Agnès de Laborderie Carlier: “A pilot is something other than a minister of sports”

Hello Agnes. We are the day after the Monaco GP, which you covered this weekend (May 27-29), what route have you prepared for us? 

Head to the 80s, where it all began. (Laughs) I discovered the F1 by my marriage to Renaud de Laborderie. We met when I was the press secretary for the Ministry of Sports, headed at that time by Jean-Pierre Soisson (1978-1981). Renaud was editorial director of Le Parisienwhich, at the time, had 500 readers. Our respective schedules were incompatible with a life as a couple, so I took a step in his direction since he was covering the Grands Prix. Renaud opened up about our situation to Mike Horst, then president of Philip Morris France. He made me meet a headhunter to find out if I was the ideal person. Apparently so, since I became communications director for Marlboro. It was the early 000s.

Concretely, what was your role? 

Defend Philip Morris' sports strategy, first for France exclusively, then for Europe. Most of the F1 world champions of the 1980s and 1990s passed through my hands, one way or another. I helped shape their image. 

What exactly was the “Marlboro” galaxy in F1 at that time?

What is Red Bull maintenant, mais avec plus de ramification et d’influence politique. C’est Philip Morris qui, par exemple, a organisé la dernière réunion avant la signature des premiers Accords Concorde. Je me souviens avoir retrouvé son président, Aleardo Buzzi, dans le hall du Palace Hôtel de Lausanne (Suisse) en 1981, et le voir essayer d’ouvrir toutes les portes. En fait, il s’assurait simplement que ses ordres avaient été bien suivis et qu�