18/10/2009
NEWS STORY
What is the emotion. Is it relief, is it joy. Is it everything.
"It feels like I am still racing. It has been flat-out since I got out of the car. It is more than relief. You don't win the World Championship and feel relief. You feel ecstatic. All the good and bad memories go from your mind, not just from this year but previous years in the sport. Especially this year. It was such a great start to the season but the last few races were pretty stressful for me as the pace was there but for whatever problem we had in qualifying we struggled a few times. It made it very difficult for me not just because mentally that hurts when you are not able to get the best out of the car on that day. But also I read too many papers and magazines. There were some negative comments. It is tough when you are a driver and you know that you are at the top of your game. But the great thing is there has been a lot of good stuff written about us this year and so there should be. This team has done staggeringly well and what we have achieved this season after the winter we had is exceptional. I don't really think there has been a season like it in Formula One so it is great to be sat here as World Champion and I personally think I thoroughly deserve it. I have been the best over 16 races and that's what World Championships are. I admit I am a World Champion and I am going to keep saying that all night as I have heard my flight is cancelled. It is now anyway even if the plane is going to take off. But this race for me was the best race I've driven in my life probably. I know it is because of the emotion involved with it. But also I knew I had to make it happen. It was very difficult. Some people were very difficult to pass but when I had to do it I did. That's why I am sat up here as the World Champion. I am going to enjoy this moment very much. The people around me have been so supportive and I've needed them. I might have come across like I don't care about this in the past but that is just putting on a brave face. It is showing a weakness I suppose if you say it is hurting and it is stressful but I can say it now. It was a very tough few months and I needed the people around me, and especially the team, to fight for this. Today I didn't win the race but in my eyes I did the best I could with the car and it felt like a win to me this weekend after yesterday. So as I said I am the World Champion. Whoooh. I am not going to stop saying that.
How frustrating was it particularly behind (Kamui) Kobayashi. You were there very long.
I tell you that guy is crazy, crazy. I suppose it is just inexperience but he moves a lot in the braking zones which makes it very difficult as (Kazuki) Nakajima found out. Everyone else was tough but fair, but he was a little bit crazy but I think he will be put in his place now. It was tough. I knew I had good straight-line speed but when you have got good straight-line speed it means you don't have as much downforce as other people so I had to fight the car through the last three corners to get close enough to challenge into turn one. Every time I passed into turn one I was never on their tail. It was a late braking move. You could say risky but I didn't think so. I knew I had to take points off Rubens race or get close to Rubens. Mark was very quick and Rubens was in second so I had to be fifth so that was my aim. I didn't quite make that but it was an amazing race and that race for me was, as I said, probably my best race even though I didn't win the race, as I did everything I could this weekend and I have won the World Championship with I don't know how many points before the last race. It is a nice feeling. I know it has taken a lot longer than some people might have thought but this is Formula One and there are some amazing drivers in this sport and some competitive teams so that's why it is so hard to win in this sport and we have seen all season long there have been many different cars that can win races and challenge for victories so it has made this year difficult for any team that has been involved.
It really was in the balance up until Rubens' third pit stop.
Yeah, I think Rubens was in fourth or third.
Rubens was fourth.
JB; Yeah, and I was running in fifth at that point, no sixth. That was all I needed. Rubens had to get more than four points on me. I knew I could stay in sixth. My pace was reasonably good. I did not want to let Vettel past obviously as I do have that fighters' instinct. He was able to get past when I was stuck behind another car but sixth place was all I could achieve today but that was enough.
Questions From The Floor
(Michael Schmidt) Jenson, in the last few races you had a pretty conservative approach and today it completely changed. What made you change it?
It wasn't any different to the last couple of races. I made the moves when I had to in the races and my pace was good when I was in clear air in the last few races. But the qualifying is something I haven't been able to get my head around the last few races and I don't know why that is. It is something that we need to look at for the next race. Obviously I have won the World Championship but I don't want to be beaten in the next race as the World Champion so it is something we have got to work out. Maybe it is the stress of it all, maybe it's just that we haven't got it together and I think it is probably the latter.
(David Croft - BBC Radio Five Live) When you woke up this morning, honestly, did you think you could do it today?
I did yes. I didn't know what Rubens could do, but I knew I could fight up there for fifth and sixth. We looked at our strategy and it said I could be fifth or sixth in the race and that is where I was. I made everything I could happen and I went to bed last night very happy I suppose. After qualifying I really struggled. I sat in my room and saw the worst thing possibly happen for me which was my team-mate put it on pole. I am obviously very happy for Rubens in Brazil to put it on pole but that was the worst thing for me and I felt sick, I really did. I really did and for a little while that stayed. But then I went to see the boys and everybody was positive. I headed home with my team of people. I had a couple of drinks and I knew I was ready for action today. I have been positive all morning. It is always difficult when you are racing and the person you are fighting for is in his home country but it has been a great weekend. I don't know what else to say.
Say I am a World Champion again.
I am a World Champion.
(Ian Parkes - Press Association) Are you in a position to say yet whether you are going to be in a position to defend your world title with Brawn GP next season.
I was going to say that hopefully I will be racing in Formula One. It would be a pretty poor effort if I wasn't racing in F1. I haven't decided anything yet. Maybe I will go and race in something else now I've won the World Championship. No, I want to be here next year and I want to be with a team that can challenge for victories like this season and I think Brawn can do that. These guys are not one hit wonders. We have some sensationally talented people in our team. It might not be big like some other teams but that will be a benefit to us next season as the teams have to get smaller. We are at the right amount of people for next year. We are in great position. We have worked on this year's car as much as we possibly could but we have also worked on next year's car. This isn't it for Brawn GP for sure. But I haven't talked to the team seriously about next year as we wanted to get this out of the way, for the team's championship, the Constructors' but also the Drivers' I will sit down and discuss it when I have got over my hangover in the morning.
(Bob McKenzie - The Daily Express) In your career there have been a lot of ups and downs. Were there any moments when you seriously thought this day would never come and you would never be World Champion. Did you doubt it.
I suppose my second year in F1 was the toughest really, personally. After my first year it was all enjoyable at Williams and it got some great results. But really didn't work hard enough on the set up. Basically I was just too inexperienced and too young to be racing. The second and third years of my career were very difficult, especially the second. That's when I realised it is not just about speed. You cannot win races with just speed and you need to work on many different areas and Formula One becomes your life. That was the most difficult season and I didn't know where my career was going from then. But the only other time was last year. During the season it was tough and we couldn't get the performance out of the car. But i knew I could work that out. It was the winter that was very difficult. Don't feel sorry for me as it has all come good but it was a tough winter but probably a lot tougher for the team personnel than it was for me for sure. But I didn't know if I would be racing in Formula One this year. That is the truth. I had a couple of options but nothing that would have furthered my career. I was thinking of taking a year out but if you do that you get forgotten as many drivers have so I am happy that we have been able to turn it round and get the car on the grid in Australia and this is the end of the fairytale.
I suppose many people have helped you be a champion. Who are the people that helped you in the place that you are now and how do you intend to celebrate?
Wow, there is a long, long, long list. Do you mean through my life or this year. The old boy obviously in my early years. He gave me the support as my whole family have, but in racing the whole team. I think when you have a winter like we did, I know I keep going on about it but it is a big deal, that brought everyone very close. I have been with this team since 2003. We seem to get closer and closer and we have been through some very difficult times together and it is very difficult for the team as they see some poor results over the last couple of years. But they pulled together and built us a good car. The car has been great this year, but how we won this is through the team effort and through every single person within this team. Everyone had to do a great job otherwise you are not going to win races and you are not going to win the World Championship. Hopefully they are all going to get their bonus now.
(Andrea Cremonesi) Your last victory came in Turkey. Do you believe now that you are more relaxed as World Champion you can go to Abu Dhabi and try to win.
Ask me before the race but I am not going to talk about Abu Dhabi. I have just become the World Champion and that is what I am going to enjoy this evening. If I had had a poor start to the season but won the last six races would you be asking me the question. No, so. It just happened earlier in the season. It has been a good year. Times have been tough and I have screwed up qualifying a few times but I have been able to bring it back in the race and that's what is important.
By the end of last season you were almost without a job with the end of Honda. Now how do you feel being the World Champion one year after and how is it to be World Champion with a new team in it's first season.
I think I have spoken of what it feels like to be here. With a team like Brawn it is great. It is not a completely new team. A lot of the people I have worked with in the past. Obviously we have not had the same budget as we have had in previous years but we have still been able to make the parts this season and that is because we have some very talented people and good management. This team would not exist if Ross wasn't here. He has got his name on the side of the car and that is a lot of pressure for one person. To have their name on the side of a car especially after what he has achieved in the sport in previous years so for him to win today the Constructors' and the Drivers' Championship it is exceptional and the guy deserves a medal for sure. He has been very helpful over the last few races. Ross has won many World Championships and he has had many tough seasons. He has been in many tough situations. He knows that normally winning the World Championship is not easy and you have very dark days so he has been helpful. I don't think any of us think that we could have done it without him.
(Will Buxton) You have had your detractors through your years in Formula One. Flavio (Briatore) said you were a party boy. Jacques Villeneuve said you should have been in a boy band and a lot of people this year said they didn't think you would ever make it. How much is this one in the eye for your detractors ands what does this mean to you for all those people who said you couldn't do it.
I don't need to use words for that one I don't think. I have had a very up and down season but I have come out on top and I am the World Champion. Whatever word can I use. It is getting boring. No, its not. I don't need to say anything. We will see what happens next year but I am going to enjoy this moment like you would not believe and you can do that when you've won, can't you. I am going to do that. There are always people who are going to be negative. To start with it is boring talking about me finishing fifth, sixth, fourth second in the points and Jenson did a reasonable job today. That doesn't sell newspapers and I understand that it is exciting to talk about him winning races and he is losing it and is he a worthy World Champion and all this but none of it matters as I am sat here as the World Champion and that is something that you can never take away. The last few races I think I have shown and done everything I can with the package I had and today was no exception. Today was the best drive I've done in my career and David Coulthard said that it was a winner's drive and I am not going to talk it down. For me it was a great drive today and I needed it.
(Alan Baldwin - Reuters) Mark Webber said earlier that you can sleep well now as you have been bricking it for the last few races. Is that Aussie overstatement or have you been suffering?
I haven't enjoyed the last few weeks and it has been difficult. Even though you have got the lead it is very, very difficult. Even if you're performing very well and you're beating the people that you're challenging in the championship it is still stressful. You go to bed at night thinking about the qualifying and the race and you wake up thinking about it and during that period of sleep you think about it as well especially without Jessica (Michibata) here I am all on my own. I did ask the boys if they would come and stay in my room last night as I knew it was going to be a tough night's sleep but they didn't. But it is weird as I dreamt on Friday night that qualifying was going to be terrible and it was and I also dreamt that night that I was going to win the World Championship this weekend so maybe there are some truths in dreams.
You have got a busy night ahead so we will let you go? But what are you. Once more.
I am the World Champion. The World Champion, baby, thank you very much.