McLaren v Ferrari & Alonso v Hamilton

What are your views on the spying allegations between Ferrari and McLaren, and on the 2007 season generally?

I don’t really care much about the spying because this sort of thing has always gone on in F1. The McLaren was a McLaren and the Ferrari was a Ferrari. For sure, to have some information could have been a help, but I don’t think the McLaren was a winning car because of this. They had a good car which they used to fight for the championship, but they messed up at the finish, especially in China.

McLaren lost the championship because they were trying to win races, and didn’t take care of the championship, especially with Hamilton.

Everyone tries to find out what other teams are doing. Of course it all started with the person who was leaving Ferrari. From what I could see, what happened was not correct, but I don’t think McLaren were winning because of it. For sure it was not good for Ferrari, because it is not nice for your information to be seen by another team.

I am interested in the result on the track. The McLaren was a good car, and they had two good drivers who could have won the championship, but they made some tactical mistakes. Raikkonen deserved the championship because he drove fantastically well, especially in the second half of the season.

Alonso started to complain and I don’t think that was good from him. I also didn’t like it when Hamilton went to the stewards in Hungary to complain. These things should be talked about within the team. F1 is dominated by rules, and the stewards get involved, but Hungary was a situation for the team to deal with. In the past discussions were kept between the drivers within the team, not shared with the world.

McLaren’s main mistake was in China. Hamilton was in a good position, the weather was uncertain, but instead of playing safe the team lost him the race. At that time no one thought Raikkonen could win the championship. If Hamilton made no mistakes he would win. But of course things can happen; drivers are only human. Raikkonen won. Hamilton lost.

Now we have a new year. People may think that Hamilton will win next year but nothing is certain. Anything can happen.

When did you feel you drove the best?

I suppose all drivers have good and bad seasons, inspired and so-and-so races, like everybody else. Some of your seasons seemed particularly inspired to us spectators and fans. 1978, 1981, 1989, 1991 spring to mind, in particular. Which were the moments in your career in which you looked around and thought: 'today, out there, I was the best of all'? Which is the season in which you felt you drove best (regardless of the competitiveness of the car)?

There were some races I think I was unbeatable. Mexico 1991 for example. Also, sometimes I was nowhere in the final classification, but even so I knew I was the best on the day.

There were moments in my career when I was in the same league as the best, in 1991 for example, I showed I could be World Champion. I could be in the same league as Senna and Schumacher at times and I am very happy about that because not everyone can say it.

Some races did go perfectly. In F3 for example, at the Monza Lottery race, I got pole and won a very important event. That kind of race doesn’t really make history, but generally in my career in F3, F2 and F1 I showed many times that I could be the best in the race and that always made me think I could be a winner. You need to know you can perform like this not just once, but many times. Sometimes the result doesn’t show it, like in Monza 1992, when I was in the lead with Senna 10sec behind. The race was in my pocket but then there was a problem with the active suspension and Senna won while I finished 5th!

Jochen Mass

What was Jochen Mass like as a team mate (I think I recall an interview many years ago that Mass's laid back lifestyle rubbed off a bit on you)?

Jochen was a fantastic team-mate. He was a competitive driver, but out of the car he was very calming and helpful, and there was always a fantastic atmosphere in the team and between us. You can see what he is like at Goodwood - always driving up and down the hill and talking about cars! He’s a very enthusiastic man.

Nazionale Piloti

Why have there never been any Nazionale Piloti matches in the UK? Are there likely to be any games here in the future, and have you thought about arranging a match during the Goodwood Festival of Speed?

If people in the UK would like us to play and raise money for charity then we are ready. We have played in many countries outside Italy – Hungary, Turkey, Greece Germany – so if someone has an idea and comes to us with it then that would be fantastic.

Italian Drivers in F1

In terms of wins you are the second most successful Italian GP driver behind Alberto Ascari, but why do you think that Italian drivers have not had more success in F1?

We have to go back to the 1980’s for winning Italian drivers – myself, Alboreto & de Angelis. I don’t think Fisichella or Trulli are in the same league as us. Of course they have won some races but in my view they are not at the same level.

I don’t know why Italians are not more successful. There were once many sponsors in Italy looking to support F1 and at one period there were many Italians in F1, but it is one thing to get into F1 and another to be in the right car at the right time.

Bernie at Brabham

Riccardo, I've seen it suggested that when you were running second in the 1987 San Marino GP you needed to pit for fresh tyres, but that Bernie Ecclestone stopped you from doing so. Is this true?

I was having a good race, but I had problems with the brakes, and I think I eventually ran out of fuel because the turbo pressure gauge was not reading correctly which affected the fuel consumption.

1978 Swedish GP

In Sweden 1978 GP, Lauda won and you was second. Then Brabham was disqualified, if I am not wrong because his car was considered to be dangerous. But why the Sweden GP victory was not assigned to you?

It’s obvious that immediately after the car was declared illegal and couldn’t race any more so I was the winner!! But the car was Bernie Ecclestone’s car and Niki Lauda won the race. Of course I was happy at the time because I finished second, but perhaps unofficially we can say I have 7 wins not 6!!

More GPM?

If there are no GPM races this year and the series is revamped for next year would you still be willing to race?

There have been problems with the finances of GP Masters and at the moment nothing is happening. I don’t have plans to do any other racing.

Le Mans

You already run in the traditional event of the sportscars, at Le Mans 24 Hours? And, if yes, tell more about this participations, etc.

I drove twice at Le Mans when I was a Lancia driver. It was important PR for them to have the F1 drivers at the race. Personally the 1000kms races were ok, but 24hrs was never really in my mind as something I liked to do.

I went back in 1997 with Nissan because by then I was no longer in F1 and I thought I might enjoy this kind of race but I didn’t. The 24hr races are not for me.

When I was racing in the 1000kms races you got into the car and had to attack and go quick, but racing in the 24hr race you had to take care of the car much more. Driving at Le Mans now it is more flat out, but still doing that for 24hrs is not easy.

Benetton contract

In his biography Eddie Jordan mentions that you had a bust up mid-season with Briatore and came to an agreement that if you were allowed to complete the 1993 season he would null and void the 2nd year of your contract with the team. It goes on to mention that you then had discussions with Ron Dennis to drive for McLaren in 1994. Eddie Jordan then says that in all this negotating you were offered $1m by Michael Schumacher's people to give them a copy of your contract for them to look at!! Is all of this a bit of Eddie's blarney or a true story?

I have no comment to make about my contract.

I did talk with Ron Dennis about going to McLaren for 1994, but those talks did not result in an agreement. During the weekend of the 1994 San Marino GP I spoke with Frank Williams to see if there was the possibility of testing with the team. Neither Damon or Ayrton had much experience of the passive car, and they were having some difficulties with their car at the time. I thought this might give me a chance to get back into F1 in 1995.

Then Ayrton had his accident. Two weeks later Frank Williams & I spoke and we talked about me racing. In that moment I said yes to the possibility, but then I thought about it a lot after that. Before Frank offered me a drive I told him I did not want to race anymore.

GP Masters Update

What is the current situation with GP Masters?

GP Masters is being reorganised and the programme is still going ahead. The idea is to race in winter in warm places like Qatar & South Africa this year and in the future. GP Masters feel it is better to race when there are no F1 races happening so that there can be better publicity for the series.

Speedcar

Have you heard about the new Speedcar series, and if so what do you think about it?

I have heard about Speedcar, that it is similar to NASCAR, but very different to a formula car. From my point of view, I race in GP Masters because I want to race a formula car, similar to the cars I raced in F1. If I were to consider Speedcar I would do it to enjoy racing and if I had the possibility to drive these cars I’m not sure if I would enjoy it.

Giro d'italia

From seeing film footage of the Giro d’Italia, it looks to have been a lot of fun; is this how you remember it? Would you like to see a return of the Giro? Do you have happy memories of the Montecarlo turbo?

In ’78 I drove a Ritmo, then the Lancia Montecarlo in ’79, when Gilles Villeneuve was my team-mate, & ’80, then the Alfa with Miki Biason in ’88.

It was good fun. We normally only did the circuit part of the event because the rally drivers did the rally stages, but in 1978 I did both the circuit and rally stages and that was even more fun. Jody Scheckter, my team-mate, had a rally driver (Maurizio Verini) to do those stages for him, and I beat Verini! The rally stages were all on asphalt, which was good for me because I had no experience on gravel, but still I was very happy to beat a works Fiat rally driver and I think everyone was quite surprised that I managed to do that.

I was driving the Lancia Montecarlo in sportscars, and Fiat wanted to promote the Ritmo model with have two Formula 1 drivers racing it. They asked Jody Scheckter because he had signed to race with Ferrari, and myself because I was with the Lancia programme.

I was able to do the Giro in 1988 again, partly because Williams were not connected to a manufacturer, and also I was racing for Alfa in touring cars.

Minardi 2-Seater

Did u drive the Minardi 2-seater in Kyalami?

Yes, I drove a few laps in the Minardi with my wife at Kyalami. I also drove the GPM 2-seater at Silverstone with my son.

2007 F1 Season

What are your thoughts on the new F1 season? With all the team & driver changes it looks like a very open year, so who do you think will come out on top, and how do you rate the chances of the rookies like Hamilton and Kovalainen?

Of course we have lost Michael, so the season looks more open because he was always the favourite for the championship from my point of view.

Alonso has shown he has a big talent during the last few years, but Hamilton has done a fantastic job which no-one could have expected. Ferrari are up and down, but are still competitive.

Everyone is saying Hamilton could win the title, or Massa or Raikkonen, but I think Alonso, with the experience he has and with the talent he has, is the man who has the best chance. Of course McLaren are performing very well. Hamilton looks very quick and consistent but Alonso has the experience of all the circuits - Hamilton will now be racing on circuits he has never seen before - and will manage the pressure of the championship over the whole season. These things could make the difference and I think Alonso will be champion.

I was curious to see how Massa and Raikkonen would compare. I really thought Raikkonen would be a little faster than he has shown so far, but he is still a competitive driver. Making mistakes like he did in Monaco doesn’t help the relationship with the team, and of course he is losing important points in the championship, but there is still a long way to go.

Auto or Manual?

What's your opinion about the paddle shift, the actually gearbox that the F1 and others motorsport champs using? You had some problem when you drove in the first time with this type of gearbox and, in your opinion, prefer the old and traditionally manual gear or this modern way to shifting gears?

I had no problems with the auto gearbox, and thought it was a fantastic thing to have.

From the point of view of the pleasure of driving I think traction control is rubbish because it takes feeling away from the driver - from the point of view of sliding, controlling the power, steering with the throttle. All the electronics make driving the car too easy.

Having the gearchange on the steering wheel is enjoyable, and a good thing for a driver, but without all the electronics!

It is more difficult to drive with a manual gearbox. I drove for many years with a manual and in comparison the auto gearbox takes less effort, and means you use less engine braking.

There is no way they will go back to manual gearboxes because they like the cars as they are, so any discussion about this will change nothing.

Tyrrell 6-wheeler

When you started your F1 career, in 1977, you raced with a strange car that, today, it's a mark in the F1 history and much fans respect this project, the Tyrrell P34. Ok, you never run or raced this car, but it competed with these cars in the mostly of the 1977 season, and i think, you enjoyed much! What's your opinion about this interesting project and of the car?

It was a strange car but a competitive car. Everyone was curious to see whether the idea would work or not, and as I didn’t drive it I can’t say how it was, but I think having the four wheels at the front helped with understeer.

IRL & NASCAR

What's your opinion about the IRL and the Nascar championship, the two biggest motorsport champs of the USA?

Both are American style racing, which is a very different culture and style of racing, but it is real and competitive. I respect this way of racing but I never had any desire or interest to go and race those cars. To race on the ovals you need to be a specialist, particularly at those speeds, so the drivers have my respect.

Keeping your hand in?

There is talk in the UK motorsport press this week of Nigel Mansell competing in the US Le Mans series in a Ferrari possibly with his sons. It seems you are one of the few drivers to have stuck with what seemed like the original concept of the series, how do you feel about that? Have you had any thoughts about 'keeping your hand in' by racing in any other series?

Derek Warwick has the same idea as me, because he his not racing anywhere else. De Cesaris is the same. We do GPM for the pleasure and if we’re not racing GPM then we don’t race.

I wanted to see if I was interested in racing. I had some questions about it, but apart from the car, which is very enjoyable to drive, I enjoy the atmosphere, but to do any other racing is not on my agenda.

Alessandro Nannini

I think many readers of this site are very pleased to see Sandro Nannini signed up for the series. We saw he was at Silverstone with you, did he need much persauding to sign up? Do you have any idea when he might have his first run in the car?

He wanted to sign because he likes the idea of GPM, but even before we were due to race he realised it would be too difficult to take part because of the problem with his arm, so he will not be doing the series.