AT&T Williams F1

I didn’t test at Barcelona last week, so I arrive in Magny-Cours having had a couple of weeks off. It’s been nice to have a break, although I’ve kept up my training programme because you have to work even harder on your fitness when you’re not in the car.

I’ve managed to have a fun time away from the racetrack. First, I flew to Portugal to join some friends on holiday. Remarkably, I stopped myself training for a day while I was there and it was nice to completely chill out in the sunshine. Second, I met MotoGP rider James Toseland at the factory on Tuesday. I don’t follow MotoGP closely, but I have a huge respect for what the riders do. He'll be racing this weekend at Donnington Park while I'll be at Magny-Cours so I hope he does well at his home race.

James had a go in the simulator while he was there. I set him a benchmark time and it was interesting to watch him chipping away at his technique. The biggest change for him was under braking because you have to be quite brutal with the brakes on an F1 car, but it was impressive to watch him at work and he has such competitive spirit – he didn’t want to get out!

I’m now at Magny-Cours, where the view from my hotel room is a field full of cows. That has to be unique for F1!!