Sebastian Vettel has openly admitted that the amount of pressure to perform is now increasing as the European season gets underway. Labelled by some as the 'true' start to the championship, the Barcelona Grand Prix is the first this year to feature major updates to the teams' aerodynamic packages at a familiar circuit for the drivers.

"Well, it will be difficult in Barcelona, that's for sure," double race winner Vettel said. "Everybody is already closer to Brawn than they were in Australia - some teams will make a big improvement. We are pushing as hard as we can to stay there, or to make a step to the front. We already have a very good package, a very good car, but we need to improve everywhere. The factory in Milton Keynes is cooking: everybody is working flat-out and trying to get the new bits onto the car as quickly as possible."

The Red Bull team has already announced a large upgrade to its package for the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks' time, although small updates will also feature in Montmeló this weekend. "The start of the European season used to mean radical changes to the F1 cars, based on what the teams learned at the 'flyaways'," Vettel recalled. "But with this year's technical regulations and the lack of testing, I don't think we can expect to see such big changes as in the past."

2008 saw the German experience a dismal start to the campaign, retiring on the first lap from three of the first four Grands Prix. "Last year?" he recalled, "Guess what; once again I didn't get past the opening lap, so that's another reason to have a good weekend this year!" The second half of his season confirmed him as one of the sporting discoveries of the year, though, for which he collected the cherished Lorenzo Bandini Trophy last week. "Being back in Europe means our Energy Station is back, which is nice," he continued, "because each Red Bull driver gets his own room, which becomes a bit like a second home as the season goes on - I'll have to remember that I've switched to the other side of the Energy Station and not go in the Toro Rosso driver room by mistake…"
Source: GPUpdate

Although racing for a rival team, Sebastian Vettel is taking advice this year from McLaren's physician Aki Hintsa. The story was uncovered by Germany's Sport Bild, after Red Bull driver Vettel was spotted talking with Hintsa, a Finn, on the grid of the Bahrain grand prix two weeks ago.

"Aki and I are friends," the 21-year-old, who like Hintsa lives in Switzerland, confirms. It emerges that Hintsa arranged a new fitness trainer for Vettel: another Finn, 26-year-old Tommi Parmakoski.

Sport Bild reports that Hintsa also advises countryman Kimi Raikkonen, who drives for rival Ferrari. Vettel and Raikkonen are also friends and often train together in Switzerland.

Hintsa said of Vettel: "I always thought that I was demanding on athletes, but Sebastian is unbelievable. He wants to constantly improve himself: often calls me when he is finishing (training) to see what else he can do. You have to slow him down rather than push him."
Source: PaddockTalk

Sebastian Vettel is to become the latest recipient of the annual Lorenzo Bandini trophy.

The award, officially titled the Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini, is an ongoing tribute to the leading Italian driver of his period, who was burned to death in an horror accident at Monaco in 1967.

Last year's winner was Robert Kubica, and before him Felipe Massa. Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jenson Button, Jarno Trulli, Alex Wurz, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jacques Villeneuve and David Coulthard have also been similarly honoured.

Vettel, the 21-year-old German who won the recent Chinese grand prix for Red Bull, will receive the trophy from Bandini's widow in the town square of their home town, Brisighella, near Imola. The event, dating back to 1992, will take place on May 31, the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport said.

Vettel, currently third in the drivers' championship behind the Brawn drivers, was asked by the German news agency SID how he copes with suggestions he is on the cusp of securing a top drive with Ferrari or McLaren.

"I take things step by step and am not influenced by speculation," he answered. "My goal is to sit in the best possible car and win races. At the moment I'm happy right where I am."
Source: PaddockTalk

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