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Q & A with Timo Glock

Q. What exactly happened in Suzuka?

Timo Glock: I just crashed in the tyre wall, because I made a mistake out of the chicane. Maybe I was not 100 per cent super fit from the Friday problem, when I had the fever, so this was maybe another factor where I was not fit enough and made a mistake. Everybody thought it was a problem of the steering or whatever, but I just misjudged the corner, went wide and when I saw it, I just knew it would be a heavy crash.

Q. How are you feeling now? How's the leg?

TG: The cut in the leg is okay. The problem is that the job was not perfectly done in Japan, so after a few days, a lot of blood still came out of some blood vessels that were open - so there was a lot of fluid and blood in the leg, which doubled the recovery time.

Q. And the cracked vertebrae?

TG: They are okay. I have no problems with them - that is the strange point. I have no pain, I don't feel anything, and it just makes you crazy as a driver if the doctor says it is better not to drive. You tell him you don't have any pain, but the doctor says - don't do it, it will be better for you. The point is that I can do the weekend without any problems, but if there is unlucky crash at the start of the race, then I could be in big trouble.

Q. So it is a combination of both the leg and the back that has kept you out?

TG: No, it is more the back. The leg is okay, and in the last eight days we made a lot of progress on it. But the main problem is the back.

Q. How hard was it for you watching the races on television?

TG: It was a disaster, I can tell you! I switched off after ten minutes of free practice in Brazil and said I could not watch it. It is not very nice, I must say.

Here in Abu Dhabi, a new track, massive facilities, a great show here on Sunday, and you just have to watch it on television. It is quite hard - and it is the last race of the season. So disappointing.

Q. Is it frustrating from a career perspective too because other teams are interested in you and you have no opportunity to show what you can do?

TG: No, I don't think that is the main problem. They came before Japan and were interested then, so it didn't make any difference. Sure it is better if you sit in the car and you have the possibility to show what you can do, but in the end it doesn't work.

Q. What is your latest situation for next year? Toyota has made an offer, but you are also close to a Renault deal and Sauber is interested?

TG: I was asked earlier, how my French is! There are a lot of rumours going on at the moment, and we have a couple of good possibilities. And there could be maybe a surprise in the next one or two weeks, where nobody has been thinking in that direction. We will see... The possibilities are there and we just have to sort it out now.

Q. Do you see the new two teams as a risk, or an opportunity?

TG: Everybody says that the new teams are not interesting, but next year everything is possible. With the new rules, 150-160kg on board, it will be different. When you see the rule changes this year, and the ups and downs during the season, even a smaller team like Force India had the chance to come up to the top five. Brawn GP won the championship and Red Bull - there is no real constructor at the moment fighting for the championship. Sure, McLaren-Mercedes-Benz is really, really strong again at the moment, but the point is that it is more equal.

I think you have to look in every direction because nobody knows what is going on next year. That makes it interesting and you can make the right decision, or you can make the wrong decision. It doesn't matter where you go, you never know what is going on next year. Sure the strong teams like McLaren and Ferrari, they will be on the top and fighting at the top, but you have to be open for everything.

Q. Percentage wise, how certain are you that you will get something in F1?

TG: 100 percent!

Q. Because you already have a firm offer from somebody?

TG: We have, let's say, a good conversation with the teams. I am quite positive on that.

Q. And is Toyota still a possibility for you?

TG: It could be, but the chance is a bit lower I would say.

Q. Of the new teams, which one do you think looks most promising?

TG: This is difficult to say. Campos could be strong together with Dallara. Manor, which I think will be Virgin F1, is something that you have to look into. They could be quite interesting, but it is difficult to say. You have to know the team and that is the main problem - nobody knows them well at the moment. But when you talk to other people, I think everybody thinks that Virgin F1 is in the best way - this is what I hear from other people. That is the only thing I can say at the moment.

Q. Is it important for you to drive for a manufacturer?

TG: No. It does not have to be on the top list for me at the moment. It depends on what the possibilities are. For me, it is all about how the team is, how the people are. As a driver, you have to have a feeling that is comfortable in the team. Team-mates are every time a point. If you are definitely equal and if you have a number one or number two driver - this is a point. These are all the things that you have to sort out, and it is not easy I must say.

Q. Do you feel ready after two full seasons to lead a team?

TG: Yes. If you have the right people around you, yes.

Q. And a good challenge?

TG: This is definitely a good challenge. I had a really nice experience a couple of years ago with iSport, good years with them. Paul Jackson, Richard Selwin, Gavin [Bickerton-Jones], they were just real racers and it made a lot of fun to work with them together. So it is a big challenge to build up a team, but it has to have the right possibilities. It does not make any sense to drive for a new team if you are five seconds off the pace. So, all around, it has to be right.

Q. On the other hand, do you feel ready to be teamed up with a Lewis Hamilton or Robert Kubica?

TG: Yeah, definitely. I would look forward to drive against these guys. It is not easy. Robert is really, really quick, and Lewis definitely - he is world champion and really quick. He has shown some really good pace in the last races, and he is a strong guy.

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