Q & A with Ron Dennis

Ron Dennis: It's so hard to have the discipline just to do what you've got to do to win. With the Ferraris and Alonso we only had fourth and fifth place to deal with. We covered everything, we took no risks, we conserved tyres, we didn't push and the rain was just a little late in coming, as we couldn't believe Glock was on dry tyres.

We were saying 'how can this be?' and of course we had the decision. Do we fight Vettel or not? In the middle sector Glock was five seconds off the pace and we just said, this is it, just be careful, you'll catch him. Let me tell you - heart stopping stuff.

Q. What were your emotions over those last couple of laps.

RD: We came here so focused and tried not to make mistakes. We could have pushed much harder, we were turning the engine down, saving fuel, trying to make sure that the tyres lasted and that we could push if we had to. All the time that it wasn't raining we could pretty much do all that we wanted. Just pacing ourselves and letting cars come, get close to us. I couldn't believe some of the antics in the last few laps by some of the drivers who were being lapped. We were saying, stay out the way, move here, move there...in the end it was a dream ending.

Q. How was Lewis?

RD: We were very silent in the last couple of laps. We were just telling them what he needed to know. It was challenging.

Q. Is it one of the most emotional moments for you?

RD: I don't think there has been a more exciting world champion or world championship as regards the outcome. It just worked great, didn't it? I'm sure lots of people will have lots of opinions, but as far as we are concerned we came here determined to win the world championship and we did it.

Q. Lewis is the youngest world champion of all time. What kind of a talent is he?

RD: If you look at the statistics, he has won more points in the last two years than any other driver. He's won more races than any other driver, he's had more podiums than any other driver. He's the youngest world champion ever. He just keeps delivering and, at the end of the day, he's just two years into his career. So there's a long way to go.

Q. How about Felipe Massa?

RD: He did everything he had to do. This is where it was decided, but the world championship is over the whole season. And we had some bad luck - Canada at the pit-lane exit when we were in command of the race. He had fuelling problems - all these things. This is the ebb and flow of Grand Prix racing. In the end there can only be one winner and I'm so happy it is Lewis.

Q. After what happened last year, how sweet does this championship taste?

RD: It hasn't sunk in yet. It's one of the best finishes to a world championship ever. I just love Formula One.

Q. Does it erase the pain of last season?

RD: I'm enjoying the moment. I'm not going to think about the past. The thing to do is get packed up, and we've got a big party planned tonight which would have been a very expensive wake! It'll take a while to sink in.

Q. And your future?

RD: I haven't given any thought to anything other than winning the world championship.

Q. When Sebastian passed Lewis did your heart sink?

RD: We knew there was a lot of rain coming and we were trying to decide: Do we fight? Do we not fight? There was no way Glock was going to stay on the road ahead of us in those conditions. In the end, you have to call these things, you have to get it right. It's a hero to zero sport and fortunately we got it right today.

Q. It has been nine years since the last championship. What does it mean to you?

RD: We win as a team and lose as a team. I don't think any individual...obviously Lewis is the world champion but the team has got a lot of depth and they work so hard. The developments we brought here give us the ability to pace ourselves. It's very hard to squeeze out of the system. We've improved the car two and a half seconds since Melbourne, as has our competition. At the end of the day it was a very challenging race but a great outcome.