38 replies to this topic

[H0R]

I think it is safe to say that most of them won't have the necessity to earn their living. 

Some of them end up in broadcasting, a few noteable exceptions have known businesses, such as Jarno Trulli, Robert Dornboos  or Jody Scheckter, some are driver managers and Carlos Reutemann of course ended up being a politician. But most of them have to be utterly bored. 

How on earth do they spend their time? 

[Risil]

Quick, to LinkedIn.

 

Looks like Ralph Firman is now working for the family race car construction firm, unless that is out of date. He also posts things on LinkedIn like "if you choose a job you love, you'll never work a day in your life", although he doesn't say whether he places himself in that category. Hopefully he does! I liked Ralph Firman.

[PlatenGlass]

Why would they be any more bored than any other person in the world who isn't currently a racing driver? I'm sure they can find stuff to do!

[LolaB0860]

Depends how you define former drivers, if it means life after F1 (or whatever their primary series was) there's often years of driving and/or manager career still ahead of them elsewhere in racing, for younger folk even many decades. If they choose it that is.

 

But if it's life after all motor racing... well that depends whether they have tens of millions or tens of thousands to burn...

 

Anyway, here are Latifi's ambitions after MBA

https://poetsandquan...usiness-school/

 

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)?

Currently, my post-MBA plans are not 100% set in stone. Of course, I have ideas and potential options for what I can do, such as joining my family business or getting involved in the business side of motorsports. However, these are not things I will necessarily hold myself to if I discover something else I am passionate about through the MBA process. This openness to possibilities is another key reason for pursuing an MBA degree. I want to put myself outside of my comfort zone and in a position where I can learn from a group of diverse, intelligent, and accomplished individuals and broaden my horizons to life outside of motorsports.

Edited by LolaB0860, 10 December 2024 - 17:05.

[messy]

I love the stories about them doing ‘normal’ jobs (if this stuff counts anyway) - Smokin’ Jo Winkelhock runs his family truck/towing business in Germany and goes to recover and tow away crashed trucks. Also quit smoking decades ago. Zsolt Baumgartner went back to work on his Dad’s pig farm. Jaime Alguersuari and Laurent Aiello became DJs. Didn’t Frentzen work as an undertaker pre-F1?

[ensign14]

Passionate about an MBA.  Christ on a ****ing bike.

[Risil]

I love the stories about them doing ‘normal’ jobs (if this stuff counts anyway) - Smokin’ Jo Winkelhock runs his family truck/towing business in Germany and goes to recover and tow away crashed trucks. Also quit smoking decades ago. Zsolt Baumgartner went back to work on his Dad’s pig farm. Jaime Alguersuari and Laurent Aiello became DJs. Didn’t Frentzen work as an undertaker pre-F1?

We're all clearly in the right forum because one of my first thoughts on seeing this thread was "What's Zsolt Baumgartner doing now?"

[santori]

Heinz-Harald Frentzen drove for his dad's funeral home after F1, too. I think one of his sisters runs it now.
He's also raced quite a lot and and one of his sisters married one of Nick Heidfeld's brothers.

Edited by santori, 10 December 2024 - 21:57.

[danmills]

Trulli's vineyard

[Grippy]

Nigel Mansell bought Woodbury Park Golf Club o/s Exeter Devon, and turned it into a country club with  hotel, spa, etc. The Red Arrows display team stayed there when they were doing SW displays.

He also opened an outdoor kart track at Dunkeswell.

He was a Special Constable (volunteer support to regular police with full police powers) in Exmouth - as he was on the Isle Of Man during his racing career- , and apparently spent a new years eve breaking up a fight on Exmouth seafront.

 

Sold it all when he moved to the channel Islands.

[PlatenGlass]

Didn't Frentzen make rugs at some point?

[LittleChris]

For Eddie Jordan ?

[Alan Lewis]

WATN (run by TNF member and author Richard Jenkins) is your friend...

https://www.oldracingcars.com/watn/

[BarryinIN]

Some spend their time complaining how their nephew is treated.

[azza200]

Jean Alesi has his own wine and vineyard now

[Frood]

Jaime Alguersuari and Laurent Aiello became DJs.

As did Sakon Yamamoto, though he paired it with being a politician!

[cyclist]

Jos Verstappen is into rallying now.

Ralf Schumacher has a vineyard as well and does punditry.

Jody Scheckter has/had a farm in SA.

Gerhard Berger managed the transport company of his family I believe.

Patrick Friesacher is a driver coach.

Robert Doornbos sells sex toys and race simulators.

Taki Inoue is a driver coach and social media star

 

 

Most would have continued in other racing series or managed their own teams in some capacity. The racing world is quite small so many former drivers stay involved in a certain way.

[BRG]

Passionate about an MBA.  Christ on a ****ing bike.

That's not what he actually said though

.  

",,,,if I discover something else I am passionate about through the MBA process. "..

 

Some spend their time complaining how their nephew is treated.

Or pursuing law-suits to gain the World Championship that they couldn't win on the track.

[messy]

I don't think I'd want to be driver coached by Taki Inoue. Make your excuses, don't make eye contact, back away.

[BRG]

I don't think I'd want to be driver coached by Taki Inoue. Make your excuses, don't make eye contact, back away.

What's the Japanese for "Don't do as I do, do as I say"

 

Isn't Taki also a keen mountaineer? 

[messy]

That was Katayama wasn't it? He wanted to climb K2 when he retired.

[AlcidioG]

Jos Verstappen is into rallying now.

Ralf Schumacher has a vineyard as well and does punditry.

Jody Scheckter has/had a farm in SA.

Gerhard Berger managed the transport company of his family I believe.

Patrick Friesacher is a driver coach.

Robert Doornbos sells sex toys and race simulators.

Taki Inoue is a driver coach and social media star

 

 

Most would have continued in other racing series or managed their own teams in some capacity. The racing world is quite small so many former drivers stay involved in a certain way.

 

Somehow I first read that as 'race stimulators' and I was like 'WTF are race stimulators' 

[PlatenGlass]

That was Katayama wasn't it? He wanted to climb K2 when he retired.

 

Murray Walker also once claimed that Katayama had run a mile in 4:01. I'm not sure how realistic that really is though.

[Jim Thurman]

WATN (run by TNF member and author Richard Jenkins) is your friend...

https://www.oldracingcars.com/watn/

I'll second this, Richard (and his contributors) did great work, and also did so for Indianapolis 500/U.S. Championship (Indycar) drivers:

https://www.oldracin...n/drivers/indy/

 

Some of them led fascinating post-racing career lives. One fellow started out doing aerial stunts, wound up creating pinball machines.

[messy]

Murray Walker also once claimed that Katayama had run a mile in 4:01. I'm not sure how realistic that really is though.

Keen mountaineer, competed arguably his best season in 1994 while being treated for cancer and once kept a packet of cigarettes in his overalls for when he retired from a race. Fascinating character.

[noikeee]

Keen mountaineer, competed arguably his best season in 1994 while being treated for cancer and once kept a packet of cigarettes in his overalls for when he retired from a race. Fascinating character.

Pretty good driver too. There's this recurring stereotype of Japanese drivers being a bit naff, perhaps started by dad Nakajima being pushed to good seats without meriting them (though he'd have occasional flashes of talent), but by now they've had a few good midfielders. Katayama, Aguri Suzuki, Kobayashi, now Tsunoda. And of course SATOOO!!!!11 although he had his reputation a bit ruined by struggling next to Button, but redeemed himself later at Super Aguri.

I realise I've hijacked the thread.

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

I know a former driver who drives in Formula1!

Fernando Alonso!

[FLB]

Cultivating spats between current F1 drivers?  Russell/Verstappen sniping a good thing, says F1 and Indy legend Fittipaldi | RACER

[Jackmancer]

Didn't Frentzen make rugs at some point?

 

I would love to have a HHF rug tbh

[Dan333SP]

I think the answer to the "What's Next?" question that Bottas is asking is being a gravel bike race promoter/competitor. He's a brand ambassador for a number of cycling companies and draws a lot of interest at the events he promotes and races in. 

[H0R]

Bottas future career on OnlyFinns is pretty much a given, isn't it?

[PrinceBira]

I think the answer to the "What's Next?" question that Bottas is asking is being a gravel bike race promoter/competitor. He's a brand ambassador for a number of cycling companies and draws a lot of interest at the events he promotes and races in.

He’s quite a big name in that community indeed!

He was even riding prototype stuff on one of the biggest Gravel races this year. Also he is quite OK level, qualified for the World Championship in his age category.

[pacificquay]

Jody Scheckter has/had a farm in SA.

 

Jody’s farm is in Hampshire rather than SithAfrica

 

[SophieB]

Alas, it looks like Jody’s farm closed earlier this year 

https://gff.co.uk/ar...-dairy-closure/

[Lurb]

These last few years there's been an "end of season" rental karting event, GP Pistón, joined by spanish motorsports journos, simracing streamers, F2/F3 drivers and so on.

Heinz Harald Frentzen and his two daughters Lea and Sarah ran last year, alongside the likes of Roldán Rodríguez, Juncadella, Mari Boya or Pepe Martí. The 2024 edition is next weekend, I don´t know if they'll be there again.

Edited by Lurb, 12 December 2024 - 09:07.

[RedRabbit]

I know a former driver who drives in Formula1!

Fernando Alonso!

You mean retired WEC Champion and twice winner of the Le Mans 24 hours.

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

You mean retired WEC Champion and twice winner of the Le Mans 24 hours.

Plus Dakar podium and Daytona 24 hrs win!

Edited by RainyAfterlifeDaylight, 12 December 2024 - 11:22.

[Secretariat]

Jerome d'Ambrosio is Fred Vassuer's deputy team principal after also working with Mercedes and Wolff. Seems like Ferrari has their succession plan in place.  

[eibyyz]

Alas, it looks like Jody’s farm closed earlier this year 

https://gff.co.uk/ar...-dairy-closure/

 

Bugger.  He should move to Texas...