Question: Nico, your first pole. What a time, what a place to do it and you were in a class of your own on slicks at the end and almost a second faster than the two Red Bulls. You must be in dreamland.
Nico Hulkenberg: Yeah, I mean it is amazing. I still cannot believe that I have done it. A big, big thank you to the team putting a good car together for qualifying. To go on slicks was obviously the right decision and my engineer told me I had one last lap but I was good in the rankings already. I was just squeezing everything I could out of my car, trying to do a very smooth lap, not to get on any wet parts and make a mistake. What a nice surprise for us on Saturday to be on pole. Very, very happy obviously and I am just enjoying the moment.
Question: Nico, there has been a lot of talk lately that you might be under pressure for your drive in 2011. Tell us what this pole means for you.
Nico Hulkenberg: Well, obviously first pole position is emotional and hopefully an historic moment as I want to be in Formula One for many, many years. At the minute I miss the words of what I want to say as I am still shaking from the lap and all the thrill. I have to realise what we have just done and get on with the job tomorrow.
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Question: Nico, how did you do that? It is all a mystery!
Nico Hulkenberg: I came here into Formula One for a reason. I don’t know. When my engineer said ‘you have got one more lap mate, squeeze everything out’ I must say I did a pretty good lap without any mistakes. Very smooth, trying not to get on any wet parts as it was still pretty tricky out there, especially sector three, the last corner. It was very easy to make a mistake but that lap was spot on and enough for pole position.
Question: You were consistently quick all the time.
Nico Hulkenberg: Yeah, also a big thank you for the team. They have prepared a very good car for qualifying which gave us the opportunity first to get into Q3 but then also to have a good result. Even Rubens (Barrichello) is on P6, so it was a very good team effort and yeah, what can I say, it is amazing. I miss the words a bit what to say but obviously very happy and just want to enjoy everything.
Question: Up until now you have had a best of eighth on the grid. This is your eighth time in the top 10 as well and your first time here at Interlagos, first time you have seen the circuit. Are you now in love with it?
Nico Hulkenberg: I like the circuit. I must say it is not one of my very, very favourite ones. There are better ones but I still enjoy driving a lot here. It is a left hand circuit. It is a very competitive circuit and in some corners it is tricky and you need to understand it but since the second half of the season, since I am more familiar with Formula One, with the team, with myself and the car, everything comes a lot easier to me. I can push the car more, learn the circuits quicker. It is just a whole learning process I guess.
Question: You have got this whole World Championship battle perhaps taking place behind you. How is that going to affect you? How do you not be affected by that?
Nico Hulkenberg: The best thing is to do a good start and drive off from them but I think if it is dry it is not going to happen. I just try to do my race and do a good start. I know these guys are fighting for the championships, so I don’t want to cause any trouble but I also have to look for my own performance. We are also battling with Force India for P6 in the Constructors’, so I am sure I can manage it and I hope I can bring some good points back home tomorrow.
Question: Nico, your first pole, does this mean that your chances of being confirmed by your team for next season have increased now?
Nico Hulkenberg: Yeah, Mark’s just saying that that means a pay rise actually. No, just joking. I think the situation at Williams is still very open. Nothing is confirmed, obviously, but I just try to keep focused on doing a good job each weekend. So far, I think it’s working pretty well. If I do that, and I don’t make any silly mistakes, it’s all I can do and then it’s up to the team to decide if they want to keep me or not. I’m in a positive mood that we will have a successful ending to that story.
Question: Do you prefer a race with conditions like that, a little bit wet or do you prefer a dry race?
Nico Hulkenberg: I don’t mind really. I’d like to have a proper wet… full wet conditions. That’s what I like and what would be good for us. But either way, whatever it is, we go out there and race.
Question: Nico, the Williams hasn’t been the best car off the starting grid so far this year. How confident are you that you will be able to get to the first corner in the lead and do you expect to have to be a little bit defensive when you get there if these guys have got a run on you?
Nico Hulkenberg: To be honest, this week’s starts have been very positive, all the ones we’ve done. For different reasons we’ve chosen some different gear ratios which allow us to have a better start, maybe give away a bit of performance during the lap but I think I can have a very good start tomorrow and still be P1 in the first corner and then see from there.
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