Jarno, two podiums for Toyota over the last few races. What are your feelings for the rest of the season? Are there developments still coming, what’s happening with Toyota?
I think the team is doing a very good job this year. We start pretty well and we have always improved the car. The team is keeping on pushing the development work, so I am confident that before the end of the season we can do some good results. There are some circumstances and some circuits where we are extremely competitive like it was in Hungary and Magny-Cours and some others maybe we suffer a bit more but nevertheless I think we will always fight for top 10 in qualifying and our aim is always to score points at every race obviously. Our target will be finishing fourth in the Constructors’ championship.

Are there developments still coming?
Yeah, even here. We always have some new bits. They are already concentrating on next year‘s car development but they are still pushing on this year’s car as obviously the fight for fourth in the Constructors’ championship is very tight. We would like to finish fourth.

What is your own situation with the team for next year?
We have a contract in place, so we believe we can stay together for next year.

I’ve just been with Fernando Alonso at his personal press conference. He’s just mentioned that in the light of what happened yesterday, the Spanish plane disaster, that he’s hoping to get you guys together to hopefully observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect before practice. Presumably that is something you would be more than happy to go along with providing the FIA also agreed?

I share the same feelings. (as the other drivers)

Are you satisfied with the run-off areas of the track?
Well, I did have a look and it’s difficult to comment at the moment because we don’t know exactly the speed in certain corners but I must say it’s a safe circuit anyway, and so far I can see that they have done a pretty good job, but it’s probably still a bit too early to judge.

While he may be somewhat disheartened that things haven’t fallen his way every race, giving up is not an option, instead more consistency is needed so that he finishes with at least one more point than his nearest rivals when the curtain comes down in Brazil …

“Again this season shows that you should never give up,” he said. “There were some races, where things didn’t go well, but for one reason or the other I was able to collect some precious points. My position after Hungary is better than before the race. We haven’t lost anything, but we need to get better results, consistently.”

“I think that the outcoming of the Championship will be very tight, with Ferrari and McLaren very close together in terms of performance and three drivers in a position to win the title. I need to have at least one point more than my competitors after the last race of the season: this is the sole aim, the rest is details.”

Heikki’s maiden win marks the third successive victory for the team and makes the young Finn the 100th Formula One winner since the World Championship began in 1950, making his victory even more special.

“There have been races this year where I’ve been in a position to challenge for victory but had something go wrong for me. Halfway through this race, things started working for me and I started pushing Felipe hard - and it worked. I feel sorry for Felipe because he drove a great race, but my car felt good and I knew I could push for the victory. This is a great moment for me, something I’ve been targeting for many years. Hopefully, this victory will be the first of many.”

As Ron Dennis said, one of the oldest motor racing phrases ever coined is: ‘To finish first, first you have to finish. Hackneyed it may be, but it’s true nonetheless. Despite this the Woking team boss felt sorry for Felipe Massa, who has performed so well throughout the race. However, the day belonged to Heikki …

“Heikki drove superbly, scoring his first grand prix victory in fine style and converting his excellent qualifying pace, which has been apparent all season, into a thoroughly well deserved win,” Dennis said. “Today was Heikki’s day, and a very good day it was, and everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is absolutely delighted for him.”

David Coulthard posted the second fastest time in his Red Bull Renault and was one of a number of drivers who tested the slick tyres on offer from Bridgestone as the sole tyre supplier gears up for a possible return in 2009. Coulthard lapped within 0.050s of Hamilton’s best in his RB3 while team-mate Mark Webber was down the order in 15th position.

Felipe Massa took over from Marc Gene at Ferrari, recording the third fastest time in his F2007 just a fraction ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. Pedro de la Rosa was fifth fastest in the second McLaren ahead of Nelson Piquet who was another driver to take to the gravel trap this morning in his Renault.

Former Honda tester Christian Klien did his chances of landing the remaining Force India Ferrari seat no harm today with the fifth fastest time ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the leading Toro Rosso. Giancarlo Fisichella was ninth fastest in what is his second day of testing with Force India while Robert Kubica rounded out the top ten for BMW Sauber.

“Over its first two years, Philips partnership with the AT&T Williams team has yielded significant returns for our shaving business and raised the global profile of the Philips Shavers brand” said Nico Engelsman, Senior Vice President, Philips Shavers. “We are proud to be an official partner of one of Formula One’s most successful teams, a team which shares our core values of technical innovation and the pursuit of excellence. Entering into a new three year sponsorship agreement clearly demonstrates Philips Shavers confidence in our partnership and in the AT&T Williams team.”

The Philips Shavers brand will now appear on the back of the team’s shirts as well as existing branding positions on the nose of the car and on the team’s overalls. In addition to Official Sponsor Designation, use of logo and team imagery, Philips Shavers also has promotional rights via both team drivers, Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima.

‘It’s my first day back in the car nearly two months after the last race in Brazil, plus my first with another car and new engine, and of course without the electronics. Considering this I am quite happy about how the day went though,” Fisi said. “We did have a couple of issues so I didn’t run as much as I would have liked; with new tyres I had a problem with the hydraulic pressure, and when I tried out the slick tyres there was a problem on the diff so we didn’t get a proper idea of how the tyres will work. All the same I do think it’s been a positive day though and a good basis for tomorrow.’

The duo worked through a schedule of chassis development, general set-up work and continuing evaluation of the new-for-2008 standard ECU package, under which traction control is banned. In the afternoon, Fisichella also tried the ’slick’ Bridgestone Potenza development tyre.

Although the day went without major drama, the day was marred by several red flag periods and some minor mechanical issues and spins from both drivers, however with three further days of testing, the team is optimistic of completing its overall programme.

In total the team covered 118 laps, more than 500km, with both drivers evenly matched throughout the day. Fisichella finished a shade quicker with a lap of 1:21.424, set on the slick tyres, while Montagny’s best lap was a 1:21.559.

Fisichella will remain in the car for a second day’s testing, while Montagny hands over the wheel to Austrian Christian Klien.

“It was great driving for Frank and Patrick,” he said in Autosport. “I would have liked that to be a more fruitful relationship in terms of results, but of course so have they. It was a very hard time at Williams, they were going through a difficult patch.”

“But the most important is that I’m enjoying my driving again… This is probably the best team I’ve ever driven for. I was very happy with my form this year in terms of driving… in all conditions, in all tracks we went to. I was very very happy with the way we got on with the season in terms of pace.”

Formula 1 sensation, Lewis Hamilton, was present to collect not one, but four awards - including his first BRDC Gold Star, presented to him by ten-time BRDC Gold Star winner, Sir Stirling Moss OBE. Lewis also accepted The Colin Chapman Trophy, on behalf of his Vodafone-McLaren-Mercedes team-boss Ron Dennis, who was unable to attend in person.

On a day when the best in motorsport was celebrated, Lewis received a standing ovation as he entered the Lancaster Ballroom after arriving from a sponsor’s engagement in Oxford Street. Lewis’ arrival at The Savoy was eagerly anticipated and, once on stage , he spoke openly about his remarkable 2007 debut Grand Prix season, his hopes for next year, and his enthusiasm for being a Member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club.

The room was packed with motor racing’s finest with heroes from past and present at every table. British Touring Car Championship runner-up, Jason Plato, was presented with the BRDC’s highest national racing accolade – the BRDC Silver Star, while Indy 500 winner, and IndyCar Series champion, Dario Franchitti was presented with two awards – The Earl Howe Trophy and The Innes Ireland Trophy.

For many the highlight of the day was the presentation to three-time FIA World Touring Car champion, Andy Priaulx, with the BRDC Gold Medal. This was only the eighth such award to be handed out by the Club since its inception in 1996. A two-time BRDC Gold Star winner, Priaulx becomes the only active racing driver to be bestowed with the Club’s highest honour.

Due to his schedule following the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend, Lewis was unfortunately not able to attend the ceremony which took place on Tuesday 9th October. However, he recorded an acceptance for the award prior to the event and this was what he had to say.

Take China for example, once again the Cologne based squad went home empty handed. Ralf Schumacher had a strong qualifying session, ending up in sixth place on the grid, but the German racer also had a very eventful race. In the second corner he spun to avoid the Red Bull of Mark Webber, then he spun in the fight with Tonio Liuzzi and finally he spun with dry tyres on a wet spot of the Shanghai circuit.