Despite holding a forgettable record at Albert Park, Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel is keen to get his title defence off to a flying start at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, where he is happy that everyone calls him 'mate'. "I like to come here, especially as a German," said the 23-year-old, who failed to finish twice in three starts at Melbourne and came 13th in 2009."In our country it takes a long time before someone calls you a friend or a mate. Here, I find the whole country is calling me mate, so it's nice to come here," he smiled.While the heaving media pack crowding Red Bull's tent at the Albert Park paddock on Thursday underlined Vettel's champion status, the fresh-faced German has had a down-to-earth lead-up to the season-opener, stopping by a cattle farm outside of Melbourne where he tried gamely, if awkwardly, to shear a sheep.Vettel said he had now set his sights on hunting down a kangaroo, if only an imagined one on the race's trophy."I really like the track and they have a nice trophy... It used to have - and I hope it still has - a kangaroo on the trophy and it's something you can get only here."I love racing also for these little things that might be funny in a way, little things like picking up a trophy that is special or is different to the trophies you can get everywhere else."Vettel may be disappointed that no kangaroo adorns the trophy this year, but would be pleasantly surprised with a win on Sunday, having conceded he had little idea how Red Bull would stack up against their rivals in grappling with the new rules.New TyresSunday will be the first time drivers use the new Pirelli tyres that wear out more quickly in pure race conditions, while other changes include the reintroduction of the KERS system, which gives a short power boost, and adjustable rear wings."I think the situation this year is a bit tricky, because you don't really know how competitive you are," said Vettel, who became the youngest world champion after sealing the title in the final race at Abu Dhabi."We know that whatever we have done in the winter we are quite happy with it. The car has been reliable from the first test onwards but if that's enough we don't really know."The strongest package in general is still able to win races so in that regard nothing has changed. The name of the game is still the same, and surely our target is to continue the way we finished, so we'll try to carry that momentum into the first race."Vettel, who will remain with Red Bull until at least the end of 2014 after extending his contract last week, said little had changed for him personally since sealing the title, barring a bit more fame at home and a nice feeling when looking back."Naturally, we are built to look forward so looking back is not natural in a way," he said."In particular sports, you tend to look forward, you're always looking to the next race or the next game or the next match."I love driving and I love to compete and I'm very confident that I can do that with the team I'm in now so that's why I decided to stay a bit longer."

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