Question: Last week you tested the car with and without KERS. What was the difference?
Robert Kubica: Well, I think it is a bit too early to say exactly what the difference is because KERS is at quite an early stage, although we have already put in a lot of work. It is still almost impossible to explain the difference in how the car feels with or without KERS. From my personal point of view - as I am a tall and heavy driver - it is not really positive, as the weight of KERS is influencing quite a lot, especially when it comes to weight distribution, so it is limiting me quite a lot. It is nice when you press it as you feel an additional boost. Yes, it works, but we have to see in the later stages when we are closer to the first race which configuration is the quicker one - I think this is the most important issue.
Question: Last week a dramatic cost saving programme was agreed. As a driver what’s your perspective on that? Aside from the fact that those huge driver salaries are a thing of the past…
Robert Kubica: Everything has happened very quickly lately so we have to get used to the new situation. We saw a dramatic reduction of tests - in fact no testing between the races - so this is a quite difficult situation for all the people working on the test teams and of course it will also have an influence for the drivers. We have to wait and see how it develops. And regarding the drivers’ salaries, maybe we will not see those huge salaries again.
Question: Does the new in-season testing ban mean that if you get it wrong over the winter, there will be little chance to change things?
Robert Kubica: Yes, that might be the case, so it is very important for us to start in the right way. With all these new regulations that have to be implemented next season it was paramount to start early. My guess is that the work of engineers and designers will become more important in the workshop. Until now, we always had the opportunity to test it before using it and now the importance of simulation work and the wind tunnel will increase, to make sure that what you put on the car is giving you the results you want. Of course, the driver input can be important and have some influence, but in the end I don’t design the car - we have experts for that in the factory. My guess is that we will see bigger gaps between the teams and the team that is in the front at the beginning will stay at the front for longer. For the teams who didn’t get it right, who didn’t start on the right foot, it will take longer to catch up - and that will have a big influence on how the championship develops.
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