Q & A
Do you have a question for Paul? Here’s your chance to finally quiz him and get the answer to that question which has always been in your head. Just complete the link at the foot of the page and we’ll update the site with the 10 best questions.
In the meantime, here’s the first five Q&As:
Terry Robinson, Manchester: How did you end up with Mercedes in German Touring Cars (DTM)?
Paul: At the end of 2004 I did a Formula 3 test and as a result of that I was invited to join the Mercedes Young Driver Development Programme. I tested the Mercedes DTM car shortly afterwards and after I won the EuroF3 championship it was the logical step to switch to DTM.
Ann Melville, Edinburgh: What was your first car?
Paul: A Mercedes A-class.
Alain Boucher, France: You're driving an F1 car for Force India now. Tell us something we don't know about the car.
Paul: Believe me, it’s more than my life’s worth to tell you anything which isn’t already public about the Force India VJM03 F1 car. But what I can tell you is it’s bloody quick; and a lot faster than you can ever imagine.
Kyle Buchanan, Arkansas: When and how did you get into motorsport?
Paul: My dad Louis has been involved in motorsport now for almost 40 years, so I was always surrounded by cars and karts, so it was logical that I wanted to jump into a kart as soon as I could. I guess I was about eight when I started karting.
John Lafferty, Lisburn, N Ireland: Why are there no women in F1?
Paul: Of course there’s no reason why a woman couldn’t compete in Formula One, but to date there simply hasn’t been a female racer who has been fast enough or made enough progress through the junior formulae. Who knows though, it may well happen in the future.