Q: You are the first driver since 1982 (Alain Prost with Renault) to win the first two races of the season, but then not win the world championship.
SV: At that time it was even more serious, because there were only 12 or 13 races. Today it’s 21. I think we had the chance to win even more races in the beginning. In the end, it didn’t happen. We had a good package, but the bottom line is that it was not good enough.
Q: In Spa you started the second half of the season with a sovereign victory…
SV: There, we were at eye level with Mercedes. But then it became more difficult … Even though the people in Belgium still spoke of the red dominance, the internal perception was different. We were often not as strong as it seemed to be outwardly.
Q: But the speed was right. And that is in the end probably decisive?
SV: Yes that’s true. But after the summer break we often missed speed. We have done something with our development steps but then went back to the booth after Monza.
Q: Who actually pays the fine of 25,000 euros in Brazil (scales incident)? You or Ferrari?
SV: Me. And that’s how I got my annual punishment. The bill has not come yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s coming.
Q: That must have been an expensive scale…
SV: Well, the FIA says the material value was 22,000 euros. Then they would have simply rounded the price up, because they had to buy some more cables…
Q: Your new teammate Charles Leclerc brings a lot of talent and ambition to Maranello. There is certainly no red harmony in sight like it was with Kimi.
SV: I do not know that yet. The harmony between me and Kimi meant that there were not unnecessary politics. We have always left each other the necessary space – and thus not give the team unnecessary worries. Everyone is different, and how Charles and I will tick together will become apparent. But he is a well-bred boy – and Ferrari is a huge chance for him. The Basic Law will not change this time either: everyone wants to beat each other.
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