough race. I mean, not tough but I knew Kimi was quick and was catching up with me and, honestly, I was pushing 100 per cent, but he was much quicker than me and, in the end, in the last three laps, he was behind me and, in the main straight, he was much, much quicker than me, maybe because I was a bit slower at the exit of the chicane. Anyway, I did my best, second for me is good anyway, and we are higher again in the constructors' championship and it is good.

Q:
Ralf Schumacher took an early lead. Did you realise much earlier on that he was on a much lighter fuel load?

GF:
Yeah, the rumour was Toyota on three stops, so I was quite convinced to overtake him after the pit-stop and it was just important to overtake Jenson on the start. I did that, I overtook Jenson at the start and then I was pushing and doing my race.

Q:
Fernando, after Brazil, you promised to be more a bit more aggressive here in Japan, and that certainly proved to be the case - 16th to eighth when the safety car came out on lap one and then in traffic all day, brilliant to watch.

Fernando Alonso:
Yeah, it was okay. The first lap at the start was more similar to last year's start. Obviously, the championship is not on the mind any more and no need to take care about anything, so I really went for it and it was good. But then I was quicker than the people in front of me, I overtook them, Michael and these guys, and then I pitted and unfortunately they overtook me again in the extra laps, so I had to fight again with traffic to overtake them again, pit, and overtake them again after the second pit-stop. So I think the strategy this time did not work too well for us. We had an extremely competitive car, I felt quicker than Kimi today for the first time in the last part of the championship but, unfortunately, I was not able to beat him because before my first stop I was in front of him by a long way and, because of the stops and the traffic, I was third at the end. But it's okay, starting 16th, it is good for the constructors'.

Q:
A small hiccup with Christian Klien at the chicane there, and presumably you had to let him pass you again...

FA:
I didn't understand because I overtook him missing the chicane so I slowed down and he overtook me again. Then I overtook him again on the main straight after I had let him past and after three laps I had seven seconds to him and the team and the FIA told me to slow down to let him past again. So I nearly stopped in the race, waited seven seconds, let Klien go ahead, and I was a bit surprised about that but there was nothing to do.

Q:
And what about those great passes, first on Michael Schumacher going into 130R?

FA:
Yeah, it was very nice. In the whole championship, I did like two or three overtaking moves and, in this race, I think I did 14, and it was good. Especially that one, I was much quicker on the straight, he closed the door on the inside going into 130R, I was on the inside, flat-out, and it was really risky but, as I said before, there was nothing to lose today.

Q:
Kimi, what are your thoughts going into China. With the constructors' championship as close as it is, it is going to be a tense finale to the season....

KR:
Yeah, it is going to be a nice race for both teams I think. Last year, our car was pretty quick there and I quite like the circuit so, for sure, we will try to win the race and, hopefully, we can win the championship too for the team. We just need to do the best we can and we will see at the end of the race what happens.