Q & A with Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel: I can give you a better impression once I have done a couple of laps. Looking from the outside I think it's a very nice looking car. But the most important thing is the speed on the circuit which we still need to prove.

Q. You have worked with the team for the past few months, what are your expectations from what you have seen?

SV: It's difficult to say at this point. Too many things have changed for this year and the rules have changed completely. There is a chance for a lot of teams to do well and a lot of teams to do not so well so I hope that we are one of the teams that do well. Obviously last year we weren't in the top position so we are trying to improve and trying to close the gap to the front-runners. That is our task, let's see how we get on.

Q. You have tested with the team - how is the integration?

SV: It takes time, but obviously now I think we are in a good point to start with the new car. We could use the time last year to build up a relationship. I get to know the team much better and the guys that work with me. All these problems should be solved by now and we can focus on trying to make the car work.

Q. You have seen the other six cars, were you feeling more confident as you saw other cars coming out?

SV: From the outside, the car looks nice. It always depends on what your taste is. In a way it's art so you have many ways to interpret it. But there are a couple of cars that I like more and a couple of cars that I like less from the way they look. I would say our car is one of the nicest.

Q. What is the biggest difference between the team you came from and this team?

SV: The language. Obviously the team language was English before...maybe the food and the eating habits are the biggest difference. But it's not a disaster! We have good guys here and we had some strange habits in Toro Rosso as well. It's not too much of a difference but every team has its own way of working and that's what you need to understand when you come to a new team.

It was the same when I came from BMW to Toro Rosso. You have to understand how it is functioning, who are the key people surrounding you and who are the people that work close together with you.

Q. Have you had the chance to compare Renault and Ferrari power?

SV: Yes. Nowadays there is not too much difference in the engines. Each engine has its way of working but power wise they are very close together but one is more in that direction, the other one is strong in other areas, but I am not willing to go any deeper. I keep it for myself.

Q. Does it make any difference that you now have 550 people working for you?

SV: It's still one car I have to drive. Not really, it's a bigger team and there are more people but you have to work out who are the key people for you. You do not work with all of these people, they are all part of the team and they are all important but the driver is driving the car and we are trying to maximise our performance on track and for that you have a few key people. We have more manpower, more knowledge and there is a greater potential.

Q. Is there more pressure now you're with Red Bull?

SV: I was expecting last year to win as well! I don't care if there is someone expecting whatever. I do my best, I know where I want to finish the race - ahead of everyone - so nothing has changed.

Q. With such massive rule changes does it give you confidence to have Adrian Newey overseeing the car?

SV: Let's see. We still need to prove that the car is fast on the circuit. It can be ugly or nice looking, but the most important thing is that it's quick. That's something unknown so far. In a couple of days we will know more. I believe Adrian is a very good designer - he is a genius - but as a team you are dependent on a lot of people. F1 has become a team sport so there are more than just one or two key people you need to be successful.

Q. You have more buttons on the wheel, is there a chance to use them more cleverly than the others?

SV: I think so. It will be new for all of us to get to know how the buttons work. You have KERS, the front wing and therefore a lot of buttons. Once you have found your way to handle them it could be an advantage. The driver can make a bigger difference in pressing the buttons.

Q. Is KERS a driver aid?

SV: I don't think it's a driver aid. It's a system that still needs to prove it is faster for every team. But I think there is some potential, that's why all of the teams are developing the system. You can have an advantage compared to another car if you are running KERS and there is a non-KERS car ahead. You could gain an advantage in a special situation. The system is very new and unknown - we need a bit of time to see how it impacts on the racing.

Q. You expect to have it since the first race?

SV: No.

Q. Bernie says you are the man to watch, has last year's success moved you up?

SV: I hope that I always will continue learning, otherwise that will mean that I stop pushing very hard and trying hard to improve. What other people think I cannot really influence but I try to do the best results. If that changes people's mind, it's out of my hands. The only thing I am focusing on is the result and driving the car. And learning, obviously.

Q. So you are not feeling more pressure than focusing on your own driving?

SV: Yes. As I say, you always if there is someone telling you you have to do this now and it would be good if we can finish in that position, fine. But I know where I want to go, I know where I want to finish. Last year, some races the car was good for P5-P10 and you want to be P5 and you don't need anyone telling you. If you were P8 or P9 it was a good result but I was not satisfied because I knew we could have been P6. You are always trying to do your best independent of what people want.

Q. You have a target for this year?

SV: The target is to win. Obviously it's not correct sitting here and say I am going to win the world championship. I want to, but we need to see. We need to see how we are going, where we are in comparison to the others. I believe that the new rules could give a chance to teams like us to close the gap to the front but the favourites are Ferrari and McLaren, no doubt.

If we are doing extremely well then we will be in a position to score points regularly and maybe fight for a little bit more. I am not the kind of guy to tell you we are going to be here. I prefer to stay on the floor and work hard. If we are getting a surprise then it's much better!

Q. If you beat Mark in Melbourne, everyone will say he has a broken leg, but if he beats you everyone says he has beaten you with a broken leg. Is it a difficult position?

SV: I never thought about that. If Mark is in the car he will be fit, if he is not fit he will not be in the car. So far, as I have spoken with him the recovery is going on well. It's not an easy thing to handle for him but I believe he is experienced and wise enough to know if it is good for him to race.

Q. Do you expect to beat him in Melbourne?

SV: That's the target.

Q. Do you have safety reservations over KERS?

SV: There was a lot of discussion going on. Our system should be safe, we haven't run with KERS yet and I am trying to answer to something that I don't know yet because we haven't faced the situation. At the point we are using it it will be safe. There are a lot of scenarios you have to think about - impacts and whatever and how it will be - but I hope we will be wiser as soon as we decide to race with the system.

Q. Have you been given instructions on what to do?

SV: Yes. Sit still. Everybody will get a bit of special instruction because it's a new technology.