David Coulthard
MP4-17 Launch - Barcelona February 2002

This was a Open interview with the McLaren Driver

Q> Where did the problems occur in last season
DC> A few engine failures during the course of a season and a couple of electronic technical problems, with Monaco obviously we weren’t able to start he GP, Barcelona we weren’t able to start, it was just a combination of too many errors that meant we lost points. There’s no point trying to shy away from that, it’s a reality of the fact we have to improve the team.

Q> Where were the problems with last years car?
DC> The Basic performance, Basic speed of the car was too peaky, it wasn’t a car for “all seasons”. For that I mean during the course of a season you’ll have; a hot race, you’ll have a wet race, a cold race. You have to have a car that will go through those conditions ad be competitive. The McLaren was a quick car on occasion; it was not quick all the whole year. In Japan we were a second form pole, which highlights there was a problem with the basic package.

Q> the Bridgestone’s will be made for Ferrari in 2002?
DC> I think its natural that they will listen to all the people developing the tyres and try to make a judgement on what’s going to give them the best performance and lap time. Its only logical that of you’re a tyre manufacturer that you’ll give the advantage to the team that’s more likely to win GP’s. Its all about winning, its not personal its about what gives you the best opportunity to win GPs. We have to position ourselves as the team most likely to win GPs if we do that we then we’ll get the main support from Michelin, its not a contractual or financial thing, its “they will develop the tyre more closely with us if we have a better package” if we don’t perform it will be Williams with the advantage. I just want to say we actually have more opportunity to develop the tyres having four cars out there that are known to be likely to win GPs, Bridgestone with Ferrari are alone.

CS> last seasons Michelin strategy?
DC> Yes quite clearly there was quite a big difference between them, they way the Michelin performed in the race compared to Bridgestone. On Some circuits that gave them an advantage and on other track sit was not the right way. So what we are trying to do is understand their philosophy to result in a tyre performing that way. To say this is the strength of the tyre and this is the weakness and this is what we can to do to improve the weakness, but not takeaway the strength. You can keep improving, but there are certain known parameter, you can change the mix (compound) to give you improved braking but you might lose out on traction, so we’re trying to understand their chemical formula to arrive at that performance and to try and get what we would want and I’m sure the other teams are doing the same. One area I know they need to improve is their wet tyres, intermediate tyres. They’re very open to hear our experience with Bridgestone and what we think we need form that tyre.

Q> What areas of the new car will bring lower lap times?
DC> Mechanically is where I am hoping we’ll have more consistency, I know that’s a very general word, but just to be general the aero package I believed worked well when we could adapt the mechanical side to that circuit.
Of course reliability goes without saying. I think Michael Schumacher finished 16 out of 17 races (actually 15) that’s what you need, there no big surprise if you finish races your finishing races in the points that’s how you achieve a championship.

Q> What new parts have already been tested?
DC> The back end, gearbox are parts that have been tested in last years car, the engine obviously hasn’t run in the car, as it only fits in the new chassis, its run on the dyno, some aero and electronic parts and obviously the tyres.

CS> how much input do you have into the design and “Feel” of the car?
DC> It’s difficult to ask for a feel, things like castor affect the feel that directly affects the weight of the steering. Beyond that saying, “give me a front wing package that gives me no understeer”, your trying to achieve a downforce package, which is, balanced front to rear and giving more downforce and efficiency than anyone else’s. So what the driver tends to give an input on is when you test parts during the year you give an indication as the mechanical side of the front end or what you feel with the squat of the car when you lift those are the things you give direction and obviously the way the cockpit is laid out, the functions you require to ease you in your job.