By Jamie Makin (10/10/03)
October 11 2003

Peter Sauber was among the five team bosses interviewed in the Friday press conference at Suzuka. This interview follows up on his teams successful race at Indianapolis two weeks before. Q: First of all, a question to all of you. We've seen the race weekend schedule for next year and I think it's fair to say that the press room is not impressed: there's nothing for the small teams, no cost cutting, nothing competitive on Fridays. And yet we've had a fantastic championship this year and there's a certain feeling of 'if it ain't broke, why fix it?' Your comments please, what do you feel about the changes being proposed, and why have they been proposed?
PS: Of course, we prefer the Heathrow agreement. We like to change to this testing agreement, but on the other hand, it's very difficult to bring all the ideas together, the ideas about the race weekend were so different and also the interests of the teams and that's normal.

Q: So having had a very good championship this year, wouldn't it have been better just to leave it as it was?
PS: Maybe we can change something because the first idea was to improve the whole weekend, especially for the spectators, on the track and the spectators at home. But now it's similar.

Q: Another one for you all. It's been a very close championship this year. Is that because of the regulation changes or has it been because of normal development?
PS: Maybe the new rules about points for the championship have made some difference, especially for Michael. The qualifying? I don't know, maybe it's more interesting, also for the teams, the strategy is important, maybe not today but at the beginning of the season.

Q: Peter, what was the feeling within the team after your good result in Indianapolis?
PS: We were very, very lucky, I think, with the weather. We improved with the tyres, of course, the Bridgestone tyres are much better in these conditions and for the team it was a big, big step forwards and we were very, very lucky.

Q: Since then, you've announced that the two drivers will not be staying this year. Earlier this year, you said there was nothing wrong with the drivers. Why get rid of them?
PS: No, we are very happy with both our drivers but I have been fighting for three years to get Giancarlo Fisichella to drive for us and now it's OK. And Felipe Massa: We drove one year with Felipe Massa. He was fast, he was a little bit young, not a lot of experience, especially on the technical side, and now he could improve very well with Ferrari, do a lot of mileage, learn a lot on the technical side and now we will drive again with him.

Q: And can I ask you and Ove where the situation currently stands between the car manufacturers and the banks and a settlement? Is it close or is it far away?
PS: You know exactly. My English is not good enough to speak about political things.

Q: Question for Peter Sauber. Has Felipe actually signed a contract with you yet for next year. It hasn't been announced yet officially.
PS: Yeah, not yet.

Q: But he's definitely driving for you?
PS: Yes.

Q: Yesterday, Heinz-Harald referred to your 'new manufacturer' in the press conference. Can you clarify that?
PS: I heard that, yes. But which new manufacturer? Volkswagen for example? No. I don't know why he said that.

Q: After so much serious discussion, can each of you forecast the results for the championship? It is not a debate, it is just a nice game that looks good in the papers!
PS: I think Michael will win the championship for drivers and the other one is open.

Q: You wouldn't be sitting on the fence would you?
(Laughter)

Q: If I could actually ask all five of you, because you were in the meeting when the decisions were taken, I think. How does this improve Formula One?
PS: For us it will be the same as this season because we have about 34 or 36 test days so it will make no difference for us whether we can test 48 days.