Michael back to ROC Bangkok

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion is the first driver in the line-up for the 2013 Race Of Champions at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on the weekend of December 14-15. The end-of-season contest, held every year since 1988, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s main disciplines – including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Michael has more titles, wins (91) and pole positions (68) than anyone else in the history of Formula 1. He retired from full-time competition at the end of 2012 but he also has a mighty record at the Race Of Champions, having partnered reigning F1 world champion and compatriot Sebastian Vettel to ROC Nations Cup glory in each of the last six years. To rub it in, the pair won ten races out of ten en route to victory last December.

Full Michael Q&A
Last year you and Sebastian Vettel won ten races out of ten en route to your sixth consecutive ROC Nations Cup victory. That’s hard to top but how much are you looking forward to gunning for your ‘lucky number seven’ for Team Germany in December?
“Well, I already announced it last year, didn’t I? But seriously, I am sorry to say but of course we want to win it again! Both Sebastian and I are competitive guys and once we are sitting in any car and the visor goes down we just want to be first over the finishing line. The fact that it will be the seventh title this year makes it even more interesting, at least for me. So be prepared for a hot Team Germany to enter the ROC Nations Cup.”

We saw you drive the Nordschleife in the Mercedes Formula 1 car in May. How much time are you still spending on four wheels?
“I am still on four wheels a lot, but obviously not in F1. I still do a lot of karting, as this is my “old” love, and I have been driving the Mercedes AMG SLS GT3 which was a really good experience. It is obviously different when you are racing every other weekend but I am still quite used to it.”

What else has been filling your time and how have you been getting your adrenaline rush lately – horses, parachutes, motorbikes, etc?
“It is funny that everybody thinks I need adrenaline to be happy – in fact, if you had an adrenaline rush in a F1 car, you would be facing problems. The calmer and more relaxed you are in the car, the better – and this goes for motorcycling and other things as well. What I love with those things is finding the limit, being on the limit and still controlling it. Just to find this fine edge is something I have always liked.”

The Race Of Champions brings together stars from all over the world – and the rest of this year’s line-up will be announced in the run-up to December’s event. Along with Schumacher and Vettel’s total of 10 Formula 1 world championships, the 2012 field featured a haul of seven MotoGP championships courtesy of Jorge Lorenzo and Mick Doohan, plus greats from Le Mans (Tom Kristensen), touring cars (Andy Priaulx), V8 Supercars (Jamie Whincup) and more.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion is the first driver in the line-up for the 2013 Race Of Champions at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on the weekend of December 14-15. The end-of-season contest, held every year since 1988, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s main disciplines – including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Michael has more titles, wins (91) and pole positions (68) than anyone else in the history of Formula 1. He retired from full-time competition at the end of 2012 but he also has a mighty record at the Race Of Champions, having partnered reigning F1 world champion and compatriot Sebastian Vettel to ROC Nations Cup glory in each of the last six years. To rub it in, the pair won ten races out of ten en route to victory last December.

Full Michael Q&A
Last year you and Sebastian Vettel won ten races out of ten en route to your sixth consecutive ROC Nations Cup victory. That’s hard to top but how much are you looking forward to gunning for your ‘lucky number seven’ for Team Germany in December?
“Well, I already announced it last year, didn’t I? But seriously, I am sorry to say but of course we want to win it again! Both Sebastian and I are competitive guys and once we are sitting in any car and the visor goes down we just want to be first over the finishing line. The fact that it will be the seventh title this year makes it even more interesting, at least for me. So be prepared for a hot Team Germany to enter the ROC Nations Cup.”

We saw you drive the Nordschleife in the Mercedes Formula 1 car in May. How much time are you still spending on four wheels?
“I am still on four wheels a lot, but obviously not in F1. I still do a lot of karting, as this is my “old” love, and I have been driving the Mercedes AMG SLS GT3 which was a really good experience. It is obviously different when you are racing every other weekend but I am still quite used to it.”

What else has been filling your time and how have you been getting your adrenaline rush lately – horses, parachutes, motorbikes, etc?
“It is funny that everybody thinks I need adrenaline to be happy – in fact, if you had an adrenaline rush in a F1 car, you would be facing problems. The calmer and more relaxed you are in the car, the better – and this goes for motorcycling and other things as well. What I love with those things is finding the limit, being on the limit and still controlling it. Just to find this fine edge is something I have always liked.”

The Race Of Champions brings together stars from all over the world – and the rest of this year’s line-up will be announced in the run-up to December’s event. Along with Schumacher and Vettel’s total of 10 Formula 1 world championships, the 2012 field featured a haul of seven MotoGP championships courtesy of Jorge Lorenzo and Mick Doohan, plus greats from Le Mans (Tom Kristensen), touring cars (Andy Priaulx), V8 Supercars (Jamie Whincup) and more.