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

Drivers: Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Jenson Button (Honda)

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Q:
Felipe, you're the first Brazilian to win your home grand prix since Ayrton Senna....

Felipe Massa:
Yes, it's just amazing, isn't it? I think it's not for 13 years that a Brazilian driver has won the Brazilian Grand Prix and, for me, it's just amazing: to be here, in front of my people, my first year that I have a good car - I mean a fantastic car, because after the race today, I think it was maybe the easiest race of my life, because I could control everything. I wasn't pushing a lot and you know, I'm really happy to have that moment, and I'm sure... it's just difficult to explain, it's just very very special for me.

Q:
Talk about your emotions on the podium, and the slow-down lap and what it means to be a Brazilian to win in this Formula One-crazy country.

FM:
Well, it's just a dream come true. You see all the people bringing the flags, screaming your name and they are really jumping and dancing, whatever, just for you, so I think it's difficult to explain. I'm sure every driver would love to be in my position. Fernando won his home grand prix this year and I'm sure it was very very special for him. So it's just the best day of my life.

Q:
Fernando, you had to score points here to clinch the championship; you did that well and truly, finishing second and you've won back-to-back world championships.

Fernando Alonso:
Yes, it's been a fantastic weekend, and especially the race - a very long race, obviously, for us because we only needed one point to become champion and, for sure, if I could help the team become constructors' champion as well, I was ready to do it, and you know everything was as planned. Ferrari were too quick, but we managed to overtake Kimi in the first pit-stop and then a lot of pressure from Jenson, but we managed to finish second. But as you say, it didn't matter the position, the important thing today was to become champion again for the second consecutive time and we did it. Nothing more to say, it's an unbelievable feeling.

Q:
Can I invite you to say a few words about Michael Schumacher in his last grand prix today, finished fourth only five seconds behind you at the end after a puncture he incurred in passing your team-mate; very close rivalry between you two all season.

FA:
Yeah, it has been very close. I think it was good to fight with him. I always said that to become champion when Michael was still on the track has maybe more value than when he retired and I was extremely lucky to win the last two championships he raced in. I think all the drivers wish him the best for his new life with his family. It has been a pleasure for us to race with him.

Q:
Finally, Fernando, how did you pace your race once you knew Michael was in trouble; you obviously defended against Rubens but, at one point, Jarno Trulli got inside you?

FA:
Yes. When Michael had the problem with the tyre on lap three or four after the safety car, we already turned down the revs because the championship was immediately in a good move, so I think we controlled the race, basically, from the beginning, not pushing any more than what we should do.

Q:
Jenson, congratulations, a great drive from 14th on the grid after an electronic problem yesterday, to your third podium of the year.

Jenson Button:
For these two, it's a very very special day, Felipe winning the grand prix in his home country and then Fernando clinching the world championship, so I've got to say a massive well done to both of them. But, even for me, coming from 14th to third after yesterday's problems, is a great result and a perfect way to end the year, so it's been a fantastic day, probably one of the most enjoyable races I've had, fighting my way through the field. It wasn't just done on pit-stops or from people stopping.

Q:
I guess we have to ask the question where you might have finished had you not had that problem yesterday?

JB:
Yeah, we couldn't have challenged Felipe, they were very very fast, but second was definitely possible. You could see by the pace. Obviously, Fernando was controlling the pace and I couldn't do anything about that. They were very quick in a straight line but I've got to say a big well done to all the boys. After yesterday's problem, they've kept strong and we've come away with another podium. It's a good result considering how bad it looked before.

Q:
Felipe, the championships have gone to Fernando, Renault and Michelin on a day that Ferrari and Bridgestone were resoundingly fast again, and you won that race. Your thoughts about the team this year, about Michael and about that irony about Ferrari winning on a Renault-Michelin day.

FM:
For sure, they deserve it. They had a fantastic beginning to the championship and that was definitely the key to control the end of the championship. But, in the same way, I think we deserve it as well. We did a fantastic job, not at the beginning of the championship, but after we put everything together. We just made a very very strong car, a very very strong team and we deserved it as well, so everything is written, how it has to be. Well done to Renault, Michelin as well, and Fernando well done. But that's the way it is. I think our team did a fantastic job and well done to everybody inside the team because we really worked hard and we deserved it as well.

Q:
And driving this season alongside Michael Schumacher...

FM:
It's just fantastic for me. Michael is really a friend, a very special guy for me. He was always positive about me, he always wanted to have me in the team and, for me, for sure, I will miss him, even if it was also an opportunity for me to stay in the team, because he retired, but I will miss him because he's just a fantastic person and he's very special for me.

Press conference:

Q:
Felipe, there can't be anywhere better to win, can there?

FM:
No! Definitely not. I think it's just a dream come true. I always dreamt to have this day in my life and I got it, it's really amazing to be here, winning my home grand prix, starting from pole position with an incredible car in my hands, which I have to say was the most easiest race in my life because I had such an incredible car, in which I could control the pace from the beginning to the end. Even when Michael had a problem and he was in front of me, I could wait and help him to make his pace and just follow him without passing him, not make him lose a lap so it was quite easy. I never expected to be here in this place today, it's just a dream come true.

Q:
Was the car absolutely perfect, were you absolutely perfect as well?

FM:
Well, I was very strong, for sure, from yesterday morning in practice. We managed to set up the car in the best way we could because on Friday the car was not very good and then I was not very happy with the balance and we changed everything and it was just working perfectly yesterday and today so the car was just fantastic.

Q:
The only problem was it was a bit lonely for you, no one to battle with.

FM:
No, that sometimes makes it quite difficult, which makes the race more difficult because you need to concentrate and, sometimes, I was even looking into the grandstand and I was even talking to myself, asking 'what are you doing, look at the track', and if you concentrate and look at the track, you can look at the grandstand afterwards. It's very nice. Always when you have a good car, it makes everything easier to work with.

Q:
Fernando, exactly what you wanted, world champion again, that must sound great.

FA:
Yes, it has been a fantastic weekend and now I probably need some time to believe that I'm champion again. I'm 25 years old, two championships now, and two constructors' as well. Last race for Renault after five years' relationship, fantastic way to finish the relationship with this success. I will have these memories with them all my life and to finish the last race like this is something that you never dream of, you never even try to dream of, because it's always more than what you expected.

Q:
What were your feelings when you heard that Michael was in trouble, that he had a puncture?

FA:
Well, first of all, they told me to drop the revs, on lap three or four, which was a little bit of a surprise, so two or three laps later, they told me that Michael was position 19, because he had to stop and then I understood why we dropped the revs already on lap four. But then, no feelings. It doesn't matter for me what result Michael did today. I was only concentrating on being in the top eight. It may seem easy, but anything can happen and I didn't want to lose concentration. Also the safety car [period] was quite dangerous, a lot of debris on the track, so I tried to avoid any pieces of the car and maybe have a puncture. There are always many risks in a race and you always have to avoid them.

Q:
And you were battling most of the time - who was the biggest threat?

FA:
Jenson, Jenson for sure. I think, at the beginning with Kimi, I didn't want to push too much because I knew that I had the opportunity in the pit-stop. If not, third position was okay for me as well but then, with Jenson, it was quite close. I didn't want to push the revs up. I was waiting - if Jenson was coming too close to me, I would let him past but, on the straight, my car was quicker and Jenson didn't push me too much.

Q:
Jenson, good to see you up here as well - what made the difference today, do you feel?

JB:
First of all, I would like to say well done to Felipe for winning his home grand prix - it must be an amazing feeling - and also to Fernando for winning the world championship a second year running. They both thoroughly deserve their results today.

Yeah, it was a good day. After yesterday's problems, it's nice to be on the podium, starting 14th and coming through the field. It was such an exciting race for me, especially the first 20 or 30 laps, fighting my way through, but I just couldn't get anywhere near Fernando on the straight. I would get close on the exit, the car was very good on traction but I just couldn't get close enough on the straight, he would slightly pull away, which is disappointing, but it's still nice to get third after such an enjoyable race. This is great for our team, going into the winter. We are one of the only teams who don't have drivers moving elsewhere and new drivers coming in. We can just concentrate on next season and this is a great way to finish 2006.

Q:
What was the first lap like?

JB:
Mayhem, yeah, mayhem. It was great. It was a lot of fun. It is always like that in the middle of the pack but especially being the last race. You're giving it your all and you see what happens and I came out on top and yeah, a fantastic day.