It’s fair to say that Jean-Eric Vergne has had a 2010 to remember. The 20-year-old Red Bull Junior Team driver has joined an esteemed list of racing drivers, including, Ayrton Senna, Sir Jackie Stewart, Mika Häkkinen and Jaime Alguersuari in becoming the British Formula 3 champion – the first Frenchman to do so. Vergne has since made the step up to the Formula Renault 3.5 series so we thought it would be a good time to have a chat...
Hello Jean-Eric, congratulations on becoming British F3 champion – how does it feel?
I’m really, really happy at becoming the first French champion. To be the first Frenchman to win the F3 championship is really great. It’s a really important title for me and I’m sure it’s a key moment in my career. So, it’s been a really good season and we did some really good work with the team – and I think we deserved it!
'I’ve always been around the buzz of racing – it’s in the blood'
How did you celebrate winning the championship?
I didn’t really go out or have a big fiesta. It was a bit strange to win the championship so early in the season, so I didn’t really celebrate I just kept focussed on winning races. I still have lots of things going on until the end of the season so I don’t really have time to relax.
Jaime Alguersuari won the series back in 2008 – do you think you can follow in his footsteps into F1?
Yes. That’s definitely the aim, for sure.
You’ve recently made the step up to Formula Renault 3.5 with Tech 1 – how are you finding that series?
First of all I was really happy to participate in the last three race weekends of the season, of which we’ve already had two. The first meeting in Hockenheim was really difficult for me, I had a few problems and wasn’t really that quick. I had a really good second race though, starting P14 I finished P5 so that was really good. In Silverstone I had a really good weekend, winning the first race and finishing P3 in the second race. Two podiums in my second race weekend was much better than we had expected.
Was it difficult going into a new team halfway through the season?
No, it’s not really a new team. It’s a French team – Tech 1 – so I know the people there very well, and I know how French teams work. I’ve been with a French team for two years in Formula Renault 2.0 so I know how they work and obviously this is a new car for me to learn and new technique, new race weekends so there are many things to learn but it was OK, it wasn’t too difficult.
You’ve also raced in GP3 this season, where do you see yourself next year?
GP3 was just to have a go. I had an opportunity to go there to help the team and I tried to do that as best I could. So I did the first race in Barcelona, then I did another race that was in Valencia, a street circuit. I did that race to learn the circuit for the future – as it’s a street circuit you don’t really get the time to go back there and practice. So, it was a good opportunity for me but I don’t really have any objectives for this category, I would say there is a 99% chance that I’ll be racing in the World Series [next year].
Getty Images/Red Bull Photofiles
How did you get into motorsport as a youngster?
My parents have a go-kart track in Paris so I was going there when I was very young. I’ve always been around the buzz of racing – it’s in the blood.
Who were your sporting heroes growing up?
I never had a racing hero. Maybe Valentino Rossi.
Having raced in France, Spain, Britain and Germany – which do you prefer?
It depends on the circuit. There are really good circuits in France, really good ones in England too. I really enjoyed racing in England because motorsport is very big in this country and a lot of people like it. For example, I raced in front of more spectators than I had ever done before at Silverstone in the World Series. It was really nice for me to race this season [in Britain] on so many different tracks, if a little strange. I obviously also love to race in France, in my country where I have friends coming to see me, which is quite nice.
Did you find it difficult coming to England to race?
I’ve lived in Milton Keynes since January and it’s quite nice. There are only two things I don’t like – the M1 and M25. I’m always getting stuck in traffic – oh, and the weather! Otherwise it’s quite nice, there are a few differences compared to France but I still go back to France from time-to-time so I’m not too lost in England.
'I’m really enjoying what I do – it’s a great job to have'
If they made a movie of your life who would you like to play you?
I don’t know. I don’t really know the name of the actor to be honest. Maybe Brad Pitt, if he could be younger!
If you weren’t a racing driver, what do you think you would have been?
Honestly, I’ve never really thought about it, I have absolutely no idea. I definitely wouldn’t like to work behind a desk, behind a computer all day. I’m really enjoying what I do, and the travelling – it’s a great job to have so I’ve never thought about anything else.
If your house was burning down and you could only rescue one thing what would it be?
If there was a person in the house, I would save the person first of all. But if there was nobody in the house I would save my money if I have some hidden away! Otherwise, I think my laptop.
Jean-Eric drives for the Red Bull Junior Team, learn more about him and the other drivers here.
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