Pic: Two months of intense learning ahead

Charles Pic had a taste of the F1 world in Abu Dhabi at the young driver tests in mid-November, but the serious part begins now. He will need to prepare in the coming months for his new role: Formula 1 driver.

The native of Montélimar is obviously delighted to have secured a spot in F1 and to be among the 24 fortunate individuals. He knows that all this was made possible thanks to his career, which notably included the French FFSA Circuit Team.

My appointment in F1 is wonderful news because it is the culmination of the work of an entire team that has been striving since Monza to secure this seat for me. It’s also partly thanks to the FFSA, which has done a great job with the French Circuit Team, of which I have been a member for 3 years. They have always supported me, just like their captain Jean Alesi. All of this has helped me to progress and achieve my goal, Pic shared on the FFSA website.

But since he joined this structure, Pic believes he has matured and thinks that the experience gained over the past seasons will be invaluable to him during his first laps as an official driver of the Marussia team.

I remember my beginnings in single-seater racing at the Auto Sport Academy. It wasn’t that long ago since it was only in 2006, but at the same time, it feels far away. I’ve come a long way since then. I worked hard to get here and was lucky to be well-supported by Eric Bernard from the start, then by the FFSA through the French Team, and finally this year by Lagardère and Olivier Panis, who helped to bring this long-term work to fruition with this appointment at Marussia Virgin Racing.

Pic will be the first French driver in F1 in two years, so he is anticipated and should be in high demand by the media. But all this expectation doesn’t stress him out much, as he has stated that he is approaching things calmly.

I don’t put any particular pressure on myself regarding my status, regarding the fact that I am the first French driver to join F1 in almost two years. It’s certainly good news for all motorsport fans in France and we keep our fingers crossed for more to come, of course I think of my teammates from the Equipe de France Circuit, Jean-Eric Vergne, Jules Bianchi, but also Romain Grosjean who was part of it before (2006 to 2008).

Between now and seeing his peers join him on the 2012 Formula 1 grid, Pic will have a lot to do this winter. He will have a task that is both simple and difficult: to learn and gather as much information as possible to be ready for the big day.

The objective now is to learn quickly, to make the most of the upcoming two-month winter break to gather as much information as possible to be as prepared as possible for the first races, added Charles Pic.

To prepare for this new life as an F1 driver, Charles Pic can count on one man in particular, his manager Olivier Panis, who happens to be the last French driver to have won a Formula 1 Grand Prix – it was in 1996 with Ligier at the Monaco Grand Prix. The former F1 driver expressed his delight at seeing a Frenchman back in F1.

« It’s the result of the hard work of an entire team, starting with its management, which is the Lagardère group, of which I am a part. It’s a great pleasure and satisfaction to have achieved this, but it’s mainly thanks to his results that he had the opportunity to be approached by Marussia, who wanted Charles at all costs, » stated Panis on the FFSA website.

Panis will have an advisory role next year for Charles Pic, as the 21-year-old Frenchman still has much to learn, and Olivier Panis’s experience—having participated in 158 F1 Grand Prix—will be valuable for Pic.

Initially, my role was that of an exclusive sports consultant for Charles, then, with my knowledge of the industry, it expanded during discussions with the teams and ultimately, there was this full-time position in 2012 at Marussia. Next year, I will return to my initial role to help him understand F1 in a slightly different way and assist him in integrating and adapting to this world. The first priority will be to arrive fully prepared in Melbourne.

I will be present at about ten Grand Prix races, especially at the beginning because there will be a lot to assimilate and if I see that he is going in the wrong direction, I will be there to help him.

The Marussia Virgin Racing team is clearly not the most prestigious on the grid and does not have the resources of the leading teams. However, it has recently signed a partnership with McLaren, particularly for the use of its simulator, which should be a great help for Pic.

His experience in F1 is not extensive but with Marussia, he will benefit from the McLaren simulator. He leaves tomorrow (Wednesday, December 7) for the factory to work with the team on the 2012 season, added Olivier Panis.