39 replies to this topic

[bira]

Heh, every year the IMS press office comes up with the best press releases ahead of the USGP.

Anyhow, found this in my mailbox from the lovely people of Indy. Doesn't make for a news story, I figured, but certainly something to share with everyone else.


For Immediate Release


IF YOU WEREN’T A FORMULA ONE DRIVER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?


INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, June 9, 2004 – The 20 competitors in the 2004 United States Grand Prix, June 18-20 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, were asked what job they would like to have if they weren’t a Formula One driver:

“Soccer.”

-- Michael Schumacher
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, six-time World Champion, 2000 and 2003 USGP winner



“A mechanical engineer.”

-- Rubens Barrichello
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 2002 USGP winner



“Probably some outdoor activity. Probably biking, with some racing activity in there, but definitely something that tested the body. An adventure school in Tasmania … somewhere I can drink all the red wine and eat all the chocolate! Providing the school runs itself.”

-- Mark Webber
Jaguar Racing



“I can’t imagine having done anything else, to be honest, but if that was the case, I would probably have continued with trying to make it as a professional ice hockey player.”

-- Kimi Raikkonen
West McLaren Mercedes



“I would probably have ended up working at my father’s haulage company, on the business side of things.”

-- David Coulthard
West McLaren Mercedes



“Outside of motorsport, I’d be racing either mountain bikes or doing triathlons or running. I’d be racing something.”

-- Cristiano da Matta
Panasonic Toyota Racing, 2002 CART champion



“I like all sports. Football (soccer) and cycling are my favorites for a second job.”

-- Fernando Alonso
Mild Seven Renault F1 Team



“I have no clue. I never thought about anything else because my whole life was in motorsports.”

-- Ralf Schumacher
BMW WilliamsF1 Team



“A lawyer. That job would be really interesting.”

-- Olivier Panis
Panasonic Toyota Racing



“Flying, where the speed is high. As a driver, I’d enjoy the speed and the G-forces in flying that you can have in these F1 cars.”

-- Zsolt Baumgartner
Wilux Minardi Cosworth



“I would like to do some other kind of sport like cycling and mountain biking.”

-- Nick Heidfeld
Jordan Ford



“I have no idea. I have been involved in this since I was 3 or 4 years old, so it is too difficult for me to make a decision now.”

-- Jarno Trulli
Mild Seven Renault F1 Team



“Cyclist, like the guys that race in the Tour de France.”

-- Gianmaria Bruni
Wilux Minardi Cosworth



“Before I started with motorsport I was a ski racer, so maybe I’d be a ski racer.”

-- Christian Klien
Jaguar Racing



“I have no idea. Possibly a (racing) cyclist, but I never thought about it.”

-- Takuma Sato
Lucky Strike BAR Honda



“I would be a football (soccer) player. I like to play football, it is my favorite hobby, and I play quite well. So if I wasn’t a F1 driver, I’d like to be a football player.”

-- Giancarlo Fisichella
Sauber Petronas



“I love cars. If I were not involved in motorsport, I’d be working with cars in some way. Something with engines, for sure.”

-- Felipe Massa
Sauber Petronas



“Football (soccer). I started to play football when I was very young, but motor racing was my first choice.”

-- Giorgio Pantano
Jordan Ford



The following exchange took place between Juan Pablo Montoya (BMW WilliamsF1 Team, 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner) and Jenson Button (Lucky Strike BAR Honda) when they were asked the question at a press conference.

Juan Pablo Montoya: “I don’t know. Probably an architect. My father used to be an architect. So when I was a kid, I wanted to be an architect.”

Jenson Button: “I’ll be a second-hand car salesman, then.”

Montoya: “Be washing cars or something.”

Button: “Exactly.”

Moderator: “Is that what you want to do?”

Button: “No, that’s what my old man was. No, it would have to be something pretty crazy, I think. I don’t know what.”

Montoya: “Stunt driver or something.”

Button: “Fighter pilot.”

Montoya: “Yeah, that would be cool.”


***

[Wuzak]

I guess these count as their dream jobs.

Originally posted by bira
“I have no idea. Possibly a (racing) cyclist, but I never thought about it.”

-- Takuma Sato
Lucky Strike BAR Honda

Wasn't Taku a racing cyclist before he moved into motorsports?

[ruther]

Originally posted by bira

“A lawyer. That job would be really interesting.”

-- Olivier Panis
Panasonic Toyota Racing

Really.Interesting.

(in comparison with F1, a life of excitement)

[andrimitum]

An adventure school in Tasmania … somewhere I can drink all the red wine and eat all the chocolate! Providing the school runs itself.

-- Mark Webber
Jaguar Racing


WOW like why not surfing dude, or lying on the beach yah know.

[berlinetta]

I must confess, I get to like Mark Webber more and more...

Red wine and chocolate... YummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmY!

[911]

Years ago on ESPN (1990) they used to have a segment called, Ask the Driver. That was pretty good. They would ask them questions like the one above, but also ask them what their first car was, how would they define their driving style, etc.

[The Vulcan]

Originally posted by bira
“I have no idea. I have been involved in this since I was 3 or 4 years old, so it is too difficult for me to make a decision now.”

-- Jarno Trulli
Mild Seven Renault F1 Team

A hairstylist job would be ideal!!

[HSJ]

Originally posted by bira
“I have no clue.”

-- Ralf Schumacher
BMW WilliamsF1 Team

I'm tempted to put this in my signature! (Of course I edited away the "I never thought about anything else because my whole life was in motorsports" part... )

“A lawyer. That job would be really interesting.”

-- Olivier Panis
Panasonic Toyota Racing

Oh Ollie, that's soooo disappointing!

“I would like to do some other kind of sport like cycling and mountain biking.”

-- Nick Heidfeld
Jordan Ford

I had a dream about Nick last night. Seriously! It wasn't a good one though, in it he said his wife died. In real life he doesn't have a wife though... I also had a dream about my girlfriend's favorite (musical) artist, which is a guy. It wasn't an erotic dream or anything. Weird though. Maybe this is my punishment for spending too much time at the gym and ogling the great looking chicks there. Or something.

Jenson Button: “I’ll be a second-hand car salesman, then.”

Montoya: “Be washing cars or something.”

Button: “Exactly.”

Thanks for the material, bira!

[mikedeering]

It must have been a tough job being a careers advisor at any of the schools these drivers attended.

Advisor "What do you want to do with your life?"

Future Generic F1 Driver "I was thinking about maybe being a racing driver - you know F1 or something like that"

Adv (thinks "If I had 2c for every time I heard that one") "Right....OK. Realistically, say that doesn't happen - what REAL job would you want to do?"

FGF1D (ponders for a minute) "Well, I am not sure. I guess I enjoy playing soccer, so I would love to be a professional player - that looks like fun"

Adv (rolls eyes, sharp intake of breath) "OK, it's nice to have an imagination, but just say for whatever reason you couldn't be a racing driver or a soccer player - wouldn't it be fun to be a town planner, or perhaps a meteorologist?"

FGF1D "Those sound OK, but I was watching the Tour de France on TV the other day. I dunno, it looked pretty cool to be flying up those mountains on a bike. So in the event I couldn't be either of my first two choices I thing a professional cyclist would suit me just fine.

Adv "Oh forget it"

[bira]

brilliant Mike

[ckkl]

Yeah what's up with F1 drivers and cycling? Strange...

[Jason]

Originally posted by Wuzak


I guess these count as their dream jobs.

Wasn't Taku a racing cyclist before he moved into motorsports?

Yup. Most likely involved in competitive cycling longer than he's been racing in motorsports. Sounds like Bruni would've taken it a step farther.

[Jason]

Originally posted by ckkl
Yeah what's up with F1 drivers and cycling? Strange...

I find that weird, too. I would've guessed aviation pilot, as most likely. :

[Dolk]

Originally posted by ckkl
Yeah what's up with F1 drivers and cycling? Strange...

They probably realise its the purest form of racing *



* except for the drugs ofcourse.

[Buford]

I am surprised none of them recognized reality and said slinging burgers at Mac Donalds.

[Toxicant]

Does anyone know how far each driver went in school, perhaps any majors?

With these drivers starting out younger and younger its going to be like our american football players. Washed up at 27 and can't even read or write.

[Oho]

Originally posted by Buford
I am surprised none of them recognized reality and said slinging burgers at Mac Donalds.

Ave !!

As cruel as it sounds, pretty much my thoughts exactly. Though F1 drivers are quite ambitious and have huge egos (which might be consequence of their roles as F1 drivers rather than the opposite though), which would compensate for lack in other areas of aptitude.

The cycling bit. I have come to understand that cycling is an intergral part in the training regime of quite of few if not most of the drivers, hence it seems like a natural choice as it also invloves racing and speed. I doubt many (or actually any) of them would make the top of the heap in cycling though.

- Oho -

[bock16]

Originally posted by Buford
I am surprised none of them recognized reality and said slinging burgers at Mac Donalds.

They asked them what they would like to do. Probably only Montoya would go for that one

[Oho]

Originally posted by bock16
They asked them what they would like to do. Probably only Montoya would go for that one

Ave !!

Actuallly in the title it was:

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ?

It was only later elaborated to what would you LIKE to do ?

The two questions are very different indeed unless you bought into F1 driver omni potence......

- Oho -

[petri]

Originally posted by bira

“A lawyer. That job would be really interesting.”

-- Olivier Panis
Panasonic Toyota Racing



-snip-
Button: “Exactly.”

Moderator: “Is that what you want to do?”

Button: “No, that’s what my old man was. No, it would have to be something pretty crazy, I think. I don’t know what.”

Montoya: “Stunt driver or something.”


***

I've always believed that Olivier is a nice person but this....

Stunt driver would actually be a perfect job for Monty himself.

[BRG]

Originally posted by bira
[B]“I would be a football (soccer) player. I like to play football, it is my favorite hobby, and I play quite well. So if I wasn’t a F1 driver, I’d like to be a football player.”

-- Giancarlo Fisichella[B]

"Fisi is clearly the best footballer around. I think it is a crime that the top teams won't take him on. He deserves a place at Manchester United, Real Madrid or Intermilan or onr of the best clubs. He shouldn't be stuck in the lower leagues when he is obviously so brilliant. Yes, I know that he never seems to actually score any goals but his ball control is so good, he just needs the opportunity to show what he can do.. blah, blah, blah"

[bock16]

Originally posted by Oho

Actuallly in the title it was:

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ?

It was only later elaborated to what would you LIKE to do ?

Well, I kind of dismissed the first one on the grounds that they couldn't possibly have worded it EXACTLY that way or it would all sound stupid! For example,

Q: If you weren't a Formula 1 driver, what would you do?
Barrichello: A mechanical Engineer.

What does that mean? He's going to find one and do him in?

[HSJ]

Mikedeering & BRG

While F1 drivers are no rocket scientists, I don't think it unreasonable to think they are generally more talented than your average joe. I doubt they'd really be at McDonald's if they weren't racers. The thing is, to be good enough to be a F1 driver (even Yoong level, bought seat and everything, the guy seems quite smart actually) it is not enough to be just good at racing while being bottom of the barrel in everything else. They really do have to have many skills, and especially huge determination which alone will get you quite far.

[mikedeering]

In all seriousness, when you see the average F1 driver being interviewed they at least give the impression they are all reasonably intelligent and could be successful in another field. When you compare this to your average English footballer being interviewed on the TV, the contrast is marked. The same doesn't seem to apply to the non English players - the Henrys and Van Nistelrooys of this world are more articulate in a second language than many English players using their native tongue.

This is just my observation - and what do I know? The same English footballer earns more in a week than I earn in a year - so they are clearly not as stupid as they appear on the surface!

[Tolyngee]

Originally posted by bira
“I have no clue. I never thought about anything else because my whole life was in motorsports.”

-- Ralf Schumacher
BMW WilliamsF1 Team

I'd just like to say that I agree that Ralf is indeed clueless, and never thinks...

Take pity on this poor soul when he's dumped out of F1...

[dworsham]

Ralf better start thinking about this or start driving better.

Maybe Michael will give him a job planning celebration parties for WDC.

[andrimitum]

My impression when reading these, was that these guy's were mostly talking hobbies. It's as if most of them interpreted it as what would you do if you were out now. (with all your money)

While I read it as, what would you do if you had never been a F1 driver. I think RB and OP were two that answered as the later while MW certainly answered as the former.


Originally posted by bira
I have no clue. I never thought about anything"

-- Ralf Schumacher
BMW WilliamsF1 Team

[Jack Rabbit]

Bria, that was pretty damn interesting. Thanks!

A couple of the answers seemed a little sad though. Ralf's “I have no clue. I never thought about anything else because my whole life was in motor sports.” And Jano's "I have no idea. I have been involved in this since I was 3 or 4 years old, so it is too difficult for me to make a decision now.”

I remember seeing this weird footage of an 8 year old Brazilian boy talking about Aryton Senna and how he had seen all of his races many times and how he wanted to be just like him and how he had been in karts since he could walk...Somehow I think there might be some bizzaro parenting going on in f1, as in other sports. You know, parents trying to live out their dreams through their children, forgetting that the ideal is to help a child discover who he/she is and not try to intentionally set out to Frankenstein the next tiger woods/aryton senna. Children with this kind of parenting rarely develop beyond stunted one dimensional narcissists, even if they are successful. It also reminds me of a quote good ol Eddie Irvine said "You have to be one sad bastard to have an f1 driver as a friend."

Taku's background seems a little more well rounded because he didn't get into it until he was a little older and seems to have much more personal development in his life. Besides, he doesn't live in Monaco, and that’s got give him some bonus points in the 'not a pathological narcissist' column.

Also, the answers like "dunno um fighter pilot? Tour de France winner? Soccer star?" would kind of fit in with a big ego...I mean maybe they actually believe that if they weren't in f1 they would still be just as famous and wealthy and revered because they are great and just plain better than everyone else; which would fit with the whole narcissistic thing. So maybe they were answering not what they would 'like' to be doing, but what they actually 'believe' they would be doing...but then again I am probable overanalysing this.

[beanoid]

Originally posted by mikedeering
It must have been a tough job being a careers advisor at any of the schools these drivers attended.

Advisor "What do you want to do with your life?"

Future Generic F1 Driver "I was thinking about maybe being a racing driver - you know F1 or something like that"

Adv (thinks "If I had 2c for every time I heard that one") "Right....OK. Realistically, say that doesn't happen - what REAL job would you want to do?"

FGF1D (ponders for a minute) "Well, I am not sure. I guess I enjoy playing soccer, so I would love to be a professional player - that looks like fun"

Adv (rolls eyes, sharp intake of breath) "OK, it's nice to have an imagination, but just say for whatever reason you couldn't be a racing driver or a soccer player - wouldn't it be fun to be a town planner, or perhaps a meteorologist?"

FGF1D "Those sound OK, but I was watching the Tour de France on TV the other day. I dunno, it looked pretty cool to be flying up those mountains on a bike. So in the event I couldn't be either of my first two choices I thing a professional cyclist would suit me just fine.

Adv "Oh forget it"

maczippy (to whom I am married) DID have this conversation with his careers advisor at school, except for the football part. (In the end, he's turned out to be a photographer, and motorsports is part of what he does.)

I just can't stop laughing because this is nearly verbatim to the way he tells the story--you must have run into him at some pub or other.

[lukywill]

cycling and football. the majority of the answers.

now we understand why theres few racing these days

[Greenback]

I think that, whatever job they took, they would be at work early. That is, until they got the traffic flow rhythms down at which point they would walk in at exactly 0900.

Is it acceptable to draft on the freeway?

[Donzi]

I would have enjoyed hearing Eddie Irvines answer to this question. One can only guess what may have his other calling if no f1 in his life.

[ehagar]

I vaguely recall Michael once said he would have probably been a automotive mechanic if he hadn't have been involved in motorsport.

[jonpollak]

Jean-Pierre Sarti

To be a racing driver takes a certain ...lack of imagination

Life imitates art.


Jp

[masterhit]

To be honest the question itself is a bit like the classic line of questioning from some football fans, albeit in reverse:

"What team do you support?"

Answer: "None, I don't like football."

(Dumbfounded) "But if you did like football, what team would you like?"


Hell's bells...

[Jason]

Originally posted by jonpollak
Jean-Pierre Sarti
Life imitates art.


Jp

Ah, yes. I remember that line. Perhaps, there's some truth to it.

[Jungle Boy]

I think Ukyo Katayama had the coolest alternate career choice, he was asked once what he would be doing if he was not racing cars and he said "climbing mountains!". Of course Ukyo did climb everest in 2001 and it has always been a passion of his.

[AD]

Originally posted by Oho
...The cycling bit. I have come to understand that cycling is an intergral part in the training regime of quite of few if not most of the drivers, hence it seems like a natural choice as it also invloves racing and speed. I doubt many (or actually any) of them would make the top of the heap in cycling though...

I hope I'm not veering too far off topic; but was it at either the '94 or '95 British Grand Prix that the drivers had a bicycle race? There's something floating around my head head that this happened; apparently MS turned up late but still managed to win...again this could all be a notion in my head Does anyone know?

[KinetiK]

Originally posted by mikedeering
In all seriousness, when you see the average F1 driver being interviewed they at least give the impression they are all reasonably intelligent and could be successful in another field. When you compare this to your average English footballer being interviewed on the TV, the contrast is marked. The same doesn't seem to apply to the non English players - the Henrys and Van Nistelrooys of this world are more articulate in a second language than many English players using their native tongue.

This is just my observation - and what do I know? The same English footballer earns more in a week than I earn in a year - so they are clearly not as stupid as they appear on the surface!

I get the opposite impression about the intelligence of drivers, most come off as dunces at best and some like Montoya and Raikonnen.... utter morons. On the smart side, I can name a few retired drivers without much thought, Irvine, Lauda, JV, Berger, Hakkinen and for current drivers the few that really stand out are Gene, Coulthard and Panis. Michael Schumacher remains an enigma to me, while coming across as the consumate professional both on and off the track I haven't read anything that puts him at the pointy part of the intelligence grid. His answers about world events, inter sport politics etc aren't too insightful, I think he's reasonably intelligent (gold stars for F1 of course) but definitely not in a scholary fashion.

The answers given by the younger drivers like Heidfeld and Alonso are just typical of the mindset of a professional athlete in any sport. Their entire life has been designed around this sport, they know nothing else and to what detriment? None but they had better make it to the top. Oh, and you guys slagging Ralf for his "I have no clue", he's the most honest one in there so cut the guy a friggin break for a change ok?

Rare is the gifted athlete and rarer still (like a unicorn) is one with a brain.

[andrimitum]

Don't worry we all like Ralf, at least I do, we just are having a go at being journalists and only quoting the part that gives the impression we wish to give.

-- Andri:
I'm sitting here with Ralf Schumacher, Ralf I know you are getting a slightly improved car for the upcoming race. How much do the drivers like yourselves contribute to the development of the car. How much of your ideas and thoughts go into development, or are you just a trained monkey driving a highly technical piece of machinery.

-- Ralf Schumacher:

"I have no clue. I never thought about anything"




See I could work for planet F1

Seriously I like Ralf, I hope he does not lose his seat, but I would like him to up his game, get with a team that suits his personality, and for goodness sake pass his brother even if he has to take him out.