Q. Vijay, you mentioned the Indian Grand Prix and Bernie's comments about it but I was wondering if you've spoken to Bernie or talked to him about it and what is your personal position on any possible re-scheduling of that race?
VM: There are no issues on whether the track will be completed or not. That track will be ready well in time. There's a huge amount of interest. I can tell you that people are already clamoring for tickets and it's a major step forward in Indian motorsport and sport in general in our country, so everybody is looking forward to it. Whether it's Oct. 30 or Dec. 4 – I believe that's what the media report said – really doesn't matter to us. In fact, in December the weather is cooler in India and Delhi in particular so it shouldn't impact the race in any way.
Q. Can I just ask the other team bosses whether it would impact on them at all, to be racing in December?
AN: Makes for an awfully long season, doesn't it? It is for the people involved.
MW: I think it's tough on the team, simple as that. I think the teams will go to the races that are on the calendar, that's for sure, but I think it makes it a very long season. The guys started working very hard in mid-January, building cars to go testing and it will make it a very, very long season for them.
PS: I think first we have to wait for the decision about Bahrain.
GL: I agree with Martin. I think it does make it quite tough on the teams. I think one of our guys is getting married on Dec. 4 as well, so we might have a problem.
Q. Question for all of you: what kind of advice would you give for a teenager who is beginning to study and one day wants to work in Formula 1? What piece of advice would you five guys give?
AN: I guess the first question is where he or she wants to work, so is it technical, is it in marketing and so on and so forth? In my own area, on the technical side, I think by and large, academic studies help, so going to a good university, if that's possible, is clearly useful. At that point, the person probably needs to decide which area they are going to specialize in, is it mechanical, aerodynamics, electronics, math, etc.? Try and get some experience as well, even if it's working with a very small team, then anything that helps to build your CV and show that you are a committed, dedicated to motor racing and have both an academic flair and a real enthusiasm is mainly what we're looking for.
MW: I don't have much to add to what Adrian said. I think you have to be realistic. Those of us who are working in Formula 1 or in motorsport, are very, very lucky. It's a great career but it's massively competitive, it's still a relatively small industry so I think if anyone sets their sights on a career within motorsport they should also have a Plan B because however good you are, you might not be fortunate enough to get in.
VM: A lot of Indian technology companies are already supporting established Formula 1 teams but I represent a country that is full of aspiration, with 500 million youngsters under the age of 18, aspiration levels run really, really high and everybody wants to be part of Formula 1 because of the image that Formula 1 has. But I'm not just very, very pleased with the level of response in our one-in-a-billion hunt for a driver, the number of resumes and applications coming through from people who want to be involved in engineering and design is quite incredible. There's a lot of talent out there. In the technology industry, per se, India has been in the forefront for many decades and there is talent out there and we can use that talent as well, as we go forward. We have some internships already running for young Indian engineers so, yes, there's a huge amount of opportunity.
GL: I agree with Adrian, it's a mixture of experience but also knowledge. There's a remarkable number of people who look to get into a racing team who haven't prepared themselves with either and it constantly amazes me. I'm sure like all the other teams, we operate internships as well, with SMT University – I'm sure the other guys work with various universities and have close links with them, with education, which is important and there is no secret, it's hard work and application, and if you're prepared to put in the hard work and apply yourself, then anybody can get into the sport. But as Martin says, whether they stay in is a different matter.
Q. As you know, the state of emergency is due to be lifted in Bahrain on June 1, two days ahead of a decision being made about the grand prix, but I was wondering if any of you have made representations to either Bernie or the FIA that it is arguably morally and ethically wrong to still be going to Bahrain after what has happened there this year and is still going on?
PS: I think it's important that we be safe and the other point is that if we have three back-to-back races; that's really crazy.
VM: Well, I understand that there's a team principals meeting at 5pm to discuss this and after that I'm sure it will be debated at the World Motor Sport Council of which I'm a member, and I think it would be rather inappropriate for me to pre-judge the issue here, so let's wait for all the team principals to meet and to discuss it at the FIA level and see where we go.
GL: I think you asked, "Have we made any representations?" Certainly I haven't and John (Booth) hasn't but that's more because the situation so far is not clear in terms of what the recommendations would be from the FIA and from FOM, etc., and so we just have to wait and see what develops. As a company, we want to play an important role in this sort of decision as well, but I don't think we necessarily have all the information.
MW: No representations, but I think, as Vijay said, I think it's probably something that's best discussed with the FIA and among the teams rather than via a press conference in any case.
Q. Could I ask Doctor Mallya: are you in the situation with Adrian Sutil that regardless of what he has or has not done, you're obligated to put him in the car for the year? If he's got a contract, he's got a contract.
VM: You know, contracts do not supersede misconduct so unless I'm convinced that there is misconduct the contract shall prevail. And I'm not willing to jump to any conclusions, based on a press release that has been given out by a potentially or supposedly aggrieved party. I don't know what happened there, none of my people know what happened at that particular incident so there's a due process of law. So if Adrian is to be charged with misconduct, let him be charged. If and when he's charged, I will assess the situation.