Glock spent two years with defunct Toyota

"Timo Glock is in an identical situation to his former Toyota team-mate Jarno Trulli - parachuting from a big resource team into a budget newcomer.

"The German arguably faces a harder task than Trulli as Virgin have imported less F1 experience than Lotus.

"Glock has played a similar role to Kovalainen and has done a very solid job for Virgin Racing.

"The German has kept his credibility despite being a tailender as his commitment has been strong.

"But he needs a much faster car next year if he's going to springboard back into front-running action any time soon, in any team."

What three words would you use to describe what it's like to be a Formula 1 driver?
Great, a lot of fun but also hard.

What is the biggest perk of the job?
I think to fly around to see a lot of different countries and to work with such a big team with lots of different nationalities is good fun.

How would you like to be remembered as an F1 driver?
As someone who has won loads of championships. How many? I don't know, eight, nine, 10 - I have to beat Michael (Schumacher) in Germany.

What is your most embarrassing sporting moment?
I have to say that two or three days after the end of the last race of 2008 in Brazil (when Lewis Hamilton passed Glock for fifth place to secure the title) it was quite disappointing to read so much negative stuff about me.

In the end I did everything right in the race, I didn't make any mistakes so it was very tough.

It was quite hard to accept and to read so much stuff that was not true.

Who is the worst dressed Formula 1 driver?
Everyone is quite a cool dresser I would say.

Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost?
Senna.

Spa or Monaco?
Both.

GLOCK STATS & FACTS Team: Virgin Racing Team-mate: Lucas di Grassi Previous team: Jordan Nationality: German Born: 18/03/1982, Lindenfels Grand Prix debut: Canada 2004

If you weren't an F1 driver what would you be? I would do scaffolding. My Dad has a scaffolding company and I worked quite a long time in the company, so if I wasn't in F1 I would work for my Dad.

Who is the greatest sportsman of all time?
Valentino Rossi is one of my biggest heroes in motor sport. It's unbelievable what he's doing on two wheels.

What would be your perfect day off?
I would stay at home in Germany, sleep for a long time, stay on the sofa all day in front of the television and then go out at night with a couple of friends.

Where is your favourite place to go on holiday?
I like Australia but the only disadvantage is the 24-hour flight.

Apart from a house what is the most expensive thing that you own?
My car, a Lexus ISF.

What is your favourite item of clothing?
Cool, printed T-shirts are what I wear the most. At the moment my favourite designer is Chiemsee.

What is your favourite music to drive to?
AC/DC's album Highway to Hell.

Which famous person - dead or alive - would you like to have dinner with and why?
Will Smith because he's a really cool actor and plays a lot of different characters in films. I like him because he takes a lot of time for his fans and I'd like to meet him.

Tell us something about yourself that most F1 fans might not know
I'm quite a big fan of handball and I support the team from Hamburg.

Steve McQueen or Paul Newman?
Paul Newman.

Boxers or briefs?
Boxers.

Angelina Jolie or Keira Knightley?
Angelina Jolie.

James Bond or Austin Powers?
James Bond.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version