On reports that the Jaguar staff aren't fond of him: 'It's such incredible fiction. Honestly, J.K. Rowling better watch out. She's got someone else going for the Booker prize.'

On his status among drivers: 'You know there is no-one in the pit lane that is better than me, except for Michael [Schumacher]. I have no doubts about that.'

On a third place at the Italian Grand Prix, which turned out to be his final podium finish: 'It's comforting to know that old farts like myself can still blow …

On journalists: 'To be honest, journalists have pages to fill and some people fill them better than others. Sometimes, it's very easy to make a headline by wri…