Racing a thoroughbred grand prix car in front of a home crowd will be a surreal and mighty experience.

The first race is really just something that we will all need to get through. Until people see the cars in action I don't think they will understand how quick they will be, which means they are going to be tiring to drive.

I consider myself one of a very small handful of drivers in the world that are top drivers. The best one? I don't think anybody can say they're the best one because, from one week to the next, you can be on form or off form a little bit.

Everything in Formula 1 has been sterilised now, the whole thing is controlled too much.

Alain will do everything in his power to win, he doesn't like getting beaten by anyone and least of all me.

I've always been reasonably fatalistic.

Fitness will be a major factor in the first race and I think that will play into the hands of drivers who have been racing recently, rather than people like me who haven't raced properly for a decade. I'am not one of the favourites to start with.