Q: Nico, you had a fulfilling start to the season with your podium in Melbourne, but since then luck has deserted you somewhat…

Nico Rosberg: What a start Melbourne was! On that day in March everything came together perfectly. But from there on we started to struggle a little bit more at the normal high-speed tracks like Malaysia, Barcelona and Istanbul, where we haven’t been too strong. But we knew that before the season anyway - that under normal circumstances we would be behind the top six cars and that we’d be fighting for seventh or eighth place in order to get points. And that’s what we did: we were eighth twice - so just behind the top teams - and that worked quite well. Since then we’ve lost out a little bit. Other teams have developed a little bit faster, so we have to be really careful for the next races.

Q: Fast forwarding to the last round in Canada, qualifying fifth was your best result since last year’s Belgian Grand Prix. The car must have been working well…

NR: Yes, in Montreal - and also in Monaco - we definitely had a good car. I say “good” – “good” is a McLaren - but “good” for our situation. Unfortunately we didn’t make the best of it - or me, rather. Let’s put it that way: I didn’t make the best of it. But both tracks are probably the most difficult in the season, where luck often defines the result - and unfortunately it didn’t go my way. In Montreal I wasn’t the only one, but that doesn’t really help afterwards. Sure it was a huge disappointment because we had a very realistic chance of a good result. Now we have to look forward and try to improve on those quicker tracks.

Q: The pitlane incident in Canada. Can you give us your view of the situation as it happened?

NR: Until then everything was fantastic. I was very comfortable and we were beating a Ferrari, beating a McLaren, beating a BMW - there were only three cars ahead of me. I was very certain that I would score points. And then there was the pit stop. It didn’t cross my mind that the pitlane would be red - and if you don’t expect something then you can easily go wrong. The same goes for Lewis (Hamilton), but then again this doesn’t help as there is no such saying in Formula One that a problem shared is a problem halved. It was a pity.

Q: The stewards’ decision for you and Lewis is a ten-place relegation on the grid at this weekend’s French Grand Prix. What is your stance on that? Is it justified?

NR: Moving ten places back on the grid, that’s really not very good for us as it probably destroys this race weekend too. And that’s an even worse situation. But yes, I think it’s justified. If it had been me alone it wouldn’t have been justified because then I wouldn’t have destroyed anybody else’s race. But in that situation, as it occurred, it is ok.

Q: Last week’s test was about getting the car fit for Magny-Cours. What were you concentrating on?

NR: We have made big progress as we learnt a lot - especially about how we can improve on tracks like Magny-Cours and Silverstone. We really found something strong, I think. We did introduce some new parts - aero parts, and also mechanical. More I cannot say.

Q: Kazuki Nakajima has had a very strong season so far, given his rookie status. He has seven points - only one shy of your total. Do you feel pressure from your team mate, as he’s your first challenger?

NR: Yes, I agree, he’s done relatively well - but that was expected of him as otherwise he wouldn’t have been taken on by Williams. And I hope that he can continue to be of assistance to the team in the constructors’ championship. And as for your team mate being your first challenger, fact is there are 19 guys out there I have to come to terms with to succeed - it’s not only one!

See also: http://formula1.blogvasion.com/2008/05/nico-rosberg-feels-better.html

Source: Formula1.com