Having clinched his fourth successive Champ Car title at Surfers Paradise, courtesy of becoming the first driver to win the Australian race twice,
Sebastien Bourdais had but a few days to compose himself before meeting the media.
Naturally, questions ranged from his feelings about another job well done, to his move to
Formula One next season.
Q:
And then also, how do you think all of the expectations that have been on you in Champ Car, how do you think that will help you in F1?
SB:
Well, I don't know that it's going to really help me. What really did help is to make the switch. I think obviously what I have achieved in Champ Car with these guys has given me the shot to finally make it to F1 and to come back to Europe. Now, what is it going to do for me? I don't know. I don't think it's really going to do much. I'm going to have to prove myself all over again, and in racing and in sports in general, what you've done in the past doesn't really help you much at all for your newer challenges. I think obviously a big one, probably the biggest of all, is to be successful in F1, but we'll see what happens.
MC:
In terms of his legacy, one of the things Sebastien is adept at is being fairly adaptable. One record that is not as well‑known that he established was he required the fewest starts in history, 49, to win his first 20 races. And obviously he came into Champ Car with a legacy of winning, as well. He won the 2002
FIA F3000 Championship, as well, and he also captured in 1999 the F3 Championship and was the Formula Renault champion in 1997. So I think that speaks highly of what Sebastien could do.
Q:
If I could ask you, looking back on this past year, I know initially you were a little bit critical of the new car and the standing starts and all. But as the year progressed, what's your feelings now? Do you think the car is a good car
SB:
Yeah, it's a good car. Obviously, it was a lot of hard work for the teams and everything because when you use a new car you kind of have problems no matter what, no matter how hard you try and everything. It's definitely leveled the playing field, and I think it was a good thing. I think, as a series, Champ Car needed a new face and some new instrumentations, and that was a great way to do it. Obviously the results... it's not that I was against it, I was just concerned about the safety. I'm just very glad that there's not been any big incidents.
Q:
With the great success you've had in going from one of the best teams or the best team in Champ Car to Toro Rosso, who is not the worst team in F1 but not the best, you have a great challenge ahead of you. F1 is a dog‑eat‑dog world, so to speak, so success is never guaranteed. If it didn't work out for you, and I say if, because I'm hoping it does for you, would you ever consider coming back to Champ Car?
SB:
I think anything is possible. Obviously you can't really predict what's going to happen to me in the future. I think in the meantime it felt very much like the American period of time for me is kind of over because it was always a wish on my family's side obviously that we come back to Europe and be close to our relatives. But it doesn't mean that we'll never come back. I think it would be foolish to say no. I think there's a very good lesson about never say never. So we'll see.
Q:
One more follow‑up. In F1 they've had traction control for years now, and I believe next year that's going to go away, and Champ Car doesn't have traction control, so you're used to driving a car with no traction control. Will that be somewhat to your benefit over in F1?
SB:
Well, I guess time will speak. But yeah, I think it's also something I'm very much looking forward to. It puts things back a little bit more into the end of the drivers, and it's also going to dictate quite a few changes to the way you have to approach the set-up and everything in
F1. So it might be even more interesting for the team and I'm certainly glad that it's going this way. It also goes along with the introduction of a new ECU, which also advanced quite a few assistances in the driving, including the engine brake control system. It's quite a few changes, and I'm sure it's going to play into my favour. How much it's a little difficult to say.
