Formula 1: Interview With Japanese GP Winner - Sebastian Vettel

Formula 1: Interview With Japanese GP Winner - Sebastian Vettel

Formula 1: Interview With Japanese GP Winner - Sebastian Vettel

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Question: Sebastian, last season pole and the win. This year pole and the win and all in the space of just one day.

Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, incredible day this morning with qualifying and with the pole position and this afternoon we just continued. So fantastic. It was down to the team. They have been working very hard, most of the guys they didn’t sleep the Thursday until the Saturday, so it was good there was no qualifying as they didn’t have to touch the car and got some sleep. I think they deserve it today. Obviously this track is like it is drawn for us. With all the high speed corners it is always a pleasure and with the car getting lighter and lighter in the end it is just more and more fun. Yeah, incredible. Good start which was the key, from the clean side, and I could see Robert (Kubica) got a bit of momentum but the way down to turn one was too short for him. Then with the safety car which stayed out quite long with the incident with Kubica but then after that both of us were able to pull away from the field and then just controlling the pace until the end. There was a little bit of a rest behind Jenson (Button) as we couldn’t really go through him, so we had to wait until he pits. But after that, just incredible. So really, really happy and it is about time.

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Question: You looked to have the race pretty much under control from the off but Mark was putting you under serious pressure after the pit stops.

Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, obviously in his position he tries to push. I know that overtaking is not so easy and I think I just went as fast as I had to. I could see we were pulling away. I was mainly given the pace Fernando was doing for the majority of the race. I could see Mark when he was about one, two or three seconds behind. Like I said with Button in the middle after the pit stop half-way through the race we had to back off a bit but once he pulled it was free for us to go. As you said it was pretty much controlled to the end, just trying to carry the car home. But still you want to push every single lap because the car is magnificent around here. It just feels fantastic, so really happy.

Question: Seb, you are now tied for second in the championship. Only two drivers have ever taken back-to-back wins at Suzuka other than yourself. Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher, and they both went on to win the title, so it is a pretty good omen.

Sebastian Vettel: I guess. I wouldn’t mind obviously. I am very proud. I love this circuit. It is always special to come here. The fans - and I think the atmosphere for all of us is special. It is the first time I have won a grand prix for the second time, so I think ultimately you have to fall in love with this track. Yeah, very proud, so as you say I think that is a good omen, so I wouldn’t mind.

Question: Sebastian, well done, there seems to be a certain amount of relief to be winning again.

Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, definitely. It’s obviously been a tough season for us, with a lot of ups and downs and not so trouble-free, but still I think we’re in a very good position. As I said, it’s about time, so I’m really happy to be back and to have won, my second time here which I’m very proud of. I think it was a very good day for us. Obviously it was a special experience with qualifying and the race in one day. It wasn’t too easy in terms of focus to be ready straightaway this morning and this afternoon, but I think the whole team did a very good job, also in the race. I think the pit stops were spot on. I was really happy with that. Yeah, happy!

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