Monza racetrack, Milan. October 28 (slightly
edited)
Emma Tom: What are you going to do to the next journalist
who asks when you're going to get married to Dannii Minogue?
JV: I'd say 'I don't know'. I'd probably say 'none of your business'.
ET: What is your advice to women who go out with F1 drivers?
JV: I'd like to find someone to get an advice on a man going out with a singer.
ET: What are the pitfalls?
JV: Well I don't know, she hasn't been singing a lot since we've been together
because she's been taking some time off. But being with a driver: You travel
a lot, there's a lot of travelling, you're not home often and it's a very
stressful job so when you get home you're tired. And it's dangerous.
ET: Do you get home tired and grumpy?
JV: I don't think I'm overly grumpy, just exhausted. That's mostly what it
is. The days at the racetrack are very long, it's from morning til night,
and all you do is talk about cars all day.
ET: I would imagine that would get really boring unless
you had an equal interest in cars.
JV: Yes. It is very boring for the partner of any driver. That's why the time
you spend at home becomes more important.
ET: What do you talk about?
JV: About anything that anyone would talk about.
ET: Do you make a point of not discussing cars?
JV: It depends. If I am with friends who are involved in the business then
of course you end up talking about that, or about a race. But of course you
also have to talk about shopping a little bit.
ET: Do you do the shopping?
JV: No. I am not a big shopper. All I shop for is CDs and books and stuff
like that.
ET: Who's your favourite musician?
JV: Semisonic. Taxiride - they're Australian aren't they? They're good. And
a French Canadian singer but you would have no idea who is he so there's no
point me mentioning it.
ET: What about
authors?
JV: Mostly fantasy. Medieval. Fantastic. With dragons.
ET: All the nerdy boys at school used to play dungeons
and dragons.
JV: Yeah, I'm a nerd.
ET: Do you really travel with a guitar?
JV: No I don't have to because I have a motorhome for the racetrack, so they
stay in the motorhome.
ET: What is your preferred guitar to travel with?
JV: I don't know which one I have in the motorhome now, but I had a very small
one in a backpack once that was easy to carry round.
ET: Like a ukulele?
JV: No it was a full length with a very small body so that was easy to carry
round in the plane. But round Europe they just stay in the motorhome. I don't
carry them round the world any more because it's too complicated in planes.
ET: Are you any good?
JV: No.
ET: Can you play Stairway to Heaven?
JV: No. I play bits of everything very shortly, maybe for a few seconds without
making a mistake, but only for a few seconds.... It's just for fun. It's just
for myself. There's a few people in Monaco who I meet up with and we jam in
garage and just make a lot of noise and have fun.
ET: What do you wear under your racing suit?
JV: Sno-max underwear which is fireproof.
ET: Is that like a full body suit or is it briefs?
JV: No it's full, it's a pyjama. Then the race suit itself is two or three
layers - I don't remember - of anti fire material as well. Just in the very
hot races I have a short sleeved one.
ET: Is it claustrophobic?
JV: No, it's not worse than wearing ski clothes in winter.
ET: What are the physical effects of travelling at high
speeds?
JV: The vision changes. The vision becomes very much like a tunnel. Tunnel
vision. The faster you go the more closed your vision becomes. It's just ahead,
and colours on the side. You're so concentrated on the race that nothing else
enters your brain. It's just racing. It's easy to concentrate on everything,
even if it's just colours on the side. I don't know, I've been doing it for
quite a while so I don't really notice it any more.
ET: Was race school co-ed?
JV: No. Only boys.
ET: Why do you think there's not more women, racing?
JV: It's a very macho world, women are not easily accepted. Secondly, it's
very physical. Mostly when you get to the high levels, it's like with any
other sport, it becomes to a point where there is a physical difference and
it would too difficult for a woman to be at the level where we're at because
of the muscles.
ET: What are the muscles required to operate a car?
JV: Neck, shoulders, all the upper body basically, the back, the sides of
the legs because you hold yourself. Cardio is also very important because
you race for an hour-and-a-half or an hour and 45 minutes and it's sprint
so you've got your heartbeat between 160 and 180 for the whole race. In Hungary
we weighed and lost three kilos just in the race of fluids.
ET: Do you have to work out?
JV: Of course. If you don't train, you can still drive, but you'll be slower
after a while. You can never train enough. It's very difficult to get to the
optimum.
ET: What is your exercise routine?
JV: I've got a special machine that trains all the muscles. I can sit in it
in the same position as the race car so I can work the muscles in exactly
the same position and apart from that, a lot of jogging. I go for 10 mile
runs.
ET: Is it true you hate doing media?
JV: Mmm hmm.
ET: Why?
JV: It depends. I hate doing a day of five minutes with everyone.
ET: Like today?
JV: Yeah, because you don't have time to get into anything interesting.
ET: We hate that, too.
JV: I prefer just a few long ones, then they can become interesting. But if
it's just one after the other, it's just work and heavy.
ET: What is the dumbest question you've ever been asked
by a journalist? "How do you feel on the victory podium?" seems like a pretty
dumb question.
JV: Yeah, I guess because you can only feel good. But people are often excited
themselves, they're happy, and they ask the first thing that comes into their
minds. It doesn't mean it's very intellectual but that's what people want
to hear so it doesn't really matter if it's a stupid question or not.
ET: Do you still feel any fear at all?
JV: Never, I've never had any fear driving.
ET: So you're not scared of dying?
JV: Well everyone dies one day. I'm not afraid of dying driving. I'd be more
afraid of dying crossing the road or something like that.
ET: So are you religious?
JV: Not at all.
ET: Do you think that when you die that's it?
JV: I have no idea. I'll know once I die. I don't have a preconceived idea
of what happens. I'm waiting to see and it's going to be a big discovery.
Maybe something. Maybe nothing. I don't think many people know so it's better
not to spend you're living life thinking about this.
ET: Are you curious?
JV: No, definitely not curious about that.
Freddy Carremans from De Morgen in Belgium, Sjoerd van Stokkum from Quote
in Holland and Jorge Garcia from Max magazine in Mexican join the interview...
SVS: How do you feel about the Spa-Francorchamps result
[in Belgium]?
JV: I'm very disappointed with the Spa-Francorchamps result because we didn't
make the most of the car. The car was a lot quicker than that. We put the
wrong set up on it and it didn't work. Very disappointed.
SVS: And the whole season?
JV: It's better than last year but I'm disappointed because it was supposed
to be more better than this anyway.
SVS: Are you patient enough?
JV: It doesn't matter if I am patient enough, I will be fine anyway.
FC: What progress has the team made.
JV: It's been a lot from last year. If we can make the same progress for next
year, it's going to be enough.
JG: Make an exercise. Jacques. Jack. Jacques. You are
not Jacques. Jacques are seated here from other side. Tell me 'who is Jack?'.
JV: I'm not going to answer that. I don't like talking about myself like that.
It's for other people to judge. Everyone sees you in a different light and
everybody thinks you're different so what you think of yourself is often different
than what other people think of you, so what's it matter what I think.
JG: Only talk about the paddock.
JV: I've never watched myself race I'm always inside the car. I really don't
like talking about myself like that because you either say something which
makes you sound like you're trying to be modest or else you sound big headed.
So there's no correct way of answering. You only come out of it looking stupid.
SVS: Is there anything you like that compares to F1
racing?
JV: As a business, no.
SVS: It pays the best,
though.
JV: It pays good, yeah. Hollywood pays well, also. For the pure feeling of
the driving and the emotion you get out of it, you can get the same out on
skis or any sport where you have to push yourself and there's an element of
risk.
SVS: But you're a professional skier...
JV: Hobby skier.
SVS: The BAR allows you to ski?
JV: Of course. It was part of the negotiation.
ET: Lots of people in Australia have their first sexual
experience in a car.
JV: In a car?
ET: Yeah. Did you ever do it in a car?
JV: I'm 29 so I've had plenty of time to play in a car, but not my first.
I think I'm a little bit more romantic than that.
ET: Maybe it's just an Australian thing.
JV: I grew up in Europe and cars in Europe are small. Smaller than in the
States or Australia.
ET: And the old fashioned bench seats?
JV: No we don't have those in Europe. I think Europe is probably more outdoors.
ET: So where was the first time?
JV: I won't tell you. That's a secret. Just in case I said something else
to someone else, I don't really remember.
SVS: You're now one of the top three earners since your
new contract in Formula One...
JV: I think it was before the contract.
SVS: So what's your biggest spending with the money
- houses and cars?
JV: No. Not cars.
SVS: You drive a particular one?
JV: I like old American cars. I've got a '51 Chevy pick up. That's fun. Not
for everyday use. I'm not into dream cars.
SVS: You don't have a lot of Ferraris?
JV: Why? I drive a Formula One car. There's no need. It's more a hassle than
anything else. Just to drive around Monaco and wave to everyone because I'm
in a dream car. That's stupid. When I drive it's to get someplace.
ET: What's your view of women drivers on the road?
JV: Some are good, some are bad. The same as men. There's a lot of bad men
drivers. Dannii drives me around and I'm pretty happy. There's no problem.
Of course. Why not? There's as many guys having accidents as women. Probably
because guys drive idiots.
SVS: How long do you see yourself driving for Formula
One.
JV: Well I've got a three year contract, so at least three years, but probably
more than that. I don't want to spend all my life being a racetrack driver.
ET: What else would you do?
JV: Raise a family. This is a career. Once I stop this I don't want to have
another career. I'll do a lot of things but not as a career.
ET: Would you encourage your children to race?
JV: No, only if that's what they want to do. But the good thing is I've had
my dream and I lived through it so I don't have to live my dream through my
children which is what most parents do.
FC: These last few years have been difficult for you...
JV: It's been useful. I've learned a lot. I grew up, I guess. It is tough.
But life is tough so there's moments that are easier than others but these
two years have been work-wise very difficult. But that's going to pay off
in the future.
FC: What needs to change?
JV: A lot. We need a lot of improvement. Work is being done but we're still
far behind. We're over a second behind the quickest guys so we need a lot
of work. Mostly aerodynamics.
SVS: Is there time to think or be scared [when you're
driving]?
JV: Some are scared, some people are scared, and they just drive slower. If
you get to that point it's better to stay home and do something else with
your life.
SVS: Is there time to be afraid in a car like that?
JV: Of course there is time. It doesn't take long to be afraid.
ET: Do you think the media has an unhealthy obsession
with the colour of your hair?
JV: Yeah. I haven't changed my hair colour in one year but people think I
did it last week still. It's funny. Maybe it's because I was the first one
to do it at this level. I dunno. Maybe the journalists were just bored.
ET: But the other drivers seemed very interested as
well.
JV: Maybe because we're in a boring world... the paddock is very boring.
ET: Doesn't that mean they should get a life?
JV: You have to think about it - this is a highly mediatised environment with
sponsors paying a lot of money and lot of people watching so we are a product.
So of course if you do something like that it has a bigger reaction.
SVS: Michael Schumacher says he's never going to return
to Germany because he can't live there, he can't walk down the street. Do
you feel sorry for him? Do you feel the same?
JV: Listen, if he was really wanting
to live in Germany he would find a way to live in Germany or he would stop
driving so he wouldn't be recognised. Why should I feel sorry for him?
SVS: He says 'OK I want to go back to Germany, but I just can't.
JV: If he wants to go back to Germany then he goes back to Germany. It's very
simple. You don't have to live in the middle of the biggest town where everyone's
going to recognise you. You could go to the mountain and live as a hermit
if you want to.
SVS: Do you want to live as a hermit in the mountains?
JV: I don't mind. I like being at home. Doing my own stuff. If you want to
see people then you take the car and you go and see everybody. It's very easy.
But you shouldn't complain about being recognised because that's the reason
you're making money.
ET: Does it bother you in Australia that lots of people
know you as Dannii Minogue's boyfriend?
JV: No it's great. I don't care. Why is it a problem?
ET: Because they see you purely in relation to her.
JV: So what? That doesn't matter. I have no jealousy or pride on that area.
ET: Do you feel like you're a handbag when you go to
Australia.
JV: No, not at all. The thing is when we go to Australia, we're with the family
and friends not going around town to all the parties to make sure we're being
seen, so it doesn't really matter.
SVS: Your motorhome's here. Why's that? Do you hate
hotels?
JV: No. It's just that we spend so much time on the road, it's a second home.
It's a real home. It's practical. You can wake up later to go to the track
and you're near the track so if you need to work with the engineer it's much
easier. You're there. Sometimes the hotels are very far off.
ET: What's in the motorhome?
JV: A bed, a shower, a toilet, a kitchen, music, everything. It's a small
apartment.
ET: Have you decorated it yourself?
JV: No.
ET: No F1 posters up?
JV: Are you crazy? No way. I don't keep trophies. I'm not into racing memorabilia.
I prefer to have guitars on the wall.
JG: Do you like Mexican food?
JV: I don't like spicy food.
ET: Pussy.
JV: What?
ET: Pussy.
JV: What did you just say?
ET: Pussy. Wimp.
JV: Oh, OK.
ET: Um. It seems to be a slang term that doesn't translate
that well.
JV: It's just that if I eat spicy food I stop breathing, I start sweating.
It takes the taste away and I don't like it. I find no pleasure in eating
spicy food.
ET: What's your opinion on Australian accents?
JV: I love it. I love accents. I come from a country where our French accent
is very strong compared to the French people. It's the old French, it sounds
very peasant, so I come from a place where people could make fun of the accent.
I think accents are great and it's very important to keep accents. You belong
somewhere. It's great. Jules Kulpinski (Jacques and Dannii's personal assistant):
Yeah mate.
SVS: Which circuit do you not like or hate?
JV: Magny-Cours [in France] I don't like.
SVS: What's wrong with Magny-Cours?
JV: It's boring to drive. No-one likes it. It's an artificial track. There's
a small piece of track and it's like 'OK, let's try to make as many corners
as we can in here'. There's no reason for there to be a corner. When you go
to Spa, there's a reason for a corner, there's a mountain, there's a tree,
there's a house, there's something, there's a reason, you're going somewhere.
SVS: In Monaco...
JV: In Monaco there's a reason, there's walls, you follow the streets. So
you're going somewhere also.
Jacques' Minder: Last question.
JG: What's your definition of the ideal woman.
JV: Just look at Dannii. That's my ideal woman.
JG: And the ideal man?
JV: I've never thought about that.
Interview ends.