Friday, 02 December 2011 21:16
Interviews
How was the season for you?
Sebastian Vettel: Well, indeed that is a question that demands digging deeper. One thing is for sure - such a year doesn’t come your way too often.
It was a well-woven tale right from the beginning without a moment of buckling. The car never let us down - and we never let ourselves down. Sure, there were some small issues here and there, but we never ran into a bad-case scenario - nothing like that at all. (laughs) The major improvement over last season is that we have never been irritated by situations. Even if the boat started to rock we never stumbled - probably something that was not quite there last year.
Was the feeling of a great season ahead there right from the very start, when you took the car on track for the first time at the Valencia test back in February?
SV: No, that was much too early, also because we needed some time to come to terms with the new tyres. There were so many question marks about the format of the races - some were thinking of up to five, even six pit stops - so no, nothing was clear in the first week of February. What became clear over the course of the season was that our car hasn’t been as dominant as it was in 2010, but what really made a huge difference was we - the people - have grown into one strong force. We have been much more stable and obviously have learned from our 2010 mistakes. It is funny to get comments after a successful race: you hear descriptions like ‘easy’, ‘walk in the park’ and so on - and it was definitely nothing of the sort at any race of the season. Every victory was hard fought and contrary to what people might think, it was closer, much closer than it looked from the outside. Everything had to come together - and that was what was so special, that we’ve managed to make it come together at so many races.
Your best race?
SV: All victories are special but the win in Monza stands out this year. The reason: we knew that we just did not have the strongest package for the long straights there. Therefore, the victory was for us all emotional and for me much more, because I took my first ever success there – very satisfying .
Your very best lap?
SV: I'm happy with a lot of laps over the seasons, but pole position in 2009 in Shanghai stands out in my memory. We had problems in practice earlier and lacked any real track, so I had to drive just one lap of qualifying to be on pole. That was a great satisfaction for us ALL!. If I can only choose from this year, then the pole at Monza would be my best.
Your biggest enemy?
SV: I think, are the two McLarens of Lewis and Jenson drove a good season and could even beat us sometimes. They have improved their car further and made our lives harder. Nevertheless, we were able to respond and always remain at the front end.
Why you're so much better than any other
SV: Whether I'm better or not is up to other people judge I don’t like talking about myself. The fact is we had a very good car even if it was as superior as 2010. But more importantly, we had a strong package of car, team and driver. As a team I can say that we have learned from the mistakes in 2010, and if the boat has even started to shake, we stayed quiet.
Let’s talk about emotions. What was your most emotional moment of the season?
SV: Two moments. Firstly the win in Monza, as it was where I won my first ever Formula One race, so to do it again was fantastic as it triggered some of the best memories. The podium there hovers partly over the track, partly over the pit lane, so you feel almost airborne and you see all the fans and have that amazing view almost to Curva Grande, far beyond the first chicane. I think life can hardly get any better than being up there. It is pure goose bumps and one or more tears! The second moment was - believe it or not - Korea. In Japan it was difficult to switch from finishing in P3 to having just won the championship - in that moment it was all quite unreal. But after the win in Korea it was the moment when I really internalized that I am the 2011 champion. With winning both championships in 2010 we proved that we know all the steps that it takes to win and the crucial thing this year was not to forget each of those steps - and we haven’t!
Your greatest disappointment - and how did you deal with it
SV: In 2011, it is not appropriate to speak of a disappointment - the year was very special for us and very successful. Of course we had the puncture in Abu Dhabi and we lost the opportunity to race a good race but that's life, you have to live with it. As a driver I couldn’t have done anything different.
How would you describe the character of Kinky Kylie, your car?
SV: Faultless! The good girl behaved well and never made any trouble. (laughs) If there’s a secret to this season it is that we’ve taken it one race at a time. Even if it looked pretty good for us, right from the beginning we always went to the next race with the approach that we have to give the maximum again, never playing it safe.
The strength of your car
SV: That our car this year was competitive on all circuits even in Canada and Monza.
The strength of your team
SV: The secret was that we looked at the season race by race. Even if it went well at the start of the season, we did not feel too safe, but continued to race every single race with maximum focus.
Where have you improved since 2011?
SV: In certain situations, I can now keep the calm and focus needed. This should not be misunderstood. I don’t think now: "That's all easy and I can do it anyway," but if you have achieved a title then you know for yourself you can do it. Nevertheless, I believe today I can improve even more next year. It’s not specific things like taking a different line or braking later. It's about experience, which makes me better in certain situations.
What is the emotional high point after having won a race - crossing the finish line, speaking on the team radio with your guys, jumping out of the car and hugging your crew, stepping on to the podium? Which is it?
SV: …definitely the podium. You’ve done it, nobody can take it away from you, now you can relax and enjoy the moment. (laughs) The playing of the national anthem - when everybody quietens down out of respect - is the minute of a short reflection on the race before the elation and madness sets in. Later, all alone in your room - when everything is so quiet -you suddenly start to smile. First you don’t know exactly why, but then you understand that you have a good reason and you’re just happy.
Your appetite for trophies seems insatiable. Where does that come from?
SV: Ha, I have no idea - obviously it is a natural instinct after two hours’ hard work! (laughs) Even when I was a kid I always went home super satisfied when I was able to bring a trophy along - no matter how big or small. But that was not always so. I remember at my first ever win at a go-kart race I left the award ceremony very disappointed because I had seen on TV that all the ‘real racers’ - the Formula One heroes of that time - got laurel wreaths on the podium and I was fobbed off with a cup! I didn’t even want to take it home! But that changed pretty fast and I started collecting trophies religiously. And if you’ve been very good a whole season long there is one trophy that sticks out from all the others - the championship trophy. At the end of the day this is the one we’re really racing for. (laughs) The award ceremony and handover is very emotional
When you got back to your hometown, Heppenheim, they greeted you as their hero. How was that - again, after 2010?
SV: It was awesome. And it makes you a bit shy. I have grown up there, I went to school with so many of them, I have seen them all my life, so it is kind of strange - and very touching - that you have turned into some sort of hero. It was very special to see how many young kids were there and that Formula One has become so attractive for youngsters of the new media age. It was very satisfying to see that my sport can connect with new generations.
What are you doing in the winter?
SV: First, we still have some PR events like the Race of Champions, one show-run in England and the Team Christmas party up to the middle of the month; then I'll allow myself some rest and spend time with family and friends.
How do you see 2012?
SV: There is not a single name or a team who will be our only competitor, but there are many names. McLaren were very strong this year and with their two drivers - Jenson (Button) and Lewis (Hamilton). It was probably not the easiest year for Lewis, but that does not mean that this must also apply to the year 2012. Fernando (Alonso) will definitely be there and I also have Mercedes on the list, with two great drivers. And never forget my team-mate Mark (Webber).
Credit: Sebastian Vettel (www.sebastianvettel.com)
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