Question: We were in Valencia this weekend, what did you think of the city?
Sebastian Vettel: First, it was a great qualifying and a great race. In fact I know the Valencia race track very well - from my time with Formula BMW - and I also remember completing a license course there too. The street circuit though was obviously new to me and also to everybody else - so nobody had any advantage. I must say it was fantastic to drive here! Maybe this view has been intensified a bit by my good result, but I think my performance over the whole weekend showed that I enjoyed it. And from my previous stays, I had already discovered the charm of the city so I like the idea of having Valencia on the F1 schedule.
Question: What’s your exercise regime over a race weekend? Does it vary according to the race location, demands of the circuit etc?
Sebastian Vettel: The regime is more or less always the same. As Friday and Saturday are crammed with race action, the only real exercise time is on Sunday morning, when I do some light training to wake up.
Question: Do you enjoy entertaining friends and family during a race weekend?
Sebastian Vettel: When it is convenient, it is nice to have friends and family around. For the European events, my parents are often at the races.
Question: Are there any drivers you particularly like hanging out with?
Sebastian Vettel: Actually, the time that you spend with other drivers is very limited and the bottom line is that, like in real life, there are some that you like and others that you like less. There are two or three I get along quite well with: Timo (Glock), as he comes from a similar area in Germany, Kimi (Raikkonen) and Heikki (Kovalainen).
Question: How do you spend the morning on race Sunday?
Sebastian Vettel: Well, I get up and do some light exercising, then I have breakfast - as described above - then I go to the circuit. And once there the Sunday routine takes over, which includes media work, the drivers’ parade, some lunch, so that I have something in my stomach, and then it’s time to get dressed for the race.
Question: How do you like to spend the hour or so before the race? Any superstitions or pre-race rituals you always go through to bring you luck?
Sebastian Vettel: No rituals. The only important thing is that I have to have ten to fifteen minutes for myself to focus, relax and calm down, whilst listening to some music that I like. Basically I spend the time going through different things - our strategy, our target, the car and the circuit.
Question: Do you have a lucky charm?
Sebastian Vettel: Not one - many! I have a little metal pig that is always in the pocket of my race overall. And I have a one cent coin that I found on the street on race Sunday last year in Indianapolis - at my first F1 race. Since then it has travelled with me.
Question: If things don’t go your way and you retire early, do you prefer to get away as soon as possible, or hang out and watch the rest of the race?
Sebastian Vettel: I have to wait until the meeting so I have to stay. But it’s true if it was a lousy race, I would love to go home immediately.
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