Exclusive – Immersed with a race director in Monaco

Can you introduce yourself? How old are you and what do you do in life?

My name is Pierre Gabriel, I am 24 years old and I live in the Alpes-Maritimes. I work in marketing but I have also been a track commissioner in Monaco since 2019.

We imagine that you are a fan of motor sports, where does this passion come from?

I discovered F1 while playing football in a village above Monaco. The noise attracted me and I asked my parents where this racket was coming from. Before that, I had obviously already watched a little F1, but it really started in 2016/2017.

For me, the revelation came the day I went to the 2018 French Grand Prix, because my grandstand seats were right in front of a marshal post. Right away I thought, “It’s great to do this, I want to be even closer to the F1 cars!” When I got back, I immediately looked into it and saw that I could apply to be a track marshal in Monaco.

How does one become a track commissioner in Monaco? You are considered the elite in Formula 1…

« The first rule, and not the least important, is to reside in Monaco or in a neighboring region, which already eliminates a lot of candidates! Then you have to fill out a series of papers and attend a mandatory 2-day training course to become a track marshal. During this training, we are trained for all situations. The first one is to know how to jump over a rail. »

We are also taught how to clear a crashed car, extinguish a fire from a gasoline single-seater or an electric car (as during the Monaco ePrix, the seventh round of the 2020-2021 Formula E season).

We also have a lesson on flags, their meanings and when they should be used, and finally the crucial last test, the Gazelle workshop. This workshop is an obstacle course that must be completed within a set time, hence the importance of being in good physical condition.

The track commissioner function reserved for men?

« Not at all! Women are also present and well represented as track commissioners, it is not reserved only for men and besides, our chief flag marshal is a woman. »

How many were you at your position and on the track, and what are the missions of each?

My position for the Monaco Grand Prix was number 14, in the first part of the Piscine esses. We were 16, more than at other positions because our turn is a sensitive place on the track, the single-seaters arrive quickly and accidents are frequent.

There are different assignments in the steward’s function, we had signallers, 7 people for track interventions, 1 post chief, 2 stewards dedicated to fires, a doctor, a resuscitator, and finally a factual judge.

The latter is present at our post to judge the track limits. So yes, in Monaco the track limits are the barriers, but in our chicane, there is the possibility to go over the kerb and gain an advantage. Therefore, he is there to inform the race direction about the non-compliance with track limits.

« I am in charge of the blue flags and the white flags and for me there is no better position, we receive all the messages from the race direction, we really feel like we are part of the race.

« I put a blue flag on Lewis Hamilton! »

Tell us a bit about your Grand Prix from trackside, what was the standout moment for you over the weekend or from other races you’ve experienced?

« (Note de la rédaction: rires) So my best moment of this racing weekend is not ordinary and it does not happen regularly: during the race I waved a blue flag at Lewis Hamilton! I admit that I am trying to find this moment, seen from Lewis’ on-board camera.

« Another beautiful memory I have in Monaco is from my first year in 2019, where I was able to attend Anthoine Hubert’s victory in F2, of whom I was a big fan. The French national anthem I heard in 2019 had a great resonance this year with Théo Pourchaire also stepping onto the top step of the podium in F2. I appreciate Théo a lot because he is one of the few drivers in F2 who, after each session or race, came to greet and thank us.

Do we take advantage of the races a little or do we remain focused on our role as a commissioner?

« We can follow what happens on the track because at our post we have 3 screens, but we inevitably miss some moments of the Grand Prix. What struck me is the moment when Charles Leclerc hit at turn 16 in qualifying we saw that the approach to the corner was not right and the noise that followed confirmed our impression, so yes we are fully immersed during a Grand Prix while having to ensure our duties as a marshal.

« What is incredible is that as the weekend progresses, we manage to know if a car will not make the turn! Like the drivers, we know perfectly the trajectory to take and we almost know in advance when we will have to intervene. In 2019, when Pierre Gasly went off and hit the barrier in our turn, we already knew that we were going to have to intervene, there must have been 50 centimeters of deviation from the correct trajectory.

What are the sensations when you are so close to a Formula 1 car?

« It must be known that we are at most two meters away from the single-seater that passes by at 220 km/h. Only the rail separates us, we are so close that we can even see inside the cars. What is impressive at our position is that for a brief moment, the single-seaters face us and change trajectory at the last moment. Of course, I would say that the noise is monumental, less in F1 with hybrid engines than with F2 or Porsche.

« We also feel the wind generated by a single-seater, the smell of gasoline and tires, a sensation that is increased when we are so close to the track because we constantly receive rubber debris on the visor of our helmet, and finally the vibrations in the ground!

The Monaco Grand Prix is renowned as one of the most difficult for drivers, but for track marshals it must be just as stressful and tough, they have to be ready at any moment!

« It’s for sure, we are always ready to react and sometimes we would like to have even more action on the track. I always go to the circuit with my poncho hoping to see the rain come!

« One must be as concentrated as possible, because my mission is to warn stragglers of the leaders’ arrival, one must not make mistakes and must react extremely quickly to not miss anything.

« Our sector is also a critical point on the track because the drivers can deviate at different places to let a faster driver pass, at that moment I must immediately wave the white flag to the driver catching up to the slow car. »

Is your perception of F1 changed since you have been a track commissioner? We know it is a risky function, have you ever been scared or do you forget as soon as you put on the helmet?

« There is no fear but rather apprehension, we trust the drivers who are part of the elite of motor racing, the Automobile Club de Monaco constantly reminds us that as track marshals we are not heroes. We will never put ourselves in danger, we must remain serious and think before acting.

« But let’s not kid ourselves, the first time an F1 car arrived in my corner, it was Kimi Räikkönen’s Alfa Romeo, reflexively I took a step back, their corner entry speed is incredible compared to F2 or other feeder series.

« The only barrier I set for myself is that I will not go back on the track, those who do tell us that they do not see the other cars because they are focused on their mission to clean the track, but I prefer to stay at my post as a flag marshal behind the fence and safety barrier.

One can easily imagine that you will not give up your position as a track commissioner to anyone, but what advice could you give to someone who would like to become a commissioner?

« (Laughing) So taking my place, no! But there are more than 600 of us on the circuit during a race weekend and there is rotation. Being a track marshal means being as close as possible to the F1 cars and also the opportunity to access exclusive areas. So yes I am still young but I think it is probably already the best experience of my life!

“The motto of the track marshals in Monaco is « dare and serve », so dare and join this beautiful and large family! »

Motors Inside thanks you very much for this interview, and we would like to congratulate all track officials, often in the shadows but essential to the smooth running of the races.