SEBASTIAN VETTEL ASTON MARTIN DRIVER

You had great pace but a slow second stop meant you didn’t score more. How do you feel?

That’s a very German way to look at it – I agree. Without the slow pitstop, we would have scored double the points. In return, at least I had a fun race at the end, and we could recover some places. The positive is the points and the fact that the pace was quite strong in the race. We’ve looked after the tyres well, but I don’t think that’s the main factor. It was a total surprise to be faster than Mclaren and Alpine.

Is this race and your battle with Kevin Magnussen going to be something you’ll miss?

I enjoyed it a lot. Obviously, you’re racing for P8 and not for P1, 2, 3. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pace down the straights to just pass comfortably, so I had to try something unusual, either on the brakes or in unusual spots. I did and it worked most of the time. I had some fun and tight battles, especially with Kevin at the end.

Can you talk us through the moves you made around the outside of Turns 16-18?

It’s on the limit and the problem is the other car doesn’t really see you at that point. It’s a bit of a surprise. With Kevin, I thought, ‘I’m not sure whether he sees me or pushes me right to the edge.’ But he just left enough. It was getting bumpy and dirty as well out there. I had a big moment, a snap and locked up all four wheels over the bump heading into Turn 19. I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it… Very much on the limit but good fun.

Does that battle in any way make you regret the decision to retire?

No. Obviously, I will miss these moments. That’s not a secret. But I did think long and hard about making the decision and I also thought about these moments. I will miss the adrenalin. Other parts of me are looking forward to what’s coming.