Q & A with Sebastian Vettel

Q. There seems to be a lot more media interest around you this weekend than before. I wonder why that is Sebastian!

Sebastian Vettel: I don't know! Maybe they are all bored...

Q. How has life been since Monza?

SV: It is the same as before. Nothing has changed. Obviously it was a very good result and unfortunately we have not had the time yet to celebrate. That will come after the season. Now we have to refocus for this race.

Q. Has the win sunk in yet - because it still seems slightly unreal that Toro Rosso have won a grand prix?

SV: I think it was a surprise, but to be fair to the team I think we did a very good job. We did not benefit from any happenings on the circuit. So there was no safety car phase helping us, or plenty of cars retiring - or drivers making mistakes during the race to help us. In the end we had the pace and most of the time we were the quickest car on the circuit. So I think we deserved it.

Q. Do you feel different at all? Has the win put a spring in your step, given you an even bigger smile on your face?

SV: No, obviously the emotions are fantastic. When I think back and remember the pictures of there, or seeing photographs, I think it was a very special experience. And at Monza it was very special - to listen to the Italian national anthem for the team in Monza, it is hard to beat that kind of feelings. But life goes on. I don't see any reason to lose ground or change myself.

Q. What do you think when you see headlines saying you are the new Schumacher?

SV: I think any comparison to Michael is a bit over the top. We will not forget that he was one of the best drivers the sport has ever seen. He was the most successful driver ever. I am very young, I am just at the start of my career and, as I said, to compare any driver on the grid I would say the closest would be Fernando. He won two world championship already, but for any other driver to be compared with Michael is far over the top. I think the only thing we do have in common is that we were both born in the same country!

Q. What has changed for you in the last few races?

SV: Not much. We have some new parts for this race, a few little upgrades, but for the last three races we didn't so we just maximised the performance on track. It is down to hard work - it is no real secret. We were always just trying to focus and do the best we can with no mistakes. In the last three races we have had very good finishes, and made no mistakes in the pit stops, so that has improved a lot. As I said, there is no real secret.

Q. Has the win in Monza given you some extra confidence, anything more that you didn't think you had before?

SV: I think we caught quite a good wave before Monza. We arrived there very motivated and the result then, at the moment we might be on a high, but we are trying to put that down with a good result again. Everyone is extremely motivated again, the atmosphere is great, and there is a lot of love and fun to work with the team. We all want to do the best we can and get the best out of ourselves.

Q. What do you make of the Singapore track?

SV: I walked the track on Thursday at midnight. It looks very interesting. With a lot of corners, a lot of low speed corners and a lot of chicanes and change of direction. I think it will be a very interesting and very tough circuit for your mind. Obviously the fact that we are running in night conditions is new for most of the drivers and new for the teams as well. So, it will be quite interesting to see how it will be. But the first real judgement you can make only after free practice 1. But it looks challenging and interesting.

Q. The fact you had to test after Monza, was that good for helping you refocus?

SV: Yes. There was a lot of work to do; I was testing for three days - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Jerez. Maybe it was good because I didn't get much of the hype, so I could focus on what was important. After that, I just spent some days at home resting and preparing for the race here.

Q. Did you notice any difference between the Red Bull car and your Toro Rosso?

SV: Obviously each car is different, but to be honest the difference is very small. Both car have similar behaviour on the circuit, but it depends which way you go in terms of setup - which philosophy you listen to. In the end, there is not much difference in the car in the car or engine. And the tyres are the same.

Q. But could you feel a difference in the driveability and power of the Renault engine?

SV: I think every engine is different compared to the others. In the end it is a mix of what you want to achieve on track or how you build your engine. There is a little difference but in terms of performance they are very similar. It is very difficult to feel advantage or disadvantage for one of the other.

Q. How will life change for you next season at Red Bull Racing? A different team, a different car?

SV: Yeah, that is it. I don't see my life changing.

Q. Considering the money you are earning at Toro Rosso you are one of the cheapest grand prix drivers...

SV: How do you know! I don't know, I don't know what the others earn.

Q. Well, how high is the price now for Red Bull after winning in Monza?

SV: Everybody knew that we confirmed in Hockenheim that I am going to race there. Since then nothing has changed.

Q. What about bonus payments?

SV: I think it is quite common that there is a bonus system for the drivers in the contract. But obviously I will not tell you detail!

Q. You have a good and happy family. What was the reaction inside your family about the win?

SV: It was very good and very happy!

Q. Who is the biggest fan of you inside the family? Who loves you?

SV: I think they all love me. I hope so, anyway! They were all happy obviously, but we have had no time to celebrate. I was straight going to the test in Jerez, so time yet, but after the season around Christmas time I will find some time. But everyone was happy - my parents, my little brother especially, my sisters, grandmother, grandfather.

Q. Dogs and cats?

SV: Yeah, I don't know if they realised though!

Q. The Monza win was a victory that came from genuine pace. Judging by the speed of the car since Hungary, is another decent result, a podium of victory, possible this season?

SV: It is difficult. I would say in a normal race in normal conditions it is not possible. Obviously you have two very strong teams and that makes four cars already, so if they don't mess it up then there is not much left. For another podium finish we need special conditions, or some happenings in the front from which we can benefit.

Q. Can this circuit suit your car?

SV: I hope so! It is very difficult to say. I think we came out of a couple of races and said that the car likes a tendency to have fast corners and fast tracks like Silverstone or Spa-Francorchamps or whatever. But in the end we had a very good and competitive car in Valencia as well, so we have an all rounder as well. We should be fine everywhere, and I think the package is strong. Obviously it is far away from the top teams, but it is strong in terms of the midfield, so it is up to us to use it. It will be interesting to see on Friday how good or how bad we are.

Q. But the team must have some more self belief and confidence now about themselves?

SV: As I said, you must not forget where the team was last year or the years before. Results like in Montreal where we are eighth, or Monaco fifth, Valencia sixth, are fantastic for us. Coming here having won the last race is outstanding; it is hard to put in words for myself or my whole team and group. As I said the base of the team is still from the Minardi times. I think for me it is great to give this kind of experience to those people. They were so hungry for success, taking part for such a long time. Since Monaco it is a very good season for us. We scored a lot of points, which, as I said is unusual, and obviously the race win in Monza was fantastic for us. So to give that kind of emotion and that kind of time and experience for all the guys in the team is the nicest feeling, above all.

Q. There seems a good family spirit here between yourself and the team. Will there be some sadness about moving on next year?

SV: I don't know. In Germany we have a saying: 'there is one eye laughing and one eye crying.' I don't know if you have this kind of thing in English. But for sure, you are looking forward to your new adventure there but on the other hand you are also quite sad. Not crying, but you don't want to leave. I think that is normal. As soon as you leave an environment where you have felt very much home or comfortable, you don't want to leave. On the other hand I am looking forward to going there.

Q. What was the best complement you had after winning in Monza?

SV: There were many. A lot of friends and family, they were all very happy. And that for me is the most important. Some people asked if there were any VIPs calling me, but no. Especially my parents, my father, we started together. As a little kid I had the dream to race in F1, and we had difficult years and difficult times from time-to-time. But in the end that was the nicest time of all. So I was able to enjoy my childhood. On the other hand I was able to have fun on the race track. Obviously these kind of pictures go through your mind after crossing the finish-line. You start to realise then what happened.

Q. Did Michael call you?

SV: What, Michael Phelps?

Q. No, Schumacher...

SV: Yes, he congratulated me.

Q. You know there is no one apart from Felipe Massa who has scored more points since the summer break than you? Can you continue like this?

SV: I hope so. Unfortunately if you are just checking the number, mathematically it is impossible for me to win the world championship any more.