By Phil Huff
August 3 2006

The driver's press conference at Hungary took place today, with World Championship contender Fernando Alonso, new racer Robert Kubica and newly ex-Williams driver Mark Webber. Oh yes, Jenson Button was there too, but struggled to get a word in... Jenson, perhaps you could talk a little more about the tyres vis-a-vis Hockenheim and here? The conditions are much cooler at the moment. How much difference does that make?

Well I think both tyre manufacturers have their working ranges for certain tyres. At Hockenheim, that wasn't an issue for us. The first two stints, for me, were not so bad, albeit a second off the Ferraris. But the last stint we had a problem with the front wing. We had quite a bit of damage to the front wing from debris I think and that was the reason I had so much graining in the last stint, I think, so that's the reason for fourth place and not able to fight for third. Here, we don't know what is going to happen with the weather. Tomorrow there is a chance of rain and Saturday and Sunday we have to wait and see and hope we have chosen the right tyres. I think we have. Obviously we have been deep in discussion with Michelin as every Michelin team has been to make sure we have the right tyre for here because the Ferrari over the last few races has been very strong on Bridgestones and Williams has too.

A little bit of relief because of the Hockenheim result?

I don't know about relief, but it was a nice feeling to get some points. I hadn't scored any points for five races and as a team we hadn't been performing as we would have liked to have been for the last few races. There were many things that we changed on the car, some to do with the engine, aerodynamics and front suspension. I think all those things put together made the difference. We obviously aren't forgetting that we are always quick at Hockenheim, the last two years anyway, and we have just got to hope that we have the performance here, but I think we have to wait and see for that one.

It seems like the rest of the season is going to be a very tight title battle between Fernando and Michael. What is your opinion? What is your bet? Who do you think will win and why?

It goes without saying that it's great to see people fighting for the championship. I'm sure Fernando doesn't feel the same way and I'm sure he would have liked to have walked away with the championship this year but from the outside, which is where we are, it's nice to see some competition for the title this season.