Q: In United States you had everything. Wins, glory, friends, money. What made you to left it all?

M.A.: I was dreaming about F1 since I was a child. I was 8 when I first saw a Grand Prix with my own eyes. It was 1970 Spanish Grand Prix. My father drove March. Since that time all my summer holidays I spent in Europe traveling from town to town. 1978, when my father become a World Champion, I made friends with Ronnie Peterson. He was just like a brother to me and helped me very much with his advises � at that time I began to race in karts. I wasn�t at Monza on a day when Ronnie died and my father became a World Champion. And maybe that�s good� I�m talking all this things for you to understand what Formula is meaning to me. But there�s one more reason. Formula 1 World Champion title is the highest award racing driver can dream about. There�s nothing more valuable. And one thing else � you can laugh at me - but I want to hear the American hymn on the circuits of Europe, Asia and Africa. I love my country and I will always have it�s flag on my helmet.

Q: You had several opportunities to move to Formula 1. Why did you make it just now?

M.A.: Yes, I was about to become F1 pilot for 3 times. First in 1986 replacing injured Patrick Tambay in Lola Haas. But the FISA President say "no" to me. Then in 1990 Flavio Briatore asked me to drive instead of Alessandro Nannini. That year I drove for Carl Haas team who was always saying that he will let me go to F1 as soon as I wanted to. But when I tried to talk to him about this he pretend that he didn�t remember his promises. Third, in 1992 Ferrari offered me to drive, but I said no. And now I fell myself ready for F1. McLaren is one of the strongest F1 teams. So I cannot missed such a chance.

Q: Aren�t you scared, just like Ayrton Senna, with the fact that Ron Dennis don�t know which engine to equip his cars with?

M.A.: No, I think when two people signs one contract they must trust each other. How can I not believe to the man who gain 7 World Champion titles in 9 years? Me and Ron regularly called each other on the phone for two years. And only Ron knew how serious are my ambitions to become F1 driver. I knew that if Berger or Senna will decide to quit from McLaren Ron will ask me to drive. And when I knew that Berger will drive Ferrari for the next year I understood that my time has come.

Q: But you will have to fly from America to Europe and back�

M.A.: So what? Just 3 hours in the plane and I�m arriving in Paris or London. I don�t think that I will fly more then any other Formula 1 driver. And I�m going to buy a house somewhere in the south of France. I will live there with my family in the summer.

Q: You are so self assured. Is there something that can disturb you so you feel yourself not as comfortably as in INDY?

M.A.: Yes. I know that I will be the first rival for my teammate. Last 4 years I spent in the same team with my father and we didn�t have a secrets for each other. So the competition with my teammate will be the new thing for me. It�s easy to compare Indy drivers cause we all drove the identical cars. F1 pilot first compares himself to his teammate. It is easy to understand that such situation can�t help make friends with your partner.

Q: How much time will you need to completely adapt in F1?

M.A.: I think that not less then half of a year cause, as Ron Dennis says, I have learn not only to drive F1 car but whole science named Formula 1.

Q: Two years ago when you drove McLaren in Estoril you said that you feel great pressure and pain. Does it means that drove F1 car is harder then INDY?

M.A.: There�s nothing to compare! The INDY cars are heavier and more powerful, they don�t  have semiautomatic transmission and it�s harder to control the brakes. But there are no such a great speed in the corners like in F1 cars. But to get used to the pain is just a question of time.

Q: Can you tell � Michael Andretti driving McLaren in INDY � is it real?

M.A.: Yes, but not in the next season. Ron Dennis understand that it is impossible to fight on two fronts for one team. So he doesn�t interested in INDY right now. But INDY attracts him. He�s got an idea � to make a contract with American top-driver and take part in INDY 500 with this guy. He already have some contacts � I won�t say with whom � and they are successful. But if something will went wrong I will make it. But now I�m more interested in F1 then in INDY 500. I think that next year I will have enough businness to don�t recall INDYCAR.

Q: Don�t you think that next year will be easier for you if your partner will be not Ayrton Senna?

M.A.: No. I want to be Senna�s partner. He�s the best in F1 and I would like to compare myself with him. Because being near with him can help me understand what I can really achieve.