On Ferrari:
Q: Have the world champions kept up last season’s momentum?
Niki Lauda: That’s very easy, as last year does not count. This year they have certainly kept the momentum, as they are the most competitive team at the moment.
Q: After a difficult start in Melbourne, Raikkonen has now started to show performances worthy of a champion. Is he leading the pack?
Niki Lauda: For the moment Kimi is definitely the leader of the pack, but we have to see how the next few races go.
On McLaren:
Q: Has the spy saga affected McLaren?
Niki Lauda: No, I don’t think so, because they started very well this year, and at the moment they have to get the momentum back, because BMW Sauber has caught right up.
Q: In the Lewis Hamilton versus Heikki Kovalainen battle, who do you believe will come out on top?
Niki Lauda: Hamilton has had a difficult start to this season, as he has made some mistakes, nevertheless he will come back stronger. Kovalainen surprised in the first races so I hope he is able to put his high-speed accident (in Barcelona) quickly behind him.
On BMW Sauber:
Q: Are BMW Sauber still the third power on the grid or have they already got the better of McLaren?
Niki Lauda: At the moment BMW is fighting with McLaren for the second position behind Ferrari, and Barcelona was a key race in determining who will keep the edge.
Q: Who will come out on top between Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica?
Niki Lauda: Both are having a very even run, so for the moment I cannot tell, as both are very competitive.
On Renault:
Q: The French squad have had a disappointing start to the season? Where did they go wrong?
Niki Lauda: Renault is just not quick enough at the moment, and for them it is a very long way to get back to the top.
Q: Can an exceptional driver like Fernando Alonso put things back on track?
Niki Lauda: Alonso’s return to Renault certainly made for a big change from the drivers’ point of view. But in the end it’s very simple - the car needs to get quicker, so Alonso can do a better job.
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