Question: Bernie, you’ve known Vijay for a long time. When did it dawn on you that he was the right man to successfully establish an Indian team?
Bernie Ecclestone: I knew that he wanted it, and I also knew that when he puts his energy behind something in the end he will be successful. On the other hand he knew that if he wouldn’t do it then I would find somebody else… (laughs)
Vijay Mallya: Bernie knew that I wasn’t a freshman. I was a sponsor of the Benetton team back in 1995. I’ve worked together with Michael Schumacher and Flavio Briatore. I’ve watched Formula One develop. I’ve watched the changes and experienced it becoming even more exciting - and challenging. That in itself is a huge asset - if you know what you are dealing with before you get involved. One of the biggest stimuli for me sure was to see how Asia was becoming a huge stronghold of Formula One.
Bernie Ecclestone: Go East! That was one of my visions.
Question: How important will it be for you to have an Indian driver at some point in the future?
Vijay Mallya: It is very important. I would love it. I’m not a fool and can see the enormous publicity potential which would come from it. The downside at the moment is that there is not one Indian pilot who has the potential to battle the best on the track.
Bernie Ecclestone: And this then would be extremely negative. In this case Vijay would have achieved the exact opposite of what he wanted to. To choose an Indian driver who just runs after all the others is no use to anybody. It would be counterproductive.
Question: If you could have your pick of the drivers, who would you sign?
Vijay Mallya: That’s an easy pick! I’d immediately sign Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.
Bernie Ecclestone: A very good choice.
Vijay Mallya: Just because both of them are at their peak. I have my own experience of Vettel. For most races in 2008 we competed against ourselves, and maybe Toro Rosso. This was the reason why I had an eye on Vettel. And what did he do in Monza at a wet race? He won it! That was very impressive and I walked over to Toro Rosso to congratulate him. They celebrated together with me. I told myself on that very day that I would celebrate the victory of a race myself one day.
Bernie Ecclestone: Vettel is such a nice young guy. I said to him, right before his very first free practice in Istanbul in his BMW Sauber, that he had received his super licence just temporarily, so don’t screw up but justify our trust in you. The next thing I saw was his name on the very top of the timesheets. Then I thought to myself that this boy, only 18 years-old, is a sensation.
Question: What should we expect from the first Indian Grand Prix in 2011?
Bernie Ecclestone: A lot of curry… (laughs)
Vijay Mallya: More spectators than you have ever seen for an event. Amazing fans who will bring their love and show their enthusiasm for Formula One.
Bernie Ecclestone: What I have encountered in India, when I’ve been there, is that even the poorest people don’t show any form of envy. They give from the bottom of their hearts.
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