My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career, but I can’t deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming.
In rallying every curve, every hill may be different than you thought. That makes it interesting.
Im winning races, Im still challenging for the world championships, the team is fantastic and I have a great relationship with everybody here – so why would I want to even consider changing?
The helmet has a special meaning for many drivers. How important is it to you? – It protects my head.
Do you have any ambitions outside racing? My main ambition at the moment, whether inside or outside racing, is to become Formula 1 World Champion.
Formula 1 would be a paradise without the media.
I’m not interested in what people think about me. I’m not Michael Schumacher.
Ive just got to do a good job and stay on in Formula One for as long as I can.
When I did some Nascar races this year I noticed that I was increasingly missing the racing side, to race against each other, because in rallying you really race against the clock.
When I was a kid, I would watch the grands prix. Everyone dreamt of becoming a race driver, while I only started thinking about it when I was 18 or 19. Only at that age did I seriously start thinking about this job. Before then, I would change ideas from one second to the next.
Driving is the only thing I love about F1.
I’m happy, but there’s nothing to jump around about.
Where I went off, you can get back on the track by going through the support race pitlane, but you have to go through a gate. I know this as I did the same thing in 2001 and the gate was open that year. Somebody closed it this time. Next year, I’ll make sure it’s open again.
You always want to have a winning car, but there is no guarantee that it will be.
I just love the American spirit of racing. It feels just great to get involved with that.
There’s always a lot of talk about motivation to race, but nobody really knows what I do or what I think apart from myself, so I don’t really care what people think.
Since I started in motor racing I’ve worked with people from all over the world. We are all here to go racing and prejudice will never play any part in that.
I’m delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I’m grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity.
It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP as I have been impressed by the scope of the team’s ambition.
You don’t drive races on paper.