Thread: Sebastian Vettel: I don't like to make predictions

Sebastian Vettel: I don't like to make predictions

On Thursday, Sebastian Vettel first sat behind the wheel of the new Red Bull RB9, and in the evening he shared his impressions with reporters in a group interview. . .
Q: Sebastian, your new machine - purple rocket?
Sebastian Vettel: The color purple is always so! Today, my main goal was to remove cobwebs and get used to the car. Everything went well, I was feeling quite comfortable. The potential of the machine while it is difficult to judge, but the important thing is that everything is functioning normally: the machine reliable, we have had no particular problems. Speeds too, it seems everything is in order.

RB9 is a step forward compared to 2012, but need to take into account the fact that the rules have not changed - new machines similar to those that were there at the end of last season.
Question: In your opinion, the car was faster than last year?
Sebastian Vettel: It's not so easy to assess because the last time we worked on this track a year ago, and then the machine is, of course, was not at all the same. Tyres in 2013 is also slightly different, the machine provides a slightly better grip in fast corners, which means that it has more clamping force.
Question: Felipe Massa was the only one who managed to go faster than 1:18. Are you worried? What do you think about this?
Sebastian Vettel: No way! Today we are given the opportunity to compete for the best time to others. It was important for us just to travel a greater distance, and for me again to find his rhythm. Fortunately, we managed to do it without much difficulty. Now we are waiting for tomorrow.
Question: After two days of work Mark Webber was clear that the car is fast?
Sebastian Vettel: At least it was clear that the machine, in General, works. That's the main thing. Externally, the changes are not visible almost, except that the color of the other. But inside many changes, and it is important that all of this works. We found that even in the first two days, and today I was able to travel more than 100 laps. This is very cool.
Question: this morning, everyone expected that you will appear on the track already at 9:00, but you stayed in the garage until 9:39. Why?
Sebastian Vettel: We something changed tonight. This is a little delayed, so I went a little later than we expected.
Question: Not because it was cold? The morning temperature was 3°C...
Sebastian Vettel: No. We usually go from the beginning to make sure that everything works. Today it happened a little later.
Question: What is your goal for this year?
Sebastian Vettel: I think the goal is absolutely clear, and there's nothing to discuss. Our goal is to defend both titles, but until this very far. The year has just begun, so it makes no sense to talk about it.
Question: what is Your first impression is the champion machine?
Sebastian Vettel: This can be said only after the end of the championship. I don't like to make predictions after one day. Now it is important that the machine works without any problems, and to talk about its speed is still too early. Today, I think some of the opponents were much less fuel in the tanks, and some have more.
Besides the track changes. In the second half of the day was more windy. In General, in fact, this circuit is not significant from the point of view of speed, so we'll have to wait a bit. I'm sure the results will be very close. After three days of tests, it may seem that someone became one of the favorites, and then in Australia, things will change, because sherry and Melbourne different route, with its own characteristics.
I think the championship will be at least as intense as the previous one, because the rules have not changed. Therefore, those who are lagging behind, it is difficult to catch up, and those who are leading, it is not easy to find something new that will make them faster. The situation is the same for all, but at least the feeling from a good car.
Question: What have you learned over the past three days about the tires?
Sebastian Vettel: We had certain expectations, and was the information provided by Pirelli. All this is more or less confirmed. More I don't want to say rubber is difficult to assess, as it is a difficult track for tires. The most difficult from the point of view of wear.
Question: the fact that the time on the range is better than on the last day of last year's tests, you connect with new tires, or better machines?
Sebastian Vettel: This can happen. I think the main part of the improvement is a consequence of the development machines. Still it was a full year and this progress is quite understandable. Tires may also play a small role, and the third - the track condition. It is, of course, has not changed with regard to asphalt and so on, but this year, I think, a little warmer.
Question: do you Expect to see during the season in General faster times on the circle?
Sebastian Vettel: No. Basically, the results will be the same, because the rules are still little changed. First of all, the qualification is no longer possible to use the DRS on the entire route, but only in certain places. It will affect lap times.
Question: What do you most lacked in the offseason?
Sebastian Vettel: Flying, of course! It's great that today I got back behind the wheel and do what they do best. Our task now is to do your homework". It's probably not the most interesting part of the season, but I still had fun.
Question: Fernando Alonso won't come on these tests. How much it is important for you to participate in them?
Sebastian Vettel: It is important, otherwise I wouldn't be here. But at the same time, I don't think they pass a big problem. This route is not Grand Prix, so, Fernando is not so much to lose. We are in the race for many years, so there's not much point to change something in our flying. Of course, it is useful early to sit behind the wheel to get used to the tires that are different from last year. But this track quite aggressive to rubber, so it is better to wait with estimates to Barcelona, and then to Melbourne.
Question: do you Think Lewis Hamilton contender for the title this season?
Sebastian Vettel: At this point it could be any. For the first two days the racers Mercedes drove not too many circles today, a little more, but to evaluate them is difficult. Of course, Lewis refers to the applicants.
Last season began with victories different pilot and machines, and nothing suggests that this year everything will be different. The rules haven't changed much, so the fight should be even denser. This also applies to those teams who do not consider favorites. For example, the racer Williams last year won in Barcelona, and not because he was lucky, but because they were faster. We have to wait.
Question: Everyone says that the test results don't matter, but still nice to be on the first line?
Sebastian Vettel: Always great to be the first, but in the winter it is not so important. More importantly is the end of the season. Last year the results were very tight. We did a better job with their work and proud of it, but now we have to start all over from scratch. Due to the fact that we are world Champions, we don't get in Australia more points than others.



Question: Everyone knows that you give names to their cars for a few days before the first race. Where do you get ideas?
Sebastian Vettel: Usually we have dinner during the week before the race in Australia. There appears a lot of options, and the one that sounds better, is assigned a car.
Question: Adrian Newey to you, of course, helps a lot...
Sebastian Vettel: The team many people who help in achieving our goals. We do our best, and over the last few years much has been achieved. Now let's try this again.
Question: Christian Horner has extended his contract until 2017. The test in Jerez in the past often were in the days when it was discussed and your contract. You still feel comfortable in the Red Bull?
Sebastian Vettel: You are asking this question... As women do not ask about the age and the contracts do not speak!
Question: But are you comfortable in the Red Bull?
Sebastian Vettel: Of course. In this sense, nothing has changed. I think you should see it. Today I, at least, got a lot of pleasure - a pleasure to be back in the car after the break. As the saying goes, if there is something new, we will declare. While there is nothing new.