Formula One news
Exclusive interview with Christijan Albers
31 October 2005In March Christijan Albers made his Formula One debut with Minardi. Although he would never be in with a chance of winning a race or scoring regular points, Albers had a fairly good season. F1Racing.net reporter Stijn Keuris analyzed the season with Albers and asked what the future holds.
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Christijan, the season is over now. Are you having a bit of a break?
Actually it's the opposite. Since the last race in China I've hardly had any time off - especially since we're working so hard preparing for next season.
How do you look back on your first year in F1?
I don't think I can complain. I had two team mates (Patrick Friesacher and Robert Doornbos) and have beaten them both. But I'm a sportsman and for me it's never good enough. You always want more. I had some highs and lows this season. The Grand Prix in Canada was obviously very good and there were also races where we were in front of Jordan. The qualifying in Belgium was not so good and the Grand Prix in China where I had to start in the spare car was also disappointing.
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Last week the FIA came with the new regulations for next and the upcoming years. What do you make of it?
It's hard to tell. You never know really what's going to happen. The FIA is reaching as high as possible with it, to get themselves a good position in the upcoming negotiations. I also don't know what to think of the new qualifying. It could be worse then last year, but it could be very spectacular. I feel positive about the new tyre regulations - people want to see tyre changes during a pit stop, not just refueling.
With the changed regulations and Toyota and Williams switching tyre suppliers, Bridgestone seems to be in a good position again for next year.
Bridgestone is always in a good position of for improving tyres - it's a huge company. And for sure, those teams working for them will help. But Michelin is still ahead, although there will be a new construction and the change to a V8 engine will also impact on how the tyres must perform.
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Drivers who already tested the V8 were not that positive about it. What do you expect?
For a driver a car can never go fast enough. But there is a point where you have to be a machine to control the car. If the wings would not have changed last year, F1 would me much faster. You have to limit the speed somewhere. Taking 150 hp of the power will be effective.
The engine has a different sound. Is that what the fans want?
I'm not sure it sounds worse. You have higher rations with a V8. The sound will still be very high. But it's different. You have to take these kinds of steps to keep F1 safe. The research and development is going very fast.
Have you seen the radical wing, introduced by the FIA?
Yes I have and I don't think it looks good. On top of that I think it'll be a problem for sponsorship. The rear wing is very important for sponsors and two small ones will be less attractive. But as I sad, the FIA is setting the stakes high.
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There are a lot of rumors about your future at the moment. You are linked with Williams…
Rumors will always be there. There is no need to talk about them. We are in talks with lots of teams.
Would you consider a testing position?
Yes, testing with a top team I would consider. But racing always is the prime option and we're aiming for that.
A few weeks ago it was in the news that you were almost certain to sign for Midland.
There has been a lot of talk about Midland in the press. You are never sure of driving, until you have signed the contract and are driving out of the pit garage.
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Minardi has been sold to Red Bull. If Minardi would have continued next year, would you have considered driving for them another season?
We have chosen to sign for one year, to go to a stronger team in the following season. We are now talking to Red Bull, but they have many drivers under contract, so that will be difficult.
There has been a lot said of an interview you had a few weeks ago in a Dutch magazine, where you spoke out about Robert Doornbos…
I've just said that once and I'm done with it. I just hope everybody read that the chief engineer Andy Tilly agreed with me. The public has the right to know the truth. Some fans agree with me, others don't. That is part of it. But this was not about Robert. I am not working on breaking him - I do think he did a good job, it was just the hype created around him, which was over the top.
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There is enough said about the interview itself, but do you think it is a smart thing to do? Don't you think team bosses don't like this kind of publicity?
Maybe I should have been more sensible not to say that in the interview, but on the other hand with me it's a case of 'what you see is what you get'. And about the second part of the question: I don't worry about that. Top teams always have this kind of issue with drivers - Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello didn't get along that well this season…
Something else. The name Minardi is disappearing from F1. What do you think of that?
For the team the takeover is good. There will be more funding, which makes it easier to develop the car. But for young talents who want to make it to F1, it's not so good. A lot will depend on your nationality and your luck. It is getting harder to make it to F1.
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Do you think you would be further in your career if you came from a different country?
I think so, but it's hard to tell of course. But probably, yes. On the other hand I do not really mind. It is not a bad thing to have to fight for something.
How do you like the A1GP?
It looks good and I'm happy for Jos Verstappen. I think he can do a good job there and get on the podium in some races. But it's difficult. Some teams have far more experience then others. It is not like everyone has an equal chance of winning.
How is your relation with the press?
It's fine, but it could be better. I don't have problems with the media, but I have some rules. My performance on track comes first. The sponsors and fans are next and then the media. Journalists want to be on pole position all the time and that's a problem sometimes. If you want to win, you have to put some things aside. And I want to win. On that I dislike journalists who do not write with the right intention. The fans believe what the media writes and if you are a journalist you need to tell the fans the truth.
This was the longest season in F1 ever and it was very tough on the entire team. Are you, as a driver, happy it is over now?
It was a long season, but for a driver it's different. It is always great fun to drive a F1 car. For me the season cannot be long enough.
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