Greater Noida: What does a champion look like? Their posters and cutouts give them a larger-than-life feel and make them appear big, confident, perhaps slightly arrogant too. In real life it's a different story - at least for reigning speed king Sebastian Vettel. He sauntered in wearing the same jersey as several other Red Bull crew members and went virtually unnoticed until he smiled and extended his hand.
Vettel is a slight man, a boy almost, with an easy gait and an easier smile. Not quite the highly-motivated, highly-competitive and highly-skilled driver one expects. We say so. "So, what does a champ look like?" he shoots back. It leaves us groping for an answer. No, not quite that, but... we fumble. "Dhanyavad," he says with a big smile in perfect Hindi, putting us at ease.
Vettel is already this year's F1 champ, two years running. So, will he be just as motivated for Sunday's race? "Of course!" Vettel exclaims. "People don't understand and ask me if I'm still as motivated. This is the Grand Prix of India and it means a lot to us. All of us want to be the first to win here."
Besides, he's probably looking to emulate his idol Michael Schumacher's record of winning 13 races in a year. Vettel has already won 10. If he wins the Delhi, Abu Dhabi and Brazil races, he would have equalled the feat.
Schumacher, says Vettel, was an idol for him along with two other Michaels - Jackson and Jordan. "Since I couldn't sing, I couldn't be Jackson, and since I'm not tall I can't be Jordan. So, I was left with Schumacher as role model," he laughs.
Good track, endorses champ
On Thursday the Sebastian Vettel went around the Buddh International Circuit taking in the sights, sounds and the smell. He liked it. "It's a very good track. The elevation is great and the ups and downs will make it exciting," he said. Referred to as 'Baby Schumi' early in his career Vettel sought to play down the comparison.
"I care about the sport. I know its history and the numbers according to the drivers. From time to time I like to see my name somewhere but I don't set myself targets," he said.
Vettel's role model and racing legend, Schumacher, has been fending off questions about his motivation skills ever since he made his comeback with Mercedes GP but vows that he's still the same Schumi behind the wheel as he was with Ferrari. He told TOI: "Motivation is not a question. It's just a procedure of building ourselves step-by-step. That's why I'm racing, that's why we're here. We're here to win."
Another champion, Fernando Alonso, still exudes the same confidence he did when he was a double-world champion. "We don't like to finish second, and not just in Formula One. Whether in golf or tennis, I don't like losing. We're an extremely competitive team. Engineers are working 16 hours a day, mechanics 20 hours a day. People are working round the clock in Maranello. Tifosi around the world are following the team. That's enough motivation to win," he said.
TOI
