Exceptional meeting with Jacques Deschenaux, F1 commentator for 35 seasons

He is known as Mr. Formula 1, for having commented on the Grand Prix for 35 years, from 1973 to 2007 on Swiss television. Trained as a lawyer, he quickly became interested in motor racing. From his passion, he became an author and was able to write books on this world that fascinated him so much. Starting in F1 in 1969, he had over 40 seasons under his belt and notably created the F1 bible known as the Grand Prix Guide.

How did you become a journalist?

« It is a bit thanks to fate that I ended up here. I was already into soccer, I liked sports. But we have to go back to the 60s when I had a skiing accident, I dislocated my cervical vertebrae, I was 15-16 years old and I had to go to a chiropractor, but in Fribourg, where I lived, there wasn’t one. I had to go to Geneva and on the way back, I went to buy a newspaper, when a headline caught my eye. « Hold up in Geneva », published by the Tribune de Genève, it intrigued me so I bought it. I liked the way they covered sports news even though I think some things were missing. So I contacted the newspaper, I asked to speak to the sports editor. They admitted they didn’t have anyone on the field in Fribourg. That’s how they hired me, I had my classes at the same time.

My first Grand Prix was Monaco in 1969, I was writing for the local newspaper in Fribourg, “La Liberté”, I started commentating for television in 1973, I didn’t know many people at the time.

Can you remember some memorable moments from your F1 career?

« There are moments that have marked my career like the day when Rindt died, I was there in Monza in 1970, the qualifications were starting the driver wasn’t there and he showed up five minutes later, he left and three laps later he was no longer there. I commented on his death 3 times, these are things that mark you for life. There is a human aspect that exists in this sport. This spirit is what has drawn me to this sport. »

A driver will mark his life, it’s about Joseph Siffert (Seppi as his nickname), he will maintain a special relationship with him, until his tragic disappearance in 1971. He will then write his biography entitled Jo Siffert all for the race.

« I met him through a friend who told me to accompany him to see a promising pilot. He came from a quite poor family. I told the newspaper that we had to talk about him but for them, it was too early because he hadn’t done anything. I then told them that it was precisely now that we had to talk about it. »

« He has become a sort of big brother to me. I took care of his business, did his errands, I even was there when his wife gave birth. By the way, after the birth of his child, not even ten minutes later, he came to pat me on the back to tell me it was a girl.

« I remember once, it was in 1971, there was the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, I met him at the airport, I thought we would go to prepare for the race but instead, he told me we were taking the plane to go to Le Mans, it was Friday. There were preliminary tests for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so he participated in the race and the next day we left between two tests, I went to get us something to eat and then we left and he did the qualifications in Spain which were at 6pm. It was crazy.

We know that the world of F1 is more reserved than before, how was it back in the day?

« Contacts with the drivers were quite easy to come by. For example, as I lived in Geneva, Prost had his plane and he would take me with him to the races, we were close. Once after a race, I don’t remember who had won, but Senna and Prost argued about which plane would take off first. I put an end to all that and told him to leave him alone. There was fantastic contact especially with the French speakers. If I wanted to ask Manson something, I would go and he would answer me, we could approach everyone. I am still close to Jackie Stewart, he spends a lot of time in Switzerland because his wife is ill and he has almost settled here. These were nice discussions, we didn’t just talk about cars.

« One must not compare eras, one must not say that Hamilton is the best driver of all time, if he was driving Fangio’s Mercedes, it doesn’t mean he would be world champion. It has evolved since the Schumacher era, I think, at the beginning of the 2000s, he created a void around him because he was difficult to reach. I remember, I did my 400th Grand Prix with a Swiss magazine called l’Illustré, they wanted to do their cover with me and Schumacher. If I succeeded, it’s because I had strong contacts with Marlboro. We knew each other without knowing each other, we met on a Pit Lane and when he understood the purpose of the photo, he was impressed that it was my 400th race. He asked me when I started and I told him he wasn’t even 6 months old, he laughed, we shook hands and before each GP, I wished him a good weekend. »

Now it’s more difficult to have access to all of that, but it’s also because Formula 1 has become more professional. There is also the money factor. Back in the day, drivers like Tambay or Lafitte, who had a successful career, were broke. Once, when I was having dinner with Tambay, he told me to come see his apartment, he was already sick at that time. He was living in a small three-room flat. It was atrocious. It was another world, I’m not judging. I remain passionate and what I miss, for example, the first race in Bahrain, it’s the beginning of the season, what I miss the most was my pleasure of being on the grid.

How do you manage this sudden popularity?

« When you become a public figure, which I still am, it is not always easy. I covered skiing for 19 winters, Formula 1 for 35 years, but also other types of events like the Eurovision, the year Celine Dion won, which made me a bit famous. I have received letters from people saying that I was against Prost or against Senna depending on what I was doing. There were fights between journalists in press conferences based on their opinions. It’s crazy, people and their reactions, I would say they are victims of their own subjectivity, even when I covered alpine skiing, I was criticized. As long as you know that you are correct and stand tall, you don’t care what people say. »

A revolutionary invention. The Grand Prix Guide, a book dedicated to F1 professionals, published by the expert who explains the genesis of his idea.

« I went to Le Castellet for the French Grand Prix and Philip Morris (owner of Marlboro Group) asked me what I thought of the statistical reports they were producing. I told them that for journalists of Nice Matin, it was enough but not sufficient for professionals. He was initially offended but then asked if I had any ideas. I was inspired by a writer who created a small guide at the beginning of the ski season, starting in Val-d’Isère with all the results and statistics from the previous season. I developed a project that I brought to him. The first Marlboro Grand Prix guide 1950-1979 was released in 1980. There was no internet, no data. I even went to the FIA which didn’t have much. It was difficult to find the data. Even last year, when I was in Bahrain, the Sky Sports UK commentator asked me when the guide for the year would be released, it really had an impact. »

When I saw the current commentator booths with all these screens, I was surprised, it’s really different. Commentators work a lot with websites but many of them still use paper. Besides, Rolex has not yet renewed its contract with Liberty Media, they are in discussions for the extension of the contract. At worst, I will continue with them. »

In an upcoming article, Motors Inside will detail all the information about the Grand Prix Guide.

Please note that if you wish to order this book published at the beginning of each season, you can contact Mr. Deschenaux directly via his website.