Third in the 2004 table behind the Ferrari pair of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, can he hope for something even better next season? Or will the Schumacher hegemony continue undisturbed?
"Nobody is top forever. Everybody can be beaten, and Michael definitely can be beaten. He's not perfect. He's made quite a few mistakes this year, which I was actually surprised by. He's beatable, and I think most drivers on the grid would think so. Maybe not Rubens . . ."
But aren't he and the rest of the drivers just waiting for the seven-times champion to retire before they get a chance to fight for the title?
"I don't think of him as a better driver than Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo, or Fernando Alonso. I really don't. He's won the world championship on many occasions, but it's not all down to him. He's in such a comfortable position, and a lot of it is down to his equipment. He's got the quickest and most reliable car out there, but there's a lot of work he's put in himself. It's very important to get a team behind you and to get everyone focused, and he's very good at that. He is a great talent, but when you're in that position it gives you so much more confidence and you can be so much more relaxed. But Michael will be beaten, and I hope it's sooner rather than later."