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ShareRed Bull's Sebastian Vettel is being touted as the next big thing in Formula One and he proved it by finishing second in the championship this season. The 22-year-old German spoke to DNA about his ambitions.
You have been often compared with Michael Schumacher...
I don't think I should be compared to Schumacher or any other driver. Michael has won seven world championships and I have only won a few races. He has not had any influence on my driving, as we have never worked together. We have spoken occasionally and, of course, someone like him always has good advice for younger drivers, but I never had a lesson from him.
Are the people at Red Bull surprised with team's performance as the 2009 season progressed?
For the team it was a great season -- their best ever -- and their performance was outstanding. We produced a great car and did a good job at the track and in the factory. We are very proud of what we have achieved and this gives us more power to attack again next year. We have to make sure we keep moving forward and aim for the title again.
What will the team have to do to sustain it?
We are still on full attack. This year was very good for us and a turning point -- it's something that we can build on. The rules change again next year, with no refuelling, which will make it interesting, but we're confident. I am sure as you say, Ferrari and McLaren will be stronger in 2010, but there is no reason why we will not maintain our forward momentum and be in the title fight again.
Can we see you become the youngest champion next season?
I want to win the title as soon as possible, but being the youngest is not so important.
What will you have to do to win the championship?
Formula One is a team sport, so first I will need a good car. And we need to have a better package than our rivals. Apart from that, as a driver, I must also make sure I make no mistakes, give total concentration to my job and win as many races and score as many points as possible.
Anything you would have liked to do differently in 2009?
Little mistakes were done by everybody. As a result of that we didn't manage to win the title. I do not believe in good luck or bad luck -- it was just the case that we did not get it right all the time. Now it is all about learning from this to make it even better next year.
Did you ever think of making Formula One debut so early in your career?
If your aim is to race in Formula One, then clearly, you try and get there as soon as possible and I was fortunate that with help from BMW and Red Bull I was able to get there in a relatively short space of time.
Whom will you compare your driving style with?
You cannot copy another driver. I would say I try and combine being as smooth as possible with being aggressive, while also considering what the car is doing mechanically.
You called your 2009 car as Kate? Do you have names for all the cars you have driven?
Last year when I worked for Toro Rosso I called my car Julia. This year it is Kate or Kate's Dirty sister. I do them in alphabetical order and like ships, cars are always females. So they have girls' names.
