Interview: Julien Fébreau tells you about Pierre Gasly’s victory in Monza

Words still echoing in the Parabolica at Monza and in the memories of many viewers. Julien Fébreau tells us how he experienced the end of the Italian Grand Prix and the excitement that followed.

« Accelerate, accelerate, yes, he is going to get it, don’t let go!

Pierre Gasly’s victory, he did it !!!!

Where were you on May 19, 1996, the date of the last victory of a Frenchman in F1, before Pierre Gasly’s?

In 1996, I was 13 years old! I was at home in Brittany in Quimper and I was watching, like every Sunday, the Grand Prix with my mom! I remember the rain, the concern of the commentators about the risk of running out of fuel or suspicious noises on Olivier Panis’ car. Everyone was obviously worried that something might happen to him.

Several weeks after this famous « accelerate accelerate », have you realized that you associated your comment with a historic moment in French sports? Many have drawn parallels between your phrase and that of Thierry Roland in 1998.

Yes, it’s true that I received several extremely flattering comparisons in the days and weeks following the Monza Grand Prix. Being compared to Thierry Gilardi or Thierry Rolland really touched me. Now, I realize it by the force of things because I am told, but at the moment of living it, I just did my job and let myself be carried away by the moment.

However, we must not forget that all the work was done by Pierre Gasly. I simply accompanied this performance. If I was able to support him as needed and with the right intensity of emotion, at the right time, then all the better! Pierre himself said that it made the moment even more beautiful with the commentary. Let’s say he wrote the music and I added the lyrics. We both performed a beautiful song!

« Let’s say he wrote the music and I added the lyrics. We performed a beautiful song together! »

How did you experience this buzz on the web? The official F1 Twitter account retweeted this Grand Prix finish with your voice!

I was a bit surprised nevertheless, I knew it would provoke reactions as the moment was powerful and historical, but honestly, I didn’t expect it to this extent. It really gained significant proportions, but 100% positive and caring, and obviously pleasant. It was an immense wave of attention, to the point that I received nearly 6,000 messages! Obviously, I couldn’t reply to everyone, on the various social networks, I apologize for that, but I was truly overwhelmed.

What was very touching was that the viewers were moved and savored the moment. We are also here on Canal+ to make them live good times, so I am pleased to see that they fully experienced this end of the Grand Prix.

“OUIIIIIIIIIII! VICTOIRE DE PIERRE GASLY!!!” ????????

We just can’t stop listening!#F1 pic.twitter.com/ldxMU8M88l

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 7, 2020

We find you on social media where you share a lot with your followers!

Yes, it is important to me because I feel extremely privileged to be able to do this job. I am lucky to have access to this world, which I first observed as a young spectator. I wanted more than anything to live and work in this environment and to be inside the paddock. I do not forget where I come from and that in 1999, 2000, and 2001, I was at the paddock gates. Today I find it just normal, having had the chance to move to the other side of the barrier, to share with the people who follow F1. I do it naturally because I love to share.

For me, passion is always more beautiful when shared. When we are on air, we take our subscribers on an immersive journey, and if we can extend this pleasure through social networks, then we must do it.

For a motorsport enthusiast like you, it must have been quite an emotional moment to see a French driver finally win a Grand Prix, had you ever imagined commentating on this moment?

Honestly, I hadn’t imagined it. Of course, I hoped to comment on a French victory one day, but I hadn’t imagined it because I didn’t know which driver it could happen with or in what conditions. I never pictured how this moment would unfold. I also wanted to be surprised by this event.

It was even more beautiful to experience when it happened because there was an unexpected aspect. So, it created a lot of spontaneity in my commentary.

« It was even more beautiful to experience (…) So it created a lot of spontaneity in my comment. »

Has emotion taken precedence over commentary as well?

« Yes, there had to be a part of emotion and information because I remain a journalist so I am also there to inform people and provide them with the keys to the race. Naturally, there is a moment where the emotion is at 99% and the rest follows afterwards. Then very quickly at the moment when we give the time gap between the last French victory, then the list of names of French drivers who have won at least one Grand Prix and well there it becomes a journalistic work of information and subscriber support. »

You form a solid duo of commentators with Jacques Villeneuve. What role did he play in the last 10 laps of the Italian Grand Prix?

«He played his role during the 53 laps of the race! Jacques’s role specifically in these last laps was to take more control. If you pay attention, there is indeed a moment during one or two laps where you don’t hear me anymore, it’s precisely because victory is getting closer and I think it’s necessary to prepare a little for what could happen in a few minutes. So, I signaled to Jacques to take control, on my side it allowed me to check the information, the statistics, etc. Once everything was ready, we were in the last three laps and then, I had everything I needed to accompany Pierre if he made it to the end.

Jacques has had the ability for many years to take the lead when I need to handle other things and there, he did it once again perfectly. In the final lap, and even in the final sector, Jacques slightly stepped back to let me comment on the finish.

Here too, he showed a lot of class and elegance in order to let me take the lead in these last moments of the race. Today, we are very complementary. There is a level of understanding between us that makes it fluid and we know that we can rely on each other’s skills to be able to master everything that needs to be managed on air.

Does one forget, at such a moment, that they are in Paris and find themselves commenting live images from the small commentator booths in Monza?

We meet on the track, and even in Pierre’s car! The place where we are at that time doesn’t matter because we are completely connected to the action. We could be in Australia, at the bottom of a cave, or in Monza, it wouldn’t change anything in the commentary!

« We could be in Australia, in the depths of a basement or in Monza, it wouldn’t change anything in the commentary! »

As a commentator on Canal+, you have 150 F1 Grand Prix races under your belt, more than Valtteri Bottas! What is your best memory and the most beautiful Grand Prix that you have been able to commentate on?

Clearly, it’s Monza, because there’s the result of course, but there’s also all the drama of the event with Mercedes tripping over their own feet, Pierre ending up leading the race! It’s not like he secured his victory on the last lap by taking advantage of a collision in front of him, between the first and the second.

We had time to see the growing concern that he wouldn’t make it and the hope that he would. We went through all the emotions. It is true that for a commentator, these were incredible circumstances as well as the scenario and its outcome.

It’s clearly the most beautiful Grand Prix I’ve ever commented on Canal+ and in my career in general.

The beautiful story

In partnership with the website l’afficherie and at the end of a contest, 10,000 euros were raised for the benefit of the association Les Petits Princes. These funds will help the association fulfill the dreams of many sick children.

Merci @Lafficherie pour ce cadre reçu à @canalplus ! ????

Ça me donne une idée????

Je suis sûr que @PierreGASLY acceptera de le signer et nous la mettrons aux enchères pour l’association @petitsprinces à laquelle je suis très attaché !

Vous en pensez quoi ?? ????#AccélèreAccélère pic.twitter.com/zRNaySWaQD

— Julien FEBREAU (@Julien_FEBREAU) September 24, 2020

The evolution of F1 on Canal+, the image of F1 today… Find next week on Motors Inside the second part of our interview with Julien Fébreau!