A question for you all, first of all. Have you raced here at Fuji before? What have been your initial feelings seeing the circuit? And what preparations have you made before coming to this new circuit?
Ralf Schumacher: I've kind of been here before. I actually lived not so far away from here. What they have done with the pits is great. The place has changed a bit. The track itself… OK, the last few chicanes have really changed and a few bits on the outside, but yeah, they've done a good job.

What sort of preparations have you personally made for this circuit? Have you looked at it on Playstation or anything?
RS: No, no. I was here last year for the 50th anniversary of Toyota, so I had the chance to see the track then and even before as well, at the beginning of the year. We did some filming, so I knew the circuit.

So your feelings about it, particularly that last sector?
RS: The last sector is very tiny but it's quite good to be able to follow cars, so I guess we will see a lot of overtaking down the main straight.

Nurburgring weather, is that what we're expecting, Ralf?
RS: Nurburgring weather? I hope not, it's cold there now. There is some rain expected tomorrow but at this time of year it can be nice and sweet, so let's hope that's going to be the case.

There seem to be quite a few modifications to the Toyotas here?
RS: Well, like any other team we had some tests at Jerez with new bits and pieces on the car because this is a very specific track with a very long straight obviously. I don't know (if we have) any more than other teams brought to this race.

Is there an announcement close about 2008?
RS: No, still nice and sweet but I can't tell you at the moment.

(Yuki Ishihara – Sankei Sports) Ralf, you are one of the few drivers who knows the old and the new Fuji Speedway; how do you like the new one in terms of driving?
RS: For us it's obviously something special because it's a home track for Toyota. The track itself has a very long straight, so that's very exciting; you could end up overtaking twice on the straight, which is very interesting. I think the corners we have except for Turn 4 as mentioned by Rubens are not so special, but it's a nice layout.

(Dan Knutson – National Speed Sport News) A question for all four of you – we have about 17-18 races now. With more races coming, there's a chance that we might have 20 races, maybe even more. What is the ideal number of races an F1 season should have from three points of view: the drivers' point of view, how much extra work it makes for the crews, and also for more exposure for F1 worldwide?
RS: I think the number we have next year – one more – isn't too bad considering the workload the team has and the mechanics have and all of the travelling. I think we are more limited by that unless we extend the season and shorten the tests. But I feel quite happy with the races we do.

(Nobuaki Tadaki – Sankei Express) A question for Ralf. I remember when you lived at Yamanakoko when you lived in Japan, and you used to try to make a record from Yamanakoko to Fuji Speedway. Do you remember what your record time was, and do you have any chance to beat it? (laughter)
RS: I always stick to the rules on the street, so I don't know what the record was, honestly. I usually had to go via Gotemba but it's more than 10 years ago, so I can't remember the time, and there's no reason to try to beat whatever I've done 11 years ago, thank you.

 

First photos from Japanese GP