Argentinian GP - 7 April 1996
Red Bull Sauber Ford Press Release

Another race gone and still no luck and no points. It has not been a happy tour round Latin America for the Red Bull Sauber-Ford team and we are glad to be on our way back to Europe at last.

Three long-haul flyaway races were always going to be a tough start to the year but I never thought we would struggle quite as much as we have to get going.

If I thought it was disappointing in Brazil, it was just as bad if not worse in Argentina. We had a lot of problems, especially in qualifying on Saturday, and that did not give us much of a chance for the race.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, my team-mate, was 11th on the grid and I was 17th so I suppose I should be reasonably satisfied to have finished ninth - especially as I drove the last 20 laps or so with my brakes not working properly.

But given the state of the circuit and its characteristics, it was always going to be a difficult weekend really. The Autodromo Oscar Galvez track is a bit on the Mickey Mouse side with a lot of low gear corners. Probably more second gear corners than anything else.

And the surface was terrible in some places. They had done some resurfacing work going into first corner, but the speed there was not so high it was not too much of a problem. But on the back straight where they had dug a couple of holes which went across the full width of the track, it was a big problem.

When we first went out, I crashed into it so hard that my head was disappearing between my legs. It was quite bad. They did some work overnight on Friday to try and improve it but it was a real need for some low-end power and good driveability from the new Ford V10 engine which is still in its early stages of development.

On Friday, in practice, I tried to take a different route with the set-up in the morning, but it not work. I went the same way as Heinz-Harald in the afternoon and it was a lot better; but the handling was still fairly loose especially on the bumps and the holes.

It was really quite hard work and I went off the road once when I was trying really hard to get quick lap. I was obviously unimpressed to be 13th at the end of the day, but consoled myself with the knowledge that Heinz-Harald had a new exhaust system on his car which worked well.

Unfortunately, when they put it on my car on Saturday, instead of gaining time I went backwards and lost it. Heinz-Harald had said he found his engine more driveable and he was able to use second where I was in first, but it did not work out for me.

It was terrible and I think it was mainly due to the track conditions and the problems I began to feel under braking. Every time I tried extra hard to got a lap in, I seemed to go off too and that obviously did help at all, I just did not know what to do and I must say I felt very disappointed to be 17th on the grid when I had arrived in Buenos Aires expecting something much more positive.

So, after all that it was no surprise really that the race was a bit on the straightforward side - I just went the distance, kept on going, and finished up ninth. I thought the best thing to do was bring the car home and that is exactly what I did.

I had a pretty good start, but I could not pass anyone so I defended my position and then worked forward a bit when the Safety Car came out. I got close to Rubens Barrichello, but I could not keep up with his Jordan and then with around 20 laps to go I was left with brakes at the front only.

It meant I had to slow down quite a lot and that was what I did. It also meant a finish was the only ambition I could have realistically before getting away to the airport and the long flight home.

Buenos Aires is a really lovely city, a brilliant place with very pretty architecture (and I mean the buildings, not the other), with a great atmosphere and some brilliant places to eat. The steaks are even better than you imagine they can be - I only ate a few mouthfuls of one to taste it and it was deliciously soft.

But it was still great to be travelling home after two weeks away on the road; especially as Becky had been supervising our move to Monaco when I was doing my job and enjoying myself. It can be quite difficult sometimes for her, being left behind with the girls, and I really wish I could do more.

I suppose I will have to get the paint brush and overalls out as soon as I get the time now to help get us all settled in. It should be great once we are properly organised. The girls will go to the International School and learn a new language and I think that is good for them.

Of course, as usual, my time at home is precious. One week after getting back we are testing in Jerez, a good idea because we need to improve things for the Nurburgring.

I am quite looking forward to that race after all we have been through so far. I expect the weather will be pretty bad as it was last year. It is not the ideal time to be going there, but then again I don't think there is an ideal time to go to the Nurburgring.

As we left Argentina, we were told it was actually snowing at the Nurburgring. The way things are going for me so far, I will probably have to take some skis over for the race! Having said that, it will be the same for everyone and I aim to enjoy it.

With thanks to Johnny, Red Bull Sauber Ford and Bob Herbert
This page prepared 29 May 1996. All rights reserved.