Even when there are a legion of F1 soldiers ready to help him with his bidding? "People forget, it's a big organisation around an F1 driver these days, so I could always use his support. There's so much going on."
So much that, even Nico admits to being a tad frightened in this cutthroat business. "I do sometimes get a bit scared in F1, there are some moments," he says, quietly contemplative. Not scared enough to stop him, mind. After all, this is a man who simply loves racing, and is acutely aware of his place in the sport, for example, when referencing DRS. "It's really good, I'm a big fan of it because you know, for the spectators it's made the races more exciting.
"That's all that really counts, isn't it?"