Formula One: Stewart Ford Racing News, Malaysian Grand Prix Preview
13 October 1999
JOHNNY HERBERT Car No.17 (SF3-05)What effect has the victory in the European Grand Prix had on you?
'I'm still feeling really pumped up. The win has done an enormous amount for my confidence and I can enter the last two races of the season feeling good about myself and eager to end the season on a high. I have been inundated with messages from well-wishers which makes it all worthwhile. I knew I had it in me to win races and now I've had another taste, I'm keen to do it again.'
What are your prospects for this weekend?
'I think there'll be a familiar look to the grid despite Sepang being an untried circuit. The Barcelona test went well although it was cut short on the last day with a wheel bearing problem. I was fastest on the second day and I made as much progress on improving the set-up of the car than I have all season. It all bodes well for Malaysia.'
RUBENS BARRICHELLO Car No.16 (SF3-04)
How much do you know about the Sepang circuit?
'I've been learning the circuit on PlayStation. From what I've seen it looks quite difficult - a lot of hairpins and hard braking areas. All of us will be starting from scratch because we don't have any data to rely on so we have no accurate read on downforce levels for instance. I'm told the facilities are fantastic. This could be our track.'
With the weather likely to be humid, how have you prepared physically?
'I know we can expect hot and humid weather so I've trained accordingly. Back home in Brazil I have been doing a lot of jogging at midday when the temperature is high. It's important to be conditioned to the heat particularly on a circuit which looks physically demanding.'
PAUL STEWART, Stewart-Ford, Chief Operating Officer
'Malaysia will be technically challenging given that the circuit is unknown. We are anxious to score more points after our performance at Nürburgring. Two points separate us from Williams and fourth place in the Championship and that must be our goal. It is going to be difficult because Williams are in good form at present. We enjoyed the celebration of the team's first Grand Prix victory, but it's a return to business as usual for the last two races of the season.'
MARTIN WHITAKER, Director, Ford Racing, Europe
'After our victory in the European Grand Prix, we are obviously all looking forwards to the remaining two races from a new perspective. Since the race, we have been testing at Barcelona where, from the engine point of view, we got through a tremendous amount of work - both development for the last two races of this season and work to give us information for next year. In addition, Johnny posted competitive times on both of our serious test days, ending up with quickest time on Thursday. So we look to be in good shape as we all head off to the Malaysian Grand Prix.