The season is only seven races old but with 34 points you’re close to your aggregate of 46 last year - over 20 races. You’ve also already surpassed the 27 points you had in your debut year of 2011. What is the secret for this changeIJ
It has been a very good start of the season, but I don’t think there is a real secret behind it. We are in a position in which we can perform well on each track because our car is consistentand well balanced. We focused on understanding all key areas of it during the winter and that approach paid off.
You’ve also repeated you best position of fourth during the Bahrain Grand Prix just like in Singapore last year. Can we say that you’re coming into your own in the third yearIJ How much have you changed from a rookie back in 2011IJ
Stability is important for a driver and having worked for four years with the same team helps a lot. Experience is also massively important: it allows you to use the natural speed in the most effective way, it teaches you to pick the right occasion for an attack and the best way to defend. Three years of Formula One teach you more than you would imagine.
However, we’re still to see a podium finish for you. Your home Grand Prix, the BritainGP, is next so optimism in the airIJ
Challenging for podium finishes is absolutely the target of course. We have been close on several occasions, and everyone in the team — drivers, mechanics, management — is really determined to achieve this target. To be able to do it in my home race would be even more special.
What about Silverstone — is it among your favourite tracksIJ
As a circuit, Silverstone is one of the best in the world and features some of the best corners in Formula One. Places like the Maggots and Becketts turns are great to drive, you can really feel how grippy the car is and how much performance you can get out in a lap. Being British, I also get a lot of energy by the fans: the atmosphere is always incredible on race day.
During the Canadian GP you finished a commendable 7th after staring 17th. Although the qualifying strategy was not ideal, how was the mood in the team over the weekendIJ
The relationship with the team is very good. When you work so closely all the time for a common objective, it’s normal to show emotions. We know each other and we like to keep everything out in the open: when the race is over, we regroup and we start thinking about the next weekend right away. That we’re able to get such a good result in Canada after that qualifying session shows how well we bounce back from a disappointing session.
What do you make of your car, the VJM06IJ How different is it from last yearIJ How has the car changed over the yearsIJ
It’s a good car and it performs well on every kind of track. The VJM06 is an evolution of last year’s car — we improved on it and built on the stronger sides. One of the main positives of the team is that we have been improving every season.
How is it to be back with Adrian Sutil as he returned to the team stable after a gap of a yearIJ
I have known Adrian for a long time now and I get along well with him. When Adrian and I raced together in 2011, the team got its best ever result and I hope we will be able to do even better this year.
Is there a rivalry between the two of you, even if a healthy oneIJ
We are obviously competitive — every Formula One driver wants to beat his teammate first and foremost! But we are both trying to help the team move forward and the fact that we are so closely matched is helping us push and motivate each other.
The Pirelli tyres being used in 2013 seem to make headlines for the wrong reasons. What do you have to say about themIJ
We all have the same tyres, and some teams make them work better: it’s down to us to make the most out of them. I think Pirelli have done a very good job since they got in the sport and Formula One has never been this competitive. An element of strategy has always been part of racing - it used to be the fuel, now it is the tyres. That’s how the sport is.
You’ve been coming to India to race for two years now. How has your experience in IndiabeenIJ What places have you visited in the countryIJ Anything that has attracted you in the countryIJ
I really enjoy coming to India - it’s a massive weekend for the team and the support of the fans is great. I have visited lots of places in India already — we were in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore and we even managed to catch on some cricket games. One place I’d like to visit is the Taj Mahal — every time I was in India I had too busy a schedule to fit that in.