Exclusive – Julien Fébreau (Canal +): « A unique setup, a year of work to be ready for the big day »
Star Formula 1 commentator on Canal + since 2013 alongside Jacques Villeneuve, Julien Fébreau welcomed us into his commentary booth at Le Castellet to share his impressions on the event and the special setup implemented by Canal +.
Julien Fébreau is a busy man during this French GP. At the heart of the setup implemented by Canal + for the event, he remains passionate about the top motorsport discipline. The journalist, originally from Rennes, has been in charge of Grand Prix commentary since 2013, the year Formula 1 returned to the encrypted channel. A rallycross driver himself and an auto racing enthusiast, he even had the opportunity to test the Circuit Paul Ricard in a single-seater F4 car.
In regular contact with the various protagonists in the world of Formula 1 and motorsport, including both drivers and team principals, his main focus remains on the pursuit of information and confirmations. With a large Canal+ team, he is fully prepared to deliver a television spectacle worthy of the event.
After graciously welcoming us into his commentary booth, he opens up through various questions about this very special event for French motorsports.
Julien, what is being implemented by Canal+ for the French GP compared to a traditional international GP?
« It’s a bit like Monaco. These are our two most staffed Grand Prix, with the most human involvement, the most on-air involvement, the most deployment across all channels since we’re covering 30 hours with all the disciplines and all the shows we have around it. For this French Grand Prix, out of the 21 Grand Prix in the season, it’s the biggest setup we have. We are more than thirty people, whereas normally we are around fifteen. We are almost doubling the airtime with our set placed on the terrace which allows us to host drivers and team principals. So, there you go, we cover absolutely everything from A to Z. It’s a unique setup, it’s even a bit above Monaco, which is usually the most covered episode of the year. All our consultants are here, whether it’s Alain Prost, Jean Alesi, Paul Belmondo, Franck [Montagny], and Jacques [Villeneuve] obviously who are the most regular. Everyone is here, everyone has been mobilized for this Grand Prix.
Photo de classe 📸😎 #TeamF1 #FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/sy0MTMnm4R
— La F1® sur CANAL (@LaF1SurCanal) 23 juin 2018
Upstream, what changes for you personally in terms of work?
« The work has been done continuously, it’s really Thomas Senecal, our editor-in-chief, who supervised the French Grand Prix dossier. I think he’s been working on it for a year. »
One year of work, of exchanges with the organizers, with all the stakeholders of the Grand Prix so that everyone can function together.
« We haven’t prepared anything last week; everything has been thought out for months to be ready for the big day. You don’t just get a spot on the trackside like that overnight. In my work, there is no change. I follow F1 daily, whether there is a GP or not. Every day I am connected to F1, I make phone calls to people in the paddock, drivers, engineers to get information, to have things confirmed for me. I have, of course, reimmersed myself in the history of the French Grand Prix to get up to date because it’s a historic event for our country, but other than that, my preparation work for the commentary remains the same as for another Grand Prix, with the same requirement for information and finding the right contacts. »
Comment travaille @Julien_FEBREAU pendant un GP ? 🎙️🤔
Découvrez les coulisses du #FrenchGP avec @Julien_FEBREAU en Facebook LIVE (et un peu @margotlaffite 😆) 📺: https://t.co/8MD4O81Hmi pic.twitter.com/QQjkd4XkBO
— La F1® sur CANAL (@LaF1SurCanal) 22 juin 2018
As a Rallycross driver, what do you think of the track?
I had the chance to come and drive here for a day some time ago thanks to the Winfield school, which is based at the circuit, so I was able to do a few laps. Honestly, it is technically interesting. If we take a car around for one lap, it’s really interesting, but the only answer we’ll get to know how it handles in the pack will be during Sunday’s race.
« I think, and many drivers have said, that it would have undoubtedly been more interesting for the drivers if the Mistral straight remained intact. We saw in Baku what a long straight could offer, allowing for multiple slipstreaming opportunities, etc… »
« Now there was an economic issue which was to use the chicane because there are stands at that place and for the spectators it is nicer because instead of seeing a car speeding by, they see a car braking, taking a turn, and accelerating again. The circuit is beautiful, it’s certain that it lacks visual landmarks but once again that’s its specificity, it’s the Castellet. We know that here the wind is also a real element to consider, we’ve seen it cause quite a few drivers to make mistakes. In Bahrain, we know it’s the sand, here we know it’s the wind, it’s good as it’s an additional parameter to consider. We’re not racing “indoor” so much the better. »
A word on the organization, we’ve seen many access difficulties, including for some drivers like Grosjean and Vettel, and I believe you personally as well?
« We know that the geographical location of the site is complex; at no time did I imagine that everyone would enter the circuit in five minutes, the site’s configuration didn’t allow for it. There is certainly room for improvement, and indeed, I think they must learn lessons from these days. It’s the return of the Grand Prix, there are some issues, and I think they need to take them into account, and the organization will consider them next year to make it a celebration from Thursday to Sunday night.
Thank you Julien for this interview… Your predictions?
« On paper, I would say Hamilton or Vettel. Ricciardo not far behind (laughs) »
From our special correspondent in Le Castellet
