The Brazilian was entrusted with the first test of Renault's new R29 at Portimao today, and shared his thoughts on the car with the assembled media, and talked about how he planned to take a major step forward this year.
Q. Have you tried to change the set-up yet?
Q. Does it feel weird to drive the new cars?
NP: Obviously there are a few more functionalities with the new regulations. But coming from GP2 to F1 (it felt like) I had three Playstation controls stuck together, and now it's like I have five. We'll get used to it somehow.
Q. How much more confident are you going into the second season?
NP: The first to the second season makes a huge difference, both by knowing the tracks, and also being more relaxed, having done 18 starts already, knowing the procedures. I remember the first race in Australia - I'd had a problem in qualifying and I was started at the back, but I was still quite nervous. Now I have done all these starts through the year, it's going to be much more relaxed. I will be able to think about other things and not be worried about things that shouldn't bother me with the car. It's going to be a much easier season.
Q. You only did basic work today, did the first feeling make you think; 'Oh no this has so much less downforce!'?"
NP: No. It's raining and the track is new. There is a lot of oil right now as well because the asphalt is new. It is very difficult to feel anything, and when it is raining it is never the same, one day it can less than another. If the car is two seconds quicker tomorrow it could just mean that there is less rain around. The rain is never constant, not like in the dry. It is impossible to feel anything in the rain.
Q. Could you tell the difference between the 2009-specification car and the 2008 cars?
NP: Again. It was so slippery, we would leave the garage, go around and do five laps and come back into the garage. That's all they wanted me to do. We didn't get times, we just wanted to get the miles on the car and see that it was working perfectly. Set-up wise we are going to start working later if it's dry and at the second test. The first test to see if all the new parts, the new radiator is all working altogether.Q. What is the hardest part of being in the team with Fernando Alonso now that you have done it for one year?
NP: In the first year it was only good for me. Obviously I had a teammate that was very strong and I had to push myself very much, but I could really see where I had to push myself and when I was quicker that I was in a good position. I think in the second year it will be tougher because now is the point where the team will have to give the same chance to both drivers and with all this testing system right now, where we are only allowed one car and limited days, that's going to be a bit tricky. How are you going to judge which days for which drivers?
Hopefully we will be able to equalise both drivers having the same amount of testing. And again there is strategy and all these kind of things. Last year was my first year and I was learning, and obviously once in a while we would give priority to Fernando because he had a better chance of winning the race or being more in front. Now I think the team will have to play on both sides and try to give both cars exactly the same conditions. The second year is going to be tougher.
Q. Is the seating position the same as last year?
NP: It is practically the same. From 2006 to '07 we had a big change in the front and I didn't feel it, so this year I didn't feel it. The cockpit is a tiny bit bigger this year, so there is a bit more space for me to play around with. I am much more comfortable and I have found a better seating position, and a better place in the car.
Q. How many lessons have you been given with KERS, like what to do, what not to do, what not to touch, to be on the safe side?
NP: It's not as dangerous as everybody is saying. We had one accident, but all the teams have let's say a 'blog' together and they are all helping each other, and sharing their problems to make sure everybody is safe. We have had one lesson, and 85% of that was about using KERS on the track, and the power and how to use it. Not so much the danger side. There is basic rules, and we have to be careful, but it is nothing drastic.
Q. Fernando has set the bar pretty high by saying he is aiming for the title, what are your personal ambitions for 2009?
NP: It's always to achieve what the car is capable of. Obviously if the car is able to win the championship then I am going to want to be there as well. Obviously we have to be optimistic but we don't know the car is going to be. Maybe we'll arrive in Australia with one of the quickest cars, and that would be excellent, but realistically we will arrive in the top six. If the car is winning then that will be great!
Q. How big a challenge do you expect using KERS during the race to be?
NP: The engineers will play a big role. They will have to calculate and use the simulators inside the truck and tell the driver where the best place to use it will be, obviously there is also going to be a bit of strategy. Unfortunately we don't have a simulator to play with this all the time and get used to it, but I'm sure we'll come around to it. Maybe in the first few races everybody is going to be a bit mixed up, but very quickly everybody will pick it up and move in the same direction.
Q. Do you think the new rules will make for a more open season in 2009?
NP: It is hard to say. The idea behind the regulations we to give teams who have won races before like Renault the chance to come back and win races again – teams like Toyota have big budgets but they lost by doing the wrong projects but they can come back and be able to fight for races. Again with all this crisis a lot of teams are having to make cuts in different areas, so maybe that will affect things. The big teams like Ferrari and McLaren are going to continue as strong as always. I think the idea was good. I think it is going to be the same as last year, some teams are going to get it straight away, and some teams are going to start badly. It all depends on whether the car was born a good car.
Q. Do you expect to overtake your opponents more this season?
NP: Hopefully that big wing in front and the tiny wing at the back is going to help us a little bit. I haven't driven behind anybody yet so I don't know.
Q. It doesn't look as if Rubens will get a ride this year, what do you think from a Brazilian point of view?
NP: David Coulthard planned his retirement, he knew he was going to stop, and everybody gave him a present. Unfortunately Rubens had the idea that he was going to continue and then there was the bad news with the [Honda] and he is stopping in not the best way. I feel bad for him, but he had a long career, achieved a lot of things and a lot of wins, drove for some good teams.
Q. Is the seating position the same as last year?
NP: It is practically the same. From 2006 to '07 we had a big change in the front and I didn't feel it, so this year I didn't feel it. The cockpit is a tiny bit bigger this year, so there is a bit more space for me to play around with. I am much more comfortable and I have found a better seating position, and a better place in the car.
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