9-June:
At the post Race press conference for the Canadian GP, Michael
Schumacher was happy with the win and said "You can obviously call it
a very good day in all respects, in every way you look at it, very
fortunate."
When asked if Ferrari had a new specification engine, he said "We always
develop the engine. It was nothing specifically different from my point of
view, from the last race, at least. But it was doing very well. The reason we
put this emphasis was because our straight line speed this weekend was
fantastically good and that is because of the engine and the aerodynamics and
that's why some emphasis has been put on that, and some compliments have been
made, but it hasn't been a different specification of engine compared to the
last race."
He indicated that the difference between Bridgestone and Michelin wasn't so
obvious as it was in Monaco and said "I would probably have to study the
data a little bit closer. From what I have seen, with different strategy I
don't know what was the gaps and whether they were within being equal or not.
We certainly had a very good tyre and we had nothing to complain about, but on
the other hand, from what we have seen in Monte Carlo, in the race we were
quite a bit stronger there, that wasn't so obvious."
As for his expectations for the next race at the Nurburgring, he said
"Our expectations are obviously very high with the package we have. I
would like to express a big compliment to our testing team because all the
year, they stay in the shadows and they work very hard and we never have the
opportunity to really thank in the proper way and I'm really happy we have
such guys behind us who work so well. I was having some vacation, using the
opportunity with them and they simply do a fantastic job with both our testing
drivers, Badoer and Burti and all the test engineers, so a big compliment to
them and we obviously look forward to having a good test next week and come
prepared to Nurburgring."
Michael once again re-iterated that despite his 43 point lead in the
championship, it is not over until the championship is won and said "I
know that winning this race and having the points makes me obviously quite a
step closer to it, but as you said before nine races to go, ninety points to
give away and only 43 points advance. So, admittedly it is very good, but it
is still not done."
David Coulthard admitted that while he was expecting
a points finish, he didn't expect to be on the podium and said
"Honestly, no, I didn't think in a straight fight we would be on the
podium but obviously lots of things can happen in racing. I was pretty
confident, even though I was eighth, that I was going to finish in the
points and obviously the start was again a major help in that so obviously
the boffins with all the numbers were doing a good job so thanks to
them."
Describing the overtaking move that Barrichello made on him in which they
both cut the chicane, he said "Sato didn't move over, held me up at
the hairpin and so I was slow coming out and that gave Rubens a run on me,
and I used the slipstream of Sato and then had to move out and you are
always uncomfortable to think there is going to be three cars abreast, but
obviously Rubens had enough space and we ran side by side into the corner,
tried to brake as late as I could, realised I was not going to make the
corner, came out thinking that Rubens had and went onto the radio to ask
'do I have to let Rubens through because I have gained an advantage by not
making the chicane. They told me he hadn't made the chicane either so
that's it."
Despite his second place finish, Coulthard still believes they are the
third team and said "I think our performance is about the third team
at the moment. We've obviously working to try and improve on that but
unless we have a major development, there's no reason for that to change
in terms of qualifying pace but obviously you can, in racing, work
strategies and have good fortune and reliability. So the race is always
going to throw up new opportunities, but we know where our qualifying is
at the moment."
Rubens Barrichello was disappointed with the decision
to bring the safety car, a move which spoiled his 2 stop strategy and said
"I think being at the right place on the track helped but I had a
good reaction time and everything worked fantastically. By the pace that
Montoya was driving in the first few corners, it looked like he was on a
two stop too but that didn't mean I wasn't going to push and obviously he
ran a little bit wide, almost touched the wall on the exit of the last
chicane, when he came to close the door, I was already beside him, I went
a little bit on the grass but it was a moment when I had to take the
opportunity because I knew I had a quick car. Unfortunately my race today
was done by the safety car because basically I think there was no reason
to bring it out. The car was parked there, we have the situation where you
can roll the car backwards so you have problems and so on, but the car was
parked. I don't think anybody would have run into that car. My race was
pretty much done by that. I was trying to ask the team if I should come
in. They didn't say anything so it was too risky for me just to come in
without saying much, but I had the gap to everyone would have made the
race a lot easier for me."
He admitted that a 2 stop strategy was risky but was comfortable with the
decision and said "You have to take a risk. I was quite comfortable
with a two stop because I wanted to push and see if I could try to win the
race, basically. It was risky because we know the safety car can come out
here, but it could work either way. If the car is in the wall, that's one
thing, but if the car is parked, I don't think there's a reason for
that We all have to be sensible. I really don't know what happened,
I have to see. But it really screwed the race.
As for his failed overtaking move on David Coulthard when they both cut
the chicane, Barrichello suggested changing that comer completely and said
"I just think it is a corner that should be modified because it is
the only place you can overtake on the circuit. If, for example, if I had
the in my mind the feeling that I just push and I go straight and see what
happens then I would have pushed him with me, I am sure, because he was
willing to do that with me, so when I saw the car going a little faster I
had to just let it go a little bit more and just see if I could be in a
position to block him. Obviously at that point you can see on the data
that I was completely on the brakes and I let it go and braked again, so
obviously I didn't make the thing, so it is within the rules to say that
both crossed the thing. But if the chicane is used like that then everyone
is going to cross it. It is very dirty, people touch the grass, they are
always so close and there is no point in it. They should change the corner
completely."
9-June: What the teams and
drivers said following the Race in Canada ... Report
9-June: Canadian GP
– Race: Michael Schumacher wins the race ahead of David
Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello. Kimi Raikkonen, Giancarlo Fisichella and
Jarno Trulli makes the top 6
... Timed Results ... Report
... Notes
9-June: Canadian GP
– Warm-up Session: Michael Schumacher sets the fastest time of
the session ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher. David
Coulthard, Enrique Bernoldi and Jarno Trulli make the top 6
... Timed Results ... Report
... Notes
