Why did you decide to retire after winning? Some might say you have a few more years left in you?
Since you’re still involved with racing, doesn’t that make you miss it? Racing drivers are such competitive people, many find it hard to quit, but for you, it seemed so easy to just leave the sport?
In everything you can always say there’s something more to be had. But for me, it was clear from the beginning I was fighting for a dream, to become the Formula One world champion. I achieved it in the most amazing way possible, against the greatest opponents and with the greatest team. In my eyes, that was perfection and it was a great time to say ‘thank you very much, I’m turning the page and going to the next chapter of my life’. When I became world champion, I also managed myself, so it’s really easy for me to pass that knowledge on and support other drivers. That’s exciting because I can relive a lot of the emotions I had when I was a driver. It’s a cool way of staying connected to the sport I’ve always loved.
No, my dreams there are completely fulfilled. I’m very happy to move onto the next part of my life. It’s such an extreme world and such an intense way of life and the fact that I can move away with such happiness is a big privilege. Not many people would be able to have that. I found it hard to quit as well. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. It depends on many other things as well. My life wasn’t
“It was clear from the beginning I was fighting for a dream, to become the Formula One world champion.”
entirely dependant on motor racing, I have other passions as well. It was an incredible experience, but now I can follow my other passions, things that I previously didn’t have the time for. Family, for example, or friends, the simple things in life. When you have an incredible dedication to winning the next race, all those things have to take a step back. Now, I’m making up for it. It was a complete lifestyle change, so it wasn’t easy for me to adjust at first. And I had no plan back then, so I was diving into the unknown. But a year later, I know it was the right thing to do. ≠