Press Releases - Talking to driver # 6

Talking to driver # 6

Hello everyone, today a new episode of my series Drivers in Conversation.
This time in conversation with LePrez (team manager of the Alpine F1 Team and manager of Francky Kowalski) and Francky Kowalski (34 years old F1 driver at Alpine F1 Team).

TD: Hello LePrez. Hello Francky. Nice you want to do this interview with me.

LP: Hi Tom, it's my pleasure
FK: Hi Tom, how are you?

TD: LePrez, you were team manager for the Skoda F1 Racing Team and since this season team manager for the Alpine F1 Team. The takeover of the Skoda team by Alpine hit like a bomb at the beginning of the season. How was it? What are your goals for the near future and how have you positioned yourself?

LP: It had been in preparation for some time, at the base Skoda was supposed to become Alpine at the end of season 40, but I sped things up so Alpine could drive a season before the new engine regulations.
The team's goal, however, remains the same: to train our young drivers so that they have the chance to drive in F1 and place the team in the top 10 on a permanent basis.


TD: That is interesting news, I wish you the best of luck and success in this difficult task, we will certainly do an interview again soon to see how you fared. After the takeover, you continued to rely on your proven driver duo, which brings us to Francky. Was it clear from the start that you would take him with you to Alpine, or was there any doubt about it, he is fast, consistent, has experience and you can always count on him, but he is already a certain age?

LP: Yes, it was logical that Francky and Vincent could stay on the team to ensure continuity. You have experience and bring a lot of talent with you.
We have to wait until our young people have trained enough to take over, they shouldn't be early.
I'm still announcing that Francky will retire at the end of the season, but I'll let him explain to you why.

TD: Francky, you can look back on a long career (18 seasons) so far. I would like to name just a few of your stations here: Formula 3 French Series, Formula 3 South America Series, TCS Europe Series, Indy Junior Series, Formula 2 World Series, Indy Series and now the Formula 1 World Series, it's really impressive to see. I think the best result of the season was in season 29 P2 in the Formula 3 South America Series. Does it annoy you that despite consistently excellent performance, you never got a title out of it? And what's next now, LePrez just mentioned your retirement at the end of season 40?

FK: I've never won a title, but it's not a real disappointment for me. I still have a lot of great trophies with victories on my shelves.
I think I had a great career, I managed to complete 3 F1 seasons that are not given to everyone so I am not going to complain.
So at the end of this season I will retire and give everything for the Alpine family, I only have friends!
I know I could go on but there are young people who push hard and deserve their chance, they are the future!

TD: Francky, it hurts to see a big driver like you go. We will all miss you very much on the racetracks of this world. I think you are and have been a role model for many, it was only through you that many took hold of the steering wheel. Do you already have plans for your retirement?

FK: My retirement won't be far from the racetracks, I'll be a coach for a young driver, so don't worry, we'll at least see you at the refreshment bar at the Alpine Stand.

TD: Do you already have plans to compensate for Francky's retirement? With him, a driver is missing who was able to help develop a car through his experience. You have promising drivers under contract in the junior series, I'm thinking of Eric Halatienne, Dimitri Pironi, Joël Ragnotti and possibly a Michael Wittmann. With Vincent Ritter, all these drivers would have a strong and outstanding driver at their side who could give them the finishing touches. Or do you use another driver from outside?

LP: Francky is going to train a young driver I just signed. You will discover this young person in the next season, for the moment his identity will remain a secret.
For the 41st season I already know that Vincent Ritter would like to continue with us. He will be our # 1 driver and will teach our second driver in F1. I've always said that our team is there to give young people a chance, so the next rider will come from the Alpine team. I've already made my choice and I really want this pilot to be 100% prepared. I asked him to be ready. For the 42nd season I already have a little idea in case Vincent should retire. In short, every young person in Team Alpine has to be ready and develop as quickly and as well as possible. There is little space in F1 so you have to work hard, very hard!

TD: It's nice to hear that the Alpine team works with its own young drivers, many of the other teams use paid drivers here. Does that mean that young Alpine drivers receive excellent training in order to be able to assert themselves in the world's racing series? This is certainly very time-consuming and expensive, but I think it pays off in the long run.

LP: Training a new driver does indeed take a lot of time and money. Only strict management can make it possible to arrive in F1.
At Alpine we want to give everyone a chance, but not everyone will make it.
Never hesitate to seek advice from the elderly.
It's really a family here, you shouldn't come out of interest.
Passion, patience, participation, that's what it takes!

TD: Thank you both for this very interesting interview.
Francky, I wish you all the best for your retirement, I hope we'll see you on the racetracks or at the refreshment bar at the Alpenstand.
LePrez I wish you all the best and good luck with your Alpine F1 Team.