Was it hard to pick the right moment to stop racing in F1?
It’s very difficult because to stop your career at the age of 35 or 40, you are still very young, so to announce your retirement is not easy. But it’s important to find the right moment. Of course the results have dropped off towards the end, no longer fighting for the top places, which is something I was used to doing, taking wins and podiums. When you see things get harder, with so much travelling, so much work, when that starts to weigh on you, you start to think about it.
Maybe next year, you are going to get a good car but at some point you have to decide. I believe this is a good time to stop. Is it the right time to stop? That’s impossible to say. I feel proud and happy about my decision and I’m pleased I’ll now have some time to do other things, to find new business opportunities, to carry on racing, as I still like it, I want to carry on racing, but not in F1 where we now have 21 races, with so much work. There’s a lot that goes into being a Formula 1 driver.
You made the announcement ten years after Michael announced his retirement, also in Monza. Clearly, your time with him, your time with Ferrari, was very important to you, if you planned it like that.
That influenced me to announce the news in Monza. Michael played an important role in my career, because when I got the opportunity to drive for Ferrari, Kimi had already signed with them, something no one knew about, something that was secret. It’s true Michael was a bit tired of the idea of carrying on, he’d had enough of so many things, dealing with the press and other things that hurt him, so that in the end he was tired of it all. But he gave me the opportunity.
He said to me: “I’ve taken my decision but I’d like you to stay. I like you and I feel you have a great talent and, while it’s not the only reason, not entirely my choice that I’m stopping, one of the reasons is that I’d like you to continue. I’d like things to be like this”. Therefore, for me it was nice to announce this in Monza, partly for him, but partly because of my time with Ferrari, partly the fact my family comes from Italy; all those things combined.
At Ferrari, the general perception was always that you were the second driver. You lived through the team’s golden period under the stewardship of Jean Todt and you were still there when it all began to go wrong.
To be honest, re the second driver thing, Ferrari has always had that mentality. It was never written in my contract that I was the number 2 driver, that I had to work for the other driver. But it was written that I had to follow orders and help the team. And that was enough, for example in the case of being told to let the other driver by. That’s always been part of Ferrari’s history, but it’s always been the wrong mentality.
Even today, if you look at them now, Kimi is ahead, but everyone thinks Kimi is the second driver. With me and Alonso it was the same thing. With me and Kimi, it started like that, but in 2008 I managed to change the mentality of the team and, in 2009, up until my accident, I was ahead of Kimi. Looking back to 2007, when we reached Monza, I was a handful of points ahead of Kimi and Todt said: “We will wait until after Spa and then decide”. Kimi won in Spa but as we went [to Monza] with me having a lead over him, there was every chance the team would have told him to move over for me. But I broke my engine in Monza so we got to Spa and Kimi had more points than me. So maybe the luck didn’t go my way at important moments. However, first driver, second driver, when I look back at my career, all the opportunities, the fact I’m second on the list of drivers who have taken part in the most races for Ferrari, honestly, I’m very proud.
And being at Ferrari after Todt?
It didn’t work. They tried so many things, so many bosses. They just didn’t have the people there to do what Mercedes is doing now, what Red Bull did before them and they are still doing a good job. They lacked the ability in all areas and in getting everyone to work together. And when I look to next year, I don’t see Ferrari having any chance of winning the championship. They have been still working on developing this year’s car, which for me is completely the wrong thing to do. They should have stopped that much earlier, they should have been the first team to stop working on this year’s car and concentrate on next year, in my opinion.
©JMI
Then came Williams, which despite your long career, was actually your first experience of an English F1 team. A very different approach?
A very different mentality, much more disciplined, a bit colder, or at least colder than the Italians, but in a good way. The English are much more focused on the job. But I like them and found they had respect for me. I’ve enjoyed an experience and a feeling with this team that will definitely stay with me my whole life.
Your early days in F1 with Sauber were very entertaining for those of us watching you. We used to say, ‘every corner, every lap, a different line!’ You were a bit of a crazy lad back then.
Yes, definitely. I was too young when I started. I was always very quick, but I lacked experience and a cool head. In my second stint with Sauber, it was very different. My year in between as a Ferrari test driver helped me a lot. It helped me develop and grow up.
Both Todts, Jean and his son Nicolas, have played important roles in your life.
Apart from my dad, who was the number one person who helped me, I think Jean was really the person who gave me the right opportunities. He gave me the opportunity to sign a contract with Ferrari when I was very young, an eight year contract. He gave me the opportunity to become a Ferrari driver. When Rubens [Barrichello] was leaving, there were many names being mentioned for the drive, like Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher and so on. He asked why should we take one of them when we already have a youngster on our books. Michael was already signed up. He gave me the most important break in my career.
And honestly, Nicolas is a very talented manager who is very good at negotiating and finding sponsors, such as Richard Mille who have been with me now for the past 12 years. He is very honest and that is something that is hard to find in Formula 1. I’ve never had a single problem or anything to regret about working with him. On top of that, he is like a brother to me. In general, I’ve been very lucky when it comes to the people I’ve worked with in my career.
The Brazil weekend? You could just leave it there and Williams can put Stroll in the car for Abu Dhabi…
It is very special. I am one of the drivers that has won here in Interlagos the most, along with Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and Emerson Fittipaldi and I’m also the driver with the most podiums here, so I can claim to be the most successful driver at Interlagos. I love this track, I have always been very strong here and with all the support from the fans, it’s been the perfect combination for a race.
Given my plan to retire at the end of the year, I’m pleased that Interlagos is the penultimate round of the season, not the first one. I am looking forward to feeling the warmth of all the Brazilian fans on Sunday. I have always done my best for my country and I’m very proud to be Brazilian. This race will be extra special for me and then comes the final race of the year, my last race and also my 250th, so I hope to go well there too.
Your son? Will you be a pushy racing dad?
It might happen, because he is very competitive and has a talent for sport. When he has been karting, he has impressed people and the same when he plays football and he has good coordination. But I definitely am not pushing him. He will have to push me. I prefer he decides for himself and if he doesn't have the talent I will not push him and make him frustrated. My father never pushed me, I always pushed him. I am pushing him to sport as I think it is very good and keeps you away from bad things. Sport was the most important thing for me and kept me away from bad things.
The future?
I have some ideas, but let’s wait. I was always in a rush in my career, so I’m not in a rush now.
