Sebastian Vettel has thanked Crash.net readers for having voted him their top Formula 1 driver of 2008 – and has promised to work hard to impress just as much again in 2009.

“I don't consider it as a step back,” he insisted, speaking exclusively to Crash.net Radio during Wembley's annual Race of Champions at the weekend. “I believe Red Bull has more potential, especially for the future. I think it's definitely the team to go for, and I don't regret my decision. It will take some time,” he acknowledged of his acclimatisation to his new surroundings, “but we have some more testing this week and then we'll see. We should have enough time to sort out everything. Obviously for next year the testing regulations are different, but as soon as I'm in the car we try to work. If Mark is not ready early enough then I'll have to take over, but that's normal I think.”

“Close to that, obviously,” he suggested of how the cars will look in Melbourne in March. “You already know how the cars will look, but in the end what I care about is how the cars will feel. So far I haven't had any practice yet, so we'll have to wait for our new car.”

Non-committal about his chances of adding to his victory tally with RBR next year, Vettel added finally that he was thrilled to have been chosen by Crash.net readers as the best driver of the 2008 F1 campaign – and has vowed to ‘work hard' to do even better in 2009.

“Thank you very much,” he reflected. “I didn't know that. Yeah, it's nice to hear. In the end, all kinds of awards are a confirmation that what you've done has been good, and we'll work hard [in 2009] so our chances become even better.”
Source: Crash