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Rather than post everybody's quotes about Ralf pulling out of the Shanghai GP because his car wasn't seen to quick enough (see the news page for those) I'm posting his contribution to the Press Conference. Tell us about when you arrived, what have you seen, what have done, what do you think of the city, the country and the people? Certainly, since I am used to holidaying over the last three months, the first day I organised a city guide and made the tour through the city which was quite interesting. I had some lessons in making tea and saw the Bund area and saw some very interesting stuff. It is a very nice city, actually. There's a lot of building going on. It is surprisingly clean for a huge city like that in various areas. Good food, nice people, the traffic is a mess, it is a bit dangerous to cross the street but apart from that it has been brilliant. Ralf, your comments on the track? I heard there were a few complaints about Tilke (the architect) building similar tracks and I must say it is a totally different thing here. It's enjoyable, very enjoyable so I think they did a great job again, it is a very technically demanding place for a driver, it's very safe, very good facilities, so it's really great to be here, yeah. Ralf, for the first time since you were a boy, you have had a long break from racing. You had time to think, about everything, about your life, racing, driving. Did this break change you as a person and as a driver? And maybe now you have a different perspective on life and on racing. First of all, after being back in the car after three months I realised how much I missed it and how enjoyable it really is to be allowed to be a driver of a Formula One car. It is really nice to be back working with the people although it's only for three more races. It was my wish to be back and doing something. I have never really for one second thought about not racing again. That was never my problem, for two reasons. First of all, I love what I do and secondly, I can't remember a thing about Indianapolis. So for me that race stopped before the start, it never started really for me. So even if I see pictures it's basically as you would look at them, I just see them as a spectator so that's never been a problem for me. Ralf, you watched the races from a different perspective, on the TV instead of from the car. What are Grand Prix races like on TV? It is actually very interesting to watch a Grand Prix, to have the time to really just look at it: what kind of strategy people have and obviously getting the information from the track, what's happening to the car and to the team. Certainly, it's not so easy. For the first three or four weeks really, I didn't mind so much because I could barely move but then after that it got back to the state where you think you could drive even if you're not allowed to, it starts to be a bit annoying and boring to watch races because you think that you could try and get back in the car and help the situation a bit. I must say Antonio and Marc, both of them, did a very good job anyway. Ralf, how much better is the car now than the one you drove back in June. The car is a bit easier to drive. At the beginning of the year we had a few problems. It is obviously not up to the speed it should be although it's looking relatively good here so there's still a lot going on, but it has become easier to drive, especially in high speed areas which is good for me. It's simply enjoyable to be back and it's easier to set up. It was far more difficult to get it to a decent racing car before than it is now. How did you judge your performance today? Well, it is a bit early. It is really only Friday. I felt really familiar with the car at Silverstone already. I've been driving a Formula One car for eight years, so even if you're out for three months, it's like riding a bicycle. The circuit is a bit difficult technically. I think I get along with it quite well which is important. I think we've found a decent balance, so yes, I'm pretty happy with what happened today. What is your opinion about the fact that the main teams can be forced next year to have three cars on the grid because Jaguar is quitting and other cars are not in a good situation? What can I say other than I hope not, because otherwise we have three Ferraris on the podium each time (Laughter) Jarno has signed for Toyota and will be your teammate next year. What is your opinion about him? It's very good, it's good for us that he could start that early. It was the best solution for us, as Toyota, that Jarno could already test last week at Silverstone. I think, as we saw, he's a very strong teammate and so I'm really happy to have him with me. It will be a lot easier, with a teammate like that, to bring the project forward. We saw some drivers off track today. What do you think of the difficulty of the circuit and the safety of the drivers? The circuit is certainly nothing. The only thing is in the pits it is pretty dirty and slippery so that is something for the mechanics to look after, otherwise we might find some of the mechanics in a different pit stop area. I think that's really desperately necessary. Does Michael share the same opinion about less testing? Michael: Yep. Ralf: No. Definitely not. It's not good, less testing. Ralf after Shanghai: "It’s a true pity that my race had an early end. My car had a puncture following contact with Coulthard. He tried to overtake me but I think his move was a bit too optimistic. Anyway, I came into the pits to fix the car which we thought had been damaged but after a careful look, the engineers decided that I could continue the race. However, too much time had elapsed by then and it was too late to get out on track again, because I would have been two laps down. It’s a shame, because my race had been good until then and I had been fighting in the top five positions. It’s true I had lost a place at the start, but all in all I was in a position to collect some useful points" Ralf after qualifying for the Shanghai race: "I am positively surprised with my result because I didn't expect I would make it into fifth position. I found it quite difficult to set up the car this weekend and I am still having some difficulties in the first sector. I have ended up in a slightly better place than we were expecting to be, so I am quite happy. It's good to be back on track after such a long break and especially to be in reasonable physical shape too. I feel very well and I think we are going to have a good race tomorrow" Ralf never thought about quitting Formula One. He had forgotten 'how much fun' driving a 900hp car really was until he did it at Silverstone. "I have raced for eight years in Formula One, and I was taking it for granted". He said not 'for one second' did he contemplate giving it up. "I enjoy racing too much for that. Motor racing is simply dangerous, but there are many things that are also dangerous" Ralf said he was not afraid (to race again): "There will be no fear. I can't remember a thing about the crash. When I see pictures of it, maybe I was lucky to still be around but I won't do anything different. Racing is what I love to do" Ralf had his first look at the state-of-the-art Shanghai circuit when he went round it on a scooter, fuelling his hunger to get back behind the wheel. "It would have been easy to stay at home but I wanted to come back. Certainly, there are little things and details I have to get into again but it's a tremendous circuit and I'm ready" Ralf on leaving Williams: "Somehow it's a bit difficult. I was here for six years -- longer than any other driver in the past and to walk away is not easy. But after Brazil I leave the team, so I would like to finish in a good way with good results in the last three races and go in peace" Ralf on his partnership with Jarno Trulli at Toyota next year: "I am a bit surprised Renault let him go. So far he has been better than (Fernando) Alonso this year. Jarno is a very uncomplicated, nice person and I'm more than happy to be with him" A slightly different translation: "He was better than Alonso this year so I was surprised when they let him go. He's an uncomplicated person, and very nice, so I'm very happy that he is my team-mate" Ralf after testing: "I'm very happy with the progress we made over the past three days. I must say the car is much better now than when I last drove it, it is much easier to drive, especially with regards to downforce. I'm now really looking forward to the next three races (China, Japan & Brazil) and giving the team my very best... It's good to be back in the car again, especially after such a good three day test. As I expected, I didn't experience any pain in my back at all and I felt ok physically, thanks to the training I'd done over the past couple of months" Ralf before Shanghai: "No one knows the Shanghai circuit which makes this race very exciting. It's always fun going to a completely new track because everyone is equal in their lack of knowledge. I've seen the drawings of the circuit and I visited about a year ago but the track wasn't totally finished so there wasn't much to see apart from the buildings and grandstands which were under construction. I can't wait to get there and have a good race" Ralf said he was looking forward to driving with Trulli next year. "He's experienced enough for both of us to bring the team forward. And he's a good teammate" Ralf was delighted to be testing again at Silverstone this week: At nine o'clock I was sitting ready in my car. Back in my car! A super feeling! I missed it all a lot more than I had actually realised. Ralf ended the day over a second faster than his nearest rival: It's not what I set out to do, but it's a very good starting point after being away for three months. I am really happy. I haven't forgotten how to drive. In addition to having proved that he's lost none of his pace, he was delighted to complete the day without even a twinge of pain: No pain. I'm fit (smiling) My physiotherapist Sven and my aid Daniel Dobringer are both satisfied with the progress I have made. The everyday life of Formula One has got me again, and I've got it (source: pitpass.com) Ralf reported no pain on Tuesday as he stepped back into a Formula One car. "I have no back pain any more, everything's gone well. I want to be back for the race in Shanghai" (on September 26) "I couldn't be happier with today's test. The most important thing was that I had no back pain at all, which helped me feel confident and push hard. Finishing the quickest today makes me feel very positive and I am also delighted with how the car has progressed since the middle of the season. I got up to speed very quickly and I was pleased to find that I could get the most out of the car's developments" Jarno Trulli was his first choice as team mate, he told reporters at the German Grand Prix, where he attended as a spectator. "It will depend on who's on the market but I've heard rumours that Trulli might come. If that was possible, that would obviously be my first choice and that would really suit me" Ralf has vowed to return to Formula One only when he is fully recovered from the injuries he suffered at Indianapolis. He is keen to get back behind the wheel of a Formula One car but insists he will take no risks with his health. “My health is top of my list at the moment. I’m making progress every day but I don’t want to start speculating as to when I’ll be making a return to the cockpit. Naturally I would love to jump back behind the wheel of a Formula One car, it’s what I love doing. But I’m determined to take my time and only get back into the cockpit when I’m properly fit” (source: breakingnews.iol.ie) To be honest, I imagined my birthday would be rather different (The) diagnosis was a real blow. But so be it. What's happened has happened. The injury is worse than feared. I have to get through it... Ralf thinks he'll race again in '04. It depends how fast my spine heals... The doctors have told me that if there is no setback, I could probably drive again Aug. 15 in Budapest (at the Hungarian Grand Prix) Ralf is furious with Doctors at Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital for sending him home without discovering two fractures in his spinal column. On his 29th birthday he was told he would be out of the cockpit for up to three months with the injury. "It was a shock. They had checked me out in America so it looks as if I narrowly escaped a catastrophe. But I have to deal with it now. What happens has happened". Ralf said his world champion brother 'keeps calling'. "Frank [Williams also] said I should be grateful to have been so lucky" Reports are already speculating Ralf is considering legal action against the American Doctors because further injury put him at risk of paraplegia. "I'm angry they did not pick it up" he admitted. His manager Willi Weber was at the Frankfurt examination "and [my] reaction was not very positive. You really have to ask yourself what they did in America" (source: f1.racing-live.com) Ralf after the crash at Indianapolis: Speaking at sportinglife.com: "I am taking full advantage of the two week break between Indy and France to rest and recuperate from the accident. When the time comes to make the decision, I will be guided by Professor Sid Watkins' advice and speak to Frank Williams about the best course of action" Ralf said he was unlikely to take part in the French GP at Magny-Cours on July 4: "At the moment I don't think so. I can't remember anything else apart from maybe the start of the race. It's as if the scenes of the accident have been erased. The important thing now is that I rest. In principle I should be behind the wheel as soon as possible. But the example of my accident during testing in September (2003) showed that you can't take anything for granted. My priority is to get fit again" "I feel as if I've done two rounds with Muhammad Ali. But I don't want there to be any misunderstanding. I'm not in shock, I don't have psychological problems. I just have concussion" (source: f1.racing-live.com) Talking to Germany's Bild newspaper, Ralf has revealed that he can remember nothing of the high-speed crash at Indianapolis. "I saw images on the hospital television and that's it. I can't remember anything else... except for perhaps the start of the race. I can't remember how, where or when. There's nothing there. It's as if the scenes of the accident have been erased" He said that he simply wants to take it 'one step at a time': "Right now I need some rest, just rest. At the earliest, in a few days, I'll be able to say what's going to happen next. I had a severe concussion and a large bruise on my back, that's what hurts the most. I try to sit rather than stand up or walk. At the moment, I'm definitely not thinking about motor racing, I just want to go home. I want to go to my wife and son" (source: pitpass.com) Ralf before Indianapolis where he crashed out of the race and the Formula 1 Grand Prix: "After Canada, I will spend a few days relaxing in the United States before the action starts again on Thursday in Indianapolis. Somehow I have a feeling Indianapolis does not really like me (I felt like he was tempting fate saying this) as my last two races there have been somewhat frustrating. In 2002, I had a collision with my team mate and, in 2003, I spun off in the wet while running in second position" "Despite past performances, Indianapolis is the home of motor racing in the States and without doubt a special place. I like the circuit as it has a good rhythm and good overtaking opportunities on the long straight, the corner entering the oval section is also a particularly good place to attack. Technically, the circuit is really challenging" "Power is crucial, especially for the long straight, while you also need a lot of downforce for the corners of the infield section. Finding the perfect set-up is often really difficult as you need to find the best compromise to handle the track's varying characteristics. I think we will be well prepared, though, so I'm hoping for a more successful result than I've had in previous years" |
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