“Today, we saw the McLarens go very well, but we must wait until tomorrow to see if in fact they were running with a light fuel load. They are always on the pace at this track, especially in qualifying,” said the Brazilian. “For sure, those on Michelin tyres are going well in the hot conditions and we also know that the French tyres usually produce a top qualifying performance, but we aren’t bad either. I am happy with our tyres and so I am confident about tomorrow, but I am staying realistic about our chances. Also, I reckon that tomorrow it will be Williams rather than McLaren fighting us for pole position.”

“Overtaking is very difficult on this track, so a good qualifying performance is very important. It is also the case that if you have a well balanced car, even if you can’t overtake on the track, you can get ahead with the pit stop if it is well timed,” continued Rubens Barrichello. “The track is good with few bumps and that makes the car smooth to drive. It is also very safe, with the tarmac run off areas. But when it gets really hot it can be hard to find the right set up.”