Lionel Froissart: “With Senna, there was always a certain distance”

A Mercedes, it's your professional sideLewis Hamilton who is speaking dear Lionel?

It is indeed the car of the 2023 world champion. (Laughs) More seriously, I'm not a big fan of racing cars. Well, if I were very rich, I would try to have a Lotus 49 in my living room. For everyday life, I like quiet and comfortable models. And this Class A fulfills its criteria perfectly.

I tease you about your fondness for Sir Lewis, but it's no secret that you particularly like him?

I discovered it in GP2 (Hamilton was crowned in the category in 2006. Editor's note) and I knew he liked Senna so I gave him two prints of Ayrton in a kart. He was super happy. A few years ago he said to me: “ I still have the photo at home! ". I like his style, his personality, I like everything about him. I find it great.

We will have the opportunity to talk about Senna naturally, but first tell us how you got into motorsport.

I must have liked it without knowing why and at the age of 10 while I was with my grandparents in Rouen (Seine-Maritime), I saw one Saturday on the regional news a report on a car race taking place in Rouen -les-Essarts. I then asked my grandfather if we could go there the next day. He answers me : " Okay, if it doesn't rain ". The next day, getting up at 6 a.m., we went there despite extremely threatening Norman weather. (Laughs) Nous prenons le bus puisque le bolide le puissant de mon grand-père était un Solex. La première image que j’ai d’une voiture de course, c’est celle d’un champ, des vaches, et au loin un aileron arrière qui passe. J’étais fasciné de voir le tracé emprunter une partie de la route d’Elbeuf. Installés au virage du Nouveau Monde en bas du circuit, mon grand-père et moi-même regardons les différentes épreuves. Je me sou