• 6 months ago
Lucas Di Grassi-ABT CUPRA
Transcript
00:00Start recording and then whenever you're ready, take it away.
00:03Awesome.
00:04Jehan, obviously, you know, first season in Formula E, first season at least racing in
00:10Formula E, so overall, what have your thoughts been so far as we kind of rapidly approach
00:15the end of the season?
00:16It's hard to believe it's almost the end.
00:18Yeah, definitely the season has gone by super quickly.
00:22I've had a lot of fun along the way.
00:24It's also been quite difficult at times.
00:28In my first season in this championship, being the only rookie on the grid this year,
00:33it's taken a bit of time to adapt, especially to the racing aspect of it, you know, the
00:40amount of energy saving we have to do in these peloton races, but also try to move forward
00:45as much as possible to, you know, fight for good points.
00:49But I feel like I've taken a good step in the last few races, especially being more
00:54consistently close to the top 10, and yeah, hopefully a good weekend in Portland and finishing
01:01the year strong in London as well.
01:03Do you feel like being the only rookie on the grid has given you kind of more pressure?
01:07You know, you're kind of looked at as the only guy on the grid being the rookie.
01:10Does that give you some more pressure?
01:11Do you feel like that's pressure on you or you kind of not take that into account?
01:17I don't put too much extra pressure on myself, to be honest.
01:21I feel like at this stage of the season, I don't feel like I'm a rookie anymore.
01:26Obviously, I'm quite used to the car now, I got used to the championship.
01:31So yeah, I don't really keep the rookie excuse in my mind anymore.
01:37And I expect to be fighting, you know, as close to the points as possible and always
01:43challenging for good results.
01:45When you were a reserve driver at Mahindra, how did that really prepare you for this opportunity
01:49at Maserati MSG?
01:50I mean, what were you able to learn, take away from it, and then obviously getting a
01:55chance to ride in this Gen 3 car here in Season 2?
01:57I mean, do you feel you felt prepared heading into this journey, heading into the first
02:02season for you?
02:04Yeah, obviously last year, it was very limited.
02:08Being a reserve driver, I did do a lot of days on the simulator, but I only drove the
02:12car really once in Berlin.
02:15That was all the running I did throughout the season.
02:18So, you know, Valencia last year was my first proper time in the Gen 3 car.
02:24I would say the good thing is I understood how the championship works, the background,
02:30the format, you know, the car, the battery, all of the other stuff, apart from the aspect
02:37of really driving the car.
02:38So it's still a huge advantage to be a reserve driver, to be able to understand what's going
02:43on behind the scenes.
02:44I do feel that helped me come into the season, not to start completely from scratch, at least
02:52have some sort of background in the championship.
02:56You touched base on the energy part of like learning the energy aspect of the series.
03:00What has that been like, you know, figuring out strategies and just kind of attacking
03:05that portion of the series, because that's what makes Formula E different than any other
03:08racing series that there is.
03:11Yeah, I would say that's been probably the hardest part of the learning curve so far,
03:17the energy management in the races.
03:20Yeah, you know, obviously we all have targets to hit in the race to be as efficient as we
03:26can from start to finish, but it's not so easy when you're in the pack and you have
03:30like cars around you and then, you know, lifting down the straights, also trying to move forward,
03:38not lose positions, save energy, just the whole mix of all of these things makes it
03:45really difficult as well.
03:48The guys I race against, you know, both of them have a lot of experience in this championship
03:53and you can see it that the guys with experience, they kind of thrive and they are able to manage
03:58it better than the others.
03:59So I think it's a championship that takes time to get used to and I feel like I'm getting
04:05more and more to groups of it now.
04:08You know, prior to Shanghai, you were able to grab two points, obviously races for yourself
04:13out of the four in Misano and Berlin.
04:16So I mean, like, do you feel like those races, you were kind of feeling your footing, if
04:20you will, at that point in the season, like, do you feel like you've gained your footing
04:24in the series and you kind of gained some, I don't know, confidence, if you will?
04:29Yeah, I would say like from Misano onwards, I feel like I've been more confident, especially
04:35in the racing management point of things.
04:41And I would like to be fighting, you know, for points in all of the coming races.
04:46That's definitely going to be my goal for the next few rounds.
04:49So yeah, I'm looking forward to being in Portland this year as a driver.
04:53I was there last year as a reserve driver.
04:55So yeah, excited to be on track this time and fighting there myself.
05:02I was looking at your background.
05:03Is this your first time racing in the U.S. in terms of professionally?
05:09Yes, I think so.
05:10I can.
05:11Yeah.
05:13What is that experience going to be like you coming over to the U.S. and getting to race
05:16professionally at a Portland track that has a lot of history?
05:19I can imagine that's got to be pretty cool to be a part of that.
05:23Yeah, it's going to be very exciting.
05:26You know, I watch IndyCar.
05:28I follow the IndyCar championship very closely.
05:31So yeah, it'll be nice to, yeah, for myself to be in the U.S.
05:37You know, I have some friends there as well who've been past
05:41drivers in Formula 2 who are now in IndyCar.
05:43So they've always told me that it's nice in the U.S.
05:46So yeah, looking forward to racing there myself and having a good experience.
05:50Absolutely.
05:51Absolutely.
05:52What has been the reception overall in your home country with you racing in Formula E?
05:58It's been a while since we've had an Indian foreign driver in Formula E.
06:01You're only the second one that's ever competed in Formula E.
06:03So what has been the overall reception from your home country?
06:06And to be able to have that support as well,
06:08that's got to be a pretty cool feeling to have everybody behind you and supporting you.
06:14It's very cool to represent my country.
06:17Unfortunately, that race in India got cancelled this year.
06:20I'm sure it would have been a huge race both for me and for all the Indian fans.
06:27But yeah, I still have a lot of support.
06:29I think it's still a growing sport in India.
06:33But I'm sure the amount of racing that is so close, it's so exciting.
06:38I'm sure it'll just become bigger and bigger.
06:41In the end, India is a country where there's a lot of people.
06:45And it just takes one person to make a difference for such a big population.
06:50So hopefully I can be that person in Formula E and it keeps becoming bigger and bigger.
06:59Absolutely, absolutely.
07:00Getting to jump in with Maserati MSG,
07:03I mean, what has been kind of the biggest thing you've learned so far this season
07:07in regard to just with the team behind the scenes?
07:11Obviously, this is a new venture for you.
07:12So what has kind of been that big thing you've learned from the team
07:15and you've been able to take away into your racing?
07:18Yeah, firstly, to be in my rookie season driving for Maserati MSG Racing was a huge privilege.
07:25A good opportunity for me in my first year of Formula E.
07:29I have taken a lot of learnings.
07:31You know, they've been really good.
07:33They understand the background I come from in Formula 2.
07:37And yeah, they're trying to get me up to speed as quickly as possible as well.
07:41Being teammates with Max is quite helpful.
07:43You know, he has a lot of experience in the championship.
07:45He's a very quick driver.
07:46So to be able to see his data and, yeah,
07:50just understand more and more about the car and the championship has helped me a lot.
07:54And yeah, it's a privilege for me, like I said, to drive for Maserati MSG Racing.
07:59And hopefully, yeah, I can continue here in the future as well.
08:04Yeah, how important has that dynamic been with Max in your first season,
08:07kind of gaining information from him?
08:08Obviously, he's got a race win this year as well.
08:11So he knows what it takes to obviously grab a race win.
08:14But like, what has been the biggest advantage of having him?
08:19How important is that dynamic in Formula E to beat off your teammates?
08:24I think it's very important, especially for someone like Max,
08:28who has a lot of experience in Formula E.
08:31You know, his knowledge in the races, he gives good feedback to the team.
08:35And that helps us develop in the end.
08:38You know, you can do a lot of development in software through the season.
08:41And yeah, just keeping on top of that,
08:46me being able to see his data and driving where he's where he's quick,
08:49because he's been super quick this year.
08:51You know, he's going through the duels in many, many times.
08:54And it always gives me good data to look at and able to understand.
09:02Absolutely, absolutely.
09:04I want to ask you what it's been like on track.
09:07Obviously, Formula E has seen a lot of race incidents.
09:12I think that's just kind of a part of the game and stuff to be on track
09:16and kind of dealing with some of the traffic that can be involved.
09:19And obviously, in racing, there's always going to be traffic.
09:22But I mean, especially in Formula E, it seems like there's a lot of contact.
09:25It's hard hitting to kind of, you know, work with that
09:29and to kind of be in the kind of the thick of things, if you will.
09:32What is that like mentally for yourself as a driver
09:36to kind of see all the chaos that can happen in a Formula E race?
09:40I imagine it's got to be a whirlwind,
09:41especially early on in the year when you're stepping in the car.
09:45Yeah, definitely.
09:45That was a new experience for me coming from driving cars with a lot of downforce.
09:50You know, we don't follow each other that close.
09:53Most of the passes are done at the end of the straight in a written zone over DRS.
10:00While here, you're literally like it's like go-karting.
10:02You're following each other bumper to bumper.
10:05Throughout the race, you know, you have 22 cars within a couple of seconds for most of the race.
10:11So it's definitely very exciting.
10:14I'm enjoying the racing quite a lot.
10:16At times, it can be very difficult.
10:18You know, a lot of contact and constantly looking in the mirrors
10:23and ahead to make sure to get through and escape.
10:25But I think that's what makes Formula E exciting.
10:28You know, it's different to every other championship.
10:31You have world-class drivers, world-class teams.
10:35And yeah, it just makes, that's what makes the racing good.
10:39You can start anywhere on the grid.
10:42If you manage the race well, you can always come through and have good results.
10:46So that's why we all.
10:55Yeah, what I think your opportunity, what do you think these opportunities
11:00in Formula E showcase for this series?
11:02I think that Formula E is becoming a great step
11:06and a great opportunity to race at a premier level.
11:09You know, what is, what opportunity does Formula E bring to drivers?
11:14And do you think that this series, I mean,
11:16the growth of this series looks like it's going to be exponential for the future?
11:20Yes, I think Formula E has great potential.
11:23You know, it's already come a long way in 10 years.
11:27And that's what attracts drivers, you know, in the end, even for me.
11:30Growing up, I always wanted to be a professional racing driver
11:34and Formula E provides that for a lot of athletes, for a lot of racing drivers.
11:39It's a great opportunity for all of us in the end.
11:43Like I said, what attracts all of us is the level of manufacturers in the championship,
11:47the level of drivers, you know, the growth of the championship.
11:52So in the end, it's a very good place to be.
11:56It's a very good place to make a racing career.
11:58And it's not easy to be here or to stay here.
12:01So I think as an athlete, that kind of competition
12:05and that drive kind of burning desire always stays inside of you.
12:10Let me ask you this for next season.
12:12Obviously, this year, they introduced manufacturers championship.
12:15And then I know for next season, it's going to be officially intact
12:18for next year in season 11 going forward.
12:21How do you think that's going to change the approach
12:24when it comes to like a manufacturer's perspective
12:27in regards to you as drivers and how you race on track?
12:31Oh, sorry, I missed the first part of the question.
12:36Oh, no, you're good.
12:37So with the new manufacturers championship added into the series,
12:40how do you think that will change the approach for you guys as drivers on track
12:44in regards to kind of the system that we have in Formula E
12:47from manufacturers to the teams?
12:49Do you think that will change strategy?
12:51Or do you think that what added impact will that have for you guys
12:55heading into next year?
12:57Honestly, for my drivers, one of you, I don't think it would change anything.
13:00You know, anyways, with your own teammates,
13:04there's always boundaries that you have to respect.
13:08You know, you're driving for manufacturers,
13:10so you have to understand that you race for the team, not only for yourself.
13:14And there's some things you can and cannot do.
13:16So for my driver, I don't think anything's going to change.
13:20You always want to do the best you can.
13:22And the better you do, the more it helps your manufacturers.
13:25So that's always the mindset that you have.
13:29You know, unless you're told something on the track at that point.
13:34Apart from that, I would say nothing changes.
13:37How excited are you for the Gen 3 Evo car coming out for next season?
13:41It's a really exciting time.
13:42Obviously, teams are already committing to Gen 4,
13:44but like, obviously, you have to get to the Gen 3 Evo first.
13:47But what are you most looking forward to about this new car?
13:51And how do you feel like this, again,
13:52pushes the limit of what Formula E is doing
13:55in terms of their development with their on-track racing?
14:00No, I think it's going to be super exciting.
14:02You know, we have a new body kit, so hopefully some more aero.
14:08And as well, I think the introduction of all-wheel drive,
14:13especially for the duels and for attack mode,
14:17it's going to be very, very exciting.
14:19All-wheel drive is going to be finding a lot of lap time,
14:25so you will see huge jumps between qualifying and the duels.
14:29And it will provide for exciting racing as well, you know,
14:32in terms of managing the strategy.
14:33I think the attack mode will be a lot more powerful next season,
14:36as we see for this year.
14:38So I think all in all, it's a big upgrade
14:41and something that drivers are very excited for.
14:44Yeah, for 2025, looking at the schedule,
14:46came out earlier this week.
14:48Is there a track that's really catching your eye?
14:50Obviously, Double Monaco is going to be pretty sweet.
14:52So is there kind of just a weekend or a track
14:55that you're looking forward to to get it on
14:57and be able to race that?
15:00Yeah, I think, obviously, I think Miami will be cool for everyone.
15:07And yeah, Double Monaco is a bit of a dream for all drivers.
15:11So a combination of the two as well,
15:13it will be my first time racing at Jakarta.
15:18So yeah, I think I'm looking forward
15:20to all of those rounds as well.
15:22So yeah, it's the biggest ever season for Formula E.
15:26So that's something exciting for all of us
15:28and definitely something to look forward to.
15:31Do you hope to see India at some point back on the grid?
15:33Do you think that it's going to be,
15:35do you think it's just due time?
15:37Yeah, I mean, there's one round TVC,
15:41so hopefully that one is India.
15:43But obviously nothing, I mean,
15:49it's obviously as an Indian driver,
15:50you want to race in your home country.
15:52So hopefully India comes back on the calendar
15:54sooner rather than later.
15:55I love it. I love it.
15:57Well, I guess to wrap up here for you, Jahan,
15:59you know, kind of closing out,
16:01what do you just look forward towards this end of the season?
16:04Obviously, four races left, two in Portland, two in London.
16:07What do you just hope to finish out here
16:09the rest of the way going forward?
16:10And then obviously for the offseason,
16:12what do you got planned heading up
16:13after the season's completed?
16:17Honestly, yeah, for now the plan is obviously
16:22do as well as possible in Portland.
16:24We'll be back on the same next week in Monaco
16:27to get ready for the weekend in Portland.
16:30And yeah, between Portland and London,
16:32we have, you know, almost another month,
16:35you know, try to get moving on my position
16:38and my seat in Formula E for next season.
16:41You know, as a driver, you want to secure
16:43your position as early as possible.
16:44So that's always going to be the target.
16:47Absolutely. Well, Jahan, thanks so much, man.
16:49Really do appreciate it.
16:51It was great to get to talk to you
16:52and hopefully we'll get to see you in Portland.
16:54Yeah, cheers. Thank you very much.
16:56Thanks, bud. And we'll see you soon, Jahan.
16:59Thank you. Thank you, Holly.
17:01Bye.