Interview – Franck Montagny (Canal+): among current drivers, there is sometimes a lack of gladiator spirit!
Uncompromising interview with the third driver from the golden era of Renault, now working in the field and as a consultant for Canal+ since 2013. Among the points raised, drivers being too economical and regulations being too complicated.
He has been walking down the pit lane since 2013 as a consultant for the encrypted channel. Aerodynamics, tires, power unit… Franck Montagny brings a real added value to viewers in addition to the Fébreau-Villeneuve duo in the commentary box. We had the opportunity to meet him in the Monaco paddock: a twenty-minute interview about his consultant job, his career as a driver (7 starts in Formula 1 for Super Aguri in 2006) and about the current season… candidness guaranteed.
Franck, this is already your seventh Monaco Grand Prix as a consultant for Canal+… do you still have the same determination as you did at the very beginning in 2013?
« Well, you just taught me something: I hadn’t counted! Cars change all the time so yes, I always have the grinta as you say! So of course, there are things that bother me: but I forbid myself to be bored with what I do, otherwise I’m not good. The advantage at Canal is that I do several things: I also do commentary in the booth from time to time. It’s a good thing, it means I’m not bad at what I do (laughs)!
What has been your evolution over the years: I imagine more and more ease?
« It was very difficult in the beginning: Thomas (Editor’s note: Sénécal, chief editor of motorsports on Canal channels) drew marks on the ground so that I would not move, since I am hyperactive! Being in front of the camera has always bothered me. Now it’s fine: I found the right connection with my cameraman, to give the viewer the best possible images. »
How do you prepare these different interventions during the weekend: do you keep in touch with a lot of contacts within the teams?
« That’s it! I know a lot of mechanics: in Formula 1, I worked for Renault, for Honda, and for Toyota. I often find them in the garages today. I have always been closer to the team’s base than to the top with management.
« With cars, I play the game of seven mistakes compared to the last race: I prepare my notes beforehand, and I check when I am in the pit lane. If I have a doubt, I ask the engineers.
What do you like the most about your job at Canal +: the “Franck’s tour” section?
« Yes, I like that! But it’s just two minutes and a bit too short: I can only talk about two turns while I could talk about the track for two hours! And what’s also cool is that even though F1 cars have evolved a lot, I don’t need to explain very specific things about the current regulations to the general public.
« I realized that there are things that are not useful at all to the viewer. The only thing that enters his ear, and this is not pejorative, is visual, like an oil leak. That is important! Even for me driving cars, it was the visual element par excellence that told me whether I could continue with my engine or not.
Le Tour de Franck @Fmontagny dans le secteur le plus étroit du championnat: 7m60 à l’entrée de la vieille ville de Bakou. #f1 @LaF1SurCanal pic.twitter.com/o7sEARDyCu
— Laurent Dupin (@LaurentDupin_f1) 25 avril 2019
By listening to you, I get the feeling that there are some things you don’t really appreciate in the current regulations…
« There is one thing in particular that drives me crazy: when it rains, the driver doesn’t go out. I often think of the viewer: how shameful for them! Pilots should be allowed to manage themselves. When I see Jacques Laffite or Henri Pescarolo in the 70s and 80s, they put their lives in danger every weekend. I understand the evolution related to safety, but sometimes there is a lack of the gladiator aspect today.
»
« There is also another thing that bothers me, it is the lack of fatigue of the drivers: they should be more exhausted at the end of Grand Prix races! When I did 140 laps in a Renault during testing, the next day I was stiff all over. Nowadays, the drivers on the grid drive eight seconds off their time during the race, because of the tires, it’s too easy for them. When I was four seconds off my reference, I was fine… so they are!
»
« Just take a look at the guys’ hair on the podium: they’re not sweating much! Pilots sweat more when they go for a one-hour jog! There is still a problem…
»
Let’s now talk about your past as a driver: what is your strongest moment behind the wheel of an F1 car? Your time at Super Aguri in 2006?
« No, not at all! At Super Aguri, I seized an opportunity but I was driving a car that was two years older and I weighed 12 kg more than Takuma (editor’s note: Sato), my teammate. Whatever happened, I always had a half-second handicap at the start. But at least, I completed my F1 driver loop.
Actually, my strongest moments were with Renault as a third driver: I developed the settings for Jarno (editor’s note: Trulli) in 2004 when he won in Monaco! It was me who brought the parts, I was part of the team, I still did 50,000 kilometers of testing over three years (between 2003 and 2005). That’s also why I preferred to leave F1 in 2008…
At Toyota, I was the third driver in 2007 but in the end, I just wore a jacket in the paddock.
44) Franck Montagny (2000’s only) #F1in2000
Super Aguri 2006
7 entries (7 starts)
0 points
Best finish: 16th (2006 Monaco & France) #F1Tested for Renault, Jordan & Toyota. He has competed in multiple series, but received a two year ban for doping. Now a commentator. pic.twitter.com/go7gjV5E8o
— F1 in the 2000s 🏁 (@CrystalRacing) 25 octobre 2018
Indeed, do you see a connection between your situation at the time and that of Esteban: is he condemned to never come back to a racing seat?
The real difference with me is that Esteban does simulator work: he is involved in the team and does not just wear a jacket and wait. His future is uncertain, but Mercedes is determined to promote its young drivers: I could see him at Williams next year instead of Kubica. Because joining Mercedes at the moment is impossible!
You talk about Mercedes: do you think the team will continue to dominate the entire season?
« Oh yeah, for sure! Even though sometimes I would like more fighting at the front. Sometimes I’m even a bit of a Care Bear, I announce on air that Ferrari is at the front before qualifying, when in fact, not at all! It’s not even for publicity, but I just wish there was a Mercedes victory one weekend, and a Ferrari victory the next weekend… it’s not happening this season. What is certain with Ferrari is that there is a problem with the front end: the car doesn’t turn well! »
Among the drivers from the 2019 season, which one impresses you the most?
« (Without hesitation) Charles (Leclerc) ! He’s the one who has integrated the best in Formula 1 among the young drivers who recently arrived. But I’m also impressed by Lewis (Hamilton): he puts himself in danger every weekend, because he has decided to live his life alongside his career as a driver.
It was still a risky choice: the first year he did that, he was torn apart by the media because he was supposedly out of touch! But he took responsibility and succeeded! In Baku, we flew with him: he slept the entire journey on Thursday. We think he’s not up to speed, but in fact he is, that’s enough. In fact, he can have such a pace because the cars are not demanding.
To finish, a few words on the evolution of our two French drivers?
For Pierre, it’s a bit difficult, but the potential is there… especially with Max (note: Verstappen) by his side. We must not forget that Pierre is Ricciardo’s replacement, while Ferrari, for example, chose Charles to build for the future. So, it’s not the same atmosphere for Pierre…
At Romain’s, I admire his ability to bounce back after each setback. In his place, I would be destroyed and would have probably quit. He is exposed to criticism, and in those moments, there are few people to tell him that he is good! At the moment, he has fewer points against Magnussen but he is always there at the end of the year. I think he leads his team well but will it be enough to continue?
« In his place, I wouldn’t have been able to return to the paddock! » (about Grosjean’s crash last year in Baku during the race, under the Safety Car)
Thank you for this interview Franck… To finish on you, how long do you wish to stay in this position at Canal?
« It’s difficult to talk about the future because I don’t even know if I will be here next year! But I enjoy working with the company and my job is great: I am proud to have had this after my life as a pilot.
»
From our special correspondent in Monaco
