Japan GP: post-race reaction
by setantasports.com staff, 12 October 2008
Reaction from all of the grid's drivers following Sunday's action-packed Japanese Grand Prix at The Fuji Speedway, where Fernando Alonso emerged victorious.
1. F Alonso, Renault
Alonso delighted by second win
2. R Kubica, BMW Sauber
We'll fight on, vows Kubica
3. Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari
Kimi: Car was damaged
4. N Piquet, Renault
"I am very happy with this great result for the team. I had a bit of luck at the start, but after that the car handled really well, I was on the pace, and I just had to remain concentrated and keep pushing. The team is having a really strong end to the season and I hope that is going to continue."
5. J Trulli, Toyota
"We have to be happy with that today but honestly I wanted to give a bit more both to the team and to all the Japanese fans who cheered us on. I was really hoping that we could make the podium but this 5th place was all that we could have done this afternoon. I gave everything from start to finish but we could not do any better today.
"We've been competitive all weekend and the car was good again in the race but the lower temperatures didn't help us. That meant that the car was slightly unbalanced. I tried to keep Piquet's Renault behind me but they were very quick today. Still, I'm glad to come away with some points to give the home support something to cheer."
6. S Bourdais, STR-Ferrari [later demoted to 10th]
Bourdais fuming after penalty
7. S Vettel, STR-Ferrari [later promoted to 6th]
“At the first corner, I was forced to run wide as there was an incident on the inside, losing a lot of places. After that it was difficult to fight my way back.
"Nevertheless, getting both cars in the points is a strong showing from us, even if we could have been looking for a few more points today.
"Two more races to go: I hope to add to our total in both of them.”
8. F Massa, Ferrari [later promoted to 7th]
Massa: Hamilton battle was fair
9. M Webber, Red Bull [later promoted to 8th]
“After a poor start, which put me at the back, I had a good first stint passing [Nick] Heidfeld twice amongst others. The second stint was difficult pace wise, as I was having a tricky time on the options. I had some front graining and it was hard to maintain a good pace at the end of the race.
"Felipe [Massa] had fresh tyres towards the finish and also a faster car, so I knew it would be difficult to keep him behind me as his traction was so much better. I pushed him to the limit when he made his overtaking move, but that’s what it’s about, trying to get another point for the team. It was too difficult against his car though and he passed me.”
10. N Heidfeld, BMW Sauber [later promoted to 9th]
"Compared to the Williams cars in front of me, my start was okay, but the Hondas behind got off the grid even better. There was an awful lot of traffic in the first corner and I was lucky to get through all the hassle.
"For me the nicest moment of the race was certainly when I managed to overtake two cars at the same time on lap four.
"I was on a one stop strategy and, as well as that, the second last one-stopper to pit. It was not easy to handle the heavy car. Now I'm looking forward to next weekend's race in Shanghai where we should do better in qualifying."
11. N Rosberg, Williams
"Our start was poor due to a technical problem so I just fell to the back of the pack. I was also quite heavy with fuel.
"I’m satisfied with my performance and it was actually good fun out there today. I was able to overtake in the first part of the race and to drive one qualifying lap after another the whole way through.
"I gave it 100 percent and was as quick as [Nick] Heidfeld, who was on the same strategy. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to score any points, though.
"I’m flying to Shanghai tomorrow and looking forward to collecting some points there."
12. L Hamilton, McLaren
Hamilton: It was damage limitation
13. R Barrichello, Honda
"I had a great start to the race today, passing three or four cars on the way down to the first corner and was able to hold the position well. "Unfortunately I was then hit from behind by Fisichella which damaged the rear end of the car and affected the balance for the remainder of the race. From then on, we were really limited by the poor performance and pace of the car this weekend. We did all that we could but were not able to make any headway up the field."
14. J Button, Honda
"The race began really well for me and I was running inside the top ten at the first corner after making a great start. Unfortunately going with the option for my first stint didn't work well and I really suffered from this in the early laps.
"I was passed by a few cars around the first lap and from then on had graining on the front and rear tyres which meant I was slow through the corners and we couldn't compete on straightline speed, particularly with a heavy fuel load. Once we put the prime tyre on for the second stint, the balance was much better, but by then it was impossible to catch up and make progress."
15. K Nakajima, Williams
"That was a shame. It was very disappointing to have an accident in the first corner, but I couldn’t do anything about it.
"After the incident, I just tried to do my best for the rest of the race. I don’t think our race pace was that great, though, so I couldn’t make any progress. We need to go away and work on our performance to see where we can improve for the next time."
Ret G Fisichella, Force India
"The start off the grid was fantastic for me and I could overtake a lot of people. In the first corner there were a lot of cars across and off the track and a lot of mess, so they slowed down a lot and I touched Barrichello at the back of his car and I damaged my front nose slightly.
"I decided to stay out and it was looking good. We were considering a one stop strategy which was much more comfortable and I was doing a good race, but then unfortunately at the end I had a problem with the gearbox and seventh gear. At least we are fighting again."
Ret H Kovalainen, McLaren
"Today started with so much promise and ended so disappointingly. I made a good start and, although I ran wide at the first corner, I still managed to slot in behind Robert and Fernando.
"I was feeling pretty confident about catching them both because the car was feeling just fantastic and then, all of a sudden, the engine stopped. That was a real pity because our reliability has been fantastic all season.
"Nevertheless, my pace today was good and I head to China feeling positive that we can once again show the same sort of pace we had this weekend."
Ret A Sutil, Force India
"I had a puncture on my right rear tyre and then suddenly on the straight the tyre blew and I had to stop the car. It was a shame as we were running 10th and it was feeling really good.
"We had a fantastic start - from 19th to 11th at the end of the first corner as I stayed to the inside and clear of all the problems, and I was in 10th position within a couple of laps. It was going very well and we had a good strategy, it was just so unlucky again."
Ret T Glock, Toyota
"That was a short afternoon's work for me. I made a good start but I lost ground when everyone went wide at the first corner and I was pushed off the track. Then following David Coulthard's accident it felt like I drove over some of the debris. After that the car felt strange and in the end I lost the car on the kerb at the exit of turn six. I went over the grass and the car launched through the air. When I landed it felt like something broke on the rear, causing us to retire.
"It's a particular pity because we had a lot of fuel, we looked strong all weekend and we were confident of picking up a good result in front of our home fans."
Ret D Coulthard, Red Bull
“It’s disappointing to go out. I was trying to go down the inside of Bourdais’ car into Turn one and naturally he came back across a little bit towards the apex. Piquet was in front of us both and I found myself between the two of them. There was a little bit of bumping and grinding as we went through the apex of Turn one and then, as I accelerated out of Turn two, whatever damage was done in the apex of Turn one let go and the car had a tank slapper [turned one way and then started to turn the other] and I went it to the barrier.
"I guess it was suspension damage rather than a tyre as normally you’d feel it if a tyre was going down. We’ll need a new chassis for the next race.”