Like the majority of the field, last year you were an Austrian GP noob. What did you make of the circuit?
Not one of our strongest but good nonetheless. It’s short, there aren’t a lot of corners – but the corners that there are good; there are a couple of proper quick turns and plenty to catch you out. It’s a fast track. You can have a good scrap as well. I finished the race in a really good tussle with The Hulk. Good stuff.
Which are the signature corners?
Turn One is pretty cool as it climbs up the hill. It looks tight but actually it isn’t, it’s pretty quick, about third gear, and it opens up nicely. Turn Two is interesting as you climb a lot into what’s quite a tight right-hander, going uphill and off-camber. The second-last corner as well, that’s quick too. It’s quite flowing. There’s two tight corners but the rest are quick – third gear and up.
What impressed you most about the event?
The buzz. With everyone camping around the track the atmosphere was like going to a festival – everyone sitting out in the sun, drinking beer, listening to music, up in the mountains. Yeah, I could go for a bit of that. Massive crowd of course, and genuinely supportive of the event. Not just the Red Bull teams but the entire grid. It was really noticeable on the drivers’ parade, which was by far the most lively of the whole year.
You were the only driver to truly embrace the promotional lederhosen in 2014. Can you describe the experience?
I was rather cautious so gave them a test run early in the week before rocking up in them on race day to maximise my Austrian Grand Prix experience. They’re surprisingly comfortable – a bit stiff at first but they come in after a while and develop a bit of give. I’m not saying they’re the thing for a 20-hour flight to Perth – but I reckon Oktoberfest, with a couple of beers… yeah, you’d be OK for a day.
