Q What attracted you to racing?
By chance my mother brought me to a karting place during holidays in Tenerife for the first time. I was playing soccer at the time. I never forgot this experience and decided to continue. I was such an enthusiast that for Christmas my father bought me my first kart (1994) and I continued and stepped slowly and naturally into racing.
Q What is your best memory?
I won the World Karting Championship in 2002.
Q What is your favourite track?
I like Spa, my home circuit and the street circuits at Monaco and Pau. You can really feel the adrenaline rushing through your veins. It is quite an experience.
Q Who designed your helmet?
I did, with the help of a painter, Pascal Mathieu at Bell.
Q How do you prepare for a race?
I am not superstitious. I am very focused. To start with, I get organised and I try to plan my weekend very carefully in order not to forget anything. On-site I am very involved with the engineers. Just before the race, I do different relaxation exercises. But I am calm and quiet during the weekend.
Q What have you learned in 2007?
I was driving with an Italian team (Cram Competition) in Formula Master, which means that this year I am new to GP2 series. 2007 was a great year: I dominated the championship. I also learned how to be comfortable when you lead a championship. In the past, my championships were always won in the last race. Last year, in 2007, I led from the third meeting and was then leading to the end.
Q How do you see 2008?
This is my first ever season in GP2 and also my first season with Dams. We decided to use the GP2 Asia period to learn the car and acquire mileage and experience with the car and for myself. I showed in Malaysia and in Dubai that I could be quick right away, with two podiums.
Q What is your motto?
James Dean said "Dream as if you live forever, live as if you will die today".
Q What do you cherish most?
My family and racing, but my family has always been so supportive of my career.
Q What do you do besides racing?
I finished high school, but travelling and racing make it very complicated to do anything else.
Q Was it easy for you to become a racer?
My father was a car dealer and my mother is a kindergarten teacher, so it wasn't a natural racing environment. But they've always been there for my career.
Q What is your dream car?
I like big cars that are convenient and strong like the Audi A8, the Mercedes S-class or the BMW 7 Series. A car must be comfortable, fast and sporty.
Q What do you want most in life?
To become a Formula 1 champion.
Q What is your best qualify in life?
My perseverance.
Q What do you hate most?
Animal cruelty.
