Our fan reporter interviews Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld

Here are the interviews I did with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld:-

Hi Robert, you’re here at Silverstone this weekend, how’s it been so far?
Robert Kubica: Quite disappointing. We had a few problems in every Free Practice so mainly qualifying was the first time I was driving longer runs without any problems in the car. This is for sure not ideal but P12 is still not what we were targeting to achieve before the weekend, but after the problems of yesterday, this was the maximum.

How do you rate Silverstone as a circuit?
RK: I think it’s a very challenging track with a lot of very nice corners, especially the first sector with a lot of high speed, really challenging and very demanding corners on the driving side and also on the aerodynamic side or the car, so I think it’s overall one of the best tracks currently in Formula 1.

How do you rate your rivals, in terms of how they’ve progressed this season? Who do you see as your biggest threats?
RK: I think we have many strong rivals this season because of our position, so what is important to understand this season is that the grid and the overall package of the cars is much closer together. Also, it’s very important to get everything together properly, because a few tenths makes a big difference, a lot of positions and this is especially when you’re already behind with the performance. It’s very important.

Afterwards, it was onto Heidfeld, who was located at the other end of the table. He said that he had not given up on this season, he wasn’t a quitter and that for the next race at the Nurburgring, BMW had an update coming for their car. What that update would consist of he couldn’t into detail about. When it was my turn, I asked him some questions about the team, off-track life and one or two rather trivial matters:

Hi Nick, how has your weekend been so far?
Nick Heidfeld: (long pause) It’s been as expected. It carries a negative feeling with it because even if you know what to expect, you still have hopes and these hopes did not come true today with both cars not in the top 10.

I wanted to ask you a few questions about life away from the track. How do you like to spend your free time?
NH: It’s pretty easy because I have 2 children who are turning 2 and 4 and obviously the best thing to do is spend time with them.

As you said, you have a son called Joda. Could we maybe see him in Formula 1 in the future?
NH: Well he is 2 years old, so I think that answers the question!

Having a family and being away every other weekend in Formula 1, does it put strain on family life at all?
NH: Well it would be nicer to spend more time with them, but this year we have less testing so I spend more time with them than in the past, and a lot more than normal working people. When I am at home, I’m there usually. I don’t leave 9am and come home at 5pm like everyone else.

2 years ago, you had the privilege of driving your F1 car around the old Nurburgring (Nordschleife). What was that like?
NH: It was great. It was just us there before and despite having won there in each category, I guess a part of F1 and having my first pole there and finishing 2nd is still the nicest memory. That shows you how amazing the whole place is.

Your boss Mario (Theissen) – what’s he like? How do you rate him as a team principal?
NH: What I like about him is that he’s very professional. He didn’t do motorsport since always, but he seemingly knows how to build up a team. Of course saying that now sounds a bit strange since this year is not our best season, but if you look to the bigger part he’s spent with the team and all of us, we achieved quite a lot for a new team and he’s doing a good job.

One thing which you’re known for in the paddock is your beard. Was it a split second decision to grow it or was it something that was thought out over a long period of time?
NH: I was just fed up with shaving each morning, and then in the winter when there were no appointments, PR or whatsoever, I let it grow and then I thought “OK, it doesn’t look so bad.” My girlfriend liked it which is a lot more unimportant!

Looking at 2009 as a whole so far, how do you rate how BMW and yourself have performed?
NH: Well obviously we are far away from achieving the targets we’d set ourselves, so we cannot be satisfied. For my side, I’m quite happy with having overcome a lot of problems I had last year, and having been on the podium with 2nd place with a car that’s not great this season, but we altogether as a team are just too slow right now. It’s pretty straightforward that looking at the result, nobody’s happy with it.

Which race are you looking forward to the most in the rest of the season?
NH: I would say Suzuka. We haven’t been there for 3 years now because we’ve been to Fuji, and it’s a fantastic circuit.

Next it was time to switch paddocks and passes as I ventured out of the F1 world and into the support series world A.K.A. GP2, Porsche Supercup and Formula BMW. Over in the FBMW hospitality, there would be a barbecue/ buffet with special guests on stage. Turning up, I watched the FBMW race via a few large widescreen TVs, which saw a brilliant battle between the first 4 cars.

Soon after came a press conference with the top 3 drivers from that race and straight afterwards the food was available. There was steak, chicken, pork, sausages, baked potatoes and wedges to name a few things.

To see the fan report from Silverstone click here