Canadian GP – Julien Fébreau’s column

As the harsh Azerbaijan-Canada sequence comes to an end, and after 9000 km of travel and 8 hours of cumulative time difference my body calls me to order with a certain fatigue, the time has come to settle down (a little ) before returning to the European Grands Prix. The opportunity also to implement the motto of Quebec – “ I remember » – and to solicit my memory.

I know how lucky I am to live at the heart of my passion for almost twenty years and, beyond the sport itself, to meet people and experience extraordinary situations. Since 2005 and my first visit to Montreal, I have had the opportunity to experience some of these special moments in Canada. It is therefore with the Quebec accent that “ I'm going to tell them to you! ».

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Thus, on the Saturday evening of the event in 2006, I found myself invited by a Canadian journalist friend, close to the organizer of the Grand Prix, to a gala evening held at the Montreal Casino, located on Île Notre-Dame. Lady where the race is fought. This impressive building with unique architecture, initially built to house the French and Quebec pavilions for the 1967 Universal Exhibition, is today the largest gaming hall in Canada. But beyond the slot machines and other Black Jack tables that it contains, there is a large restaurant in which, that evening, I unexpectedly found myself at the table of Miss Universe 2005 – Natalie Glebova , a Canadian – and a former companion of Sylvester Stallone. It's not easy to break the ice, but their humor and simplicity quickly lightened the atmosphere, especially as a few moments later, the Chef invited our table to come into the kitchen to “help prepare the dishes”. This is how, as a young journalist that I was, I found myself in the kitchens of the Casino, sauced meats and passing hot plates to Miss Universe. I remember telling myself, between two tournedos, that my job was definitely good!

Meeting my idol

In a less glamorous register, but just as memorable, I remember a unique moment with my lifelong idol. 2011, Saturday evening of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. I leave the paddock and walk along the rowing pool which adjoins the circuit to reach my car. During this long walk in the scorching heat, I saw what looked like a marmot (unless it had been a beaver!), almost inert, on the still warm stones that border the pool. The poor creature looks in bad shape and barely moves. As I wonder what I should do to help him, a car stops next to me. The driver's window rolls down and appears Michael Schumacher. He asks me what is happening and like me discovers the animal which seems injured. Visibly affected, here he turns off the ignition and gets out of his car, creating a traffic jam. Michael then leans down to my height and questions me: “ Do you think we should water it a little to freshen it up? Who could we call? ". I admit that at this moment, I struggle to realize that I am squatting next to “God Michael” discussing the fate of this little furry creature. In the time it took to look for the number of the local SPA, the animal ended up regaining some strength and diving into the Olympic pool. Relieved, Michael gets back into his car and offers to take me to my vehicle parked much further away. I decline. I clearly need to walk a little to relive what just happened!

It was on this same rowing pool, a few years later, that Red Bull will play, despite itself, a remake of Titanic. For the purposes of a promotional spot, the Austrian firm decides, in the middle of winter, to entrust Sébastien Buemi behind the wheel of an F1 for an “artistic” evolution on the stretch of water which is completely frozen at this time of year. Butfortunately, when lowering it onto the pool, the ice breaks and it car is found at the bottom. Filming finished!

In the kitchens of the Sofitel in Montreal with chef Olivier Perret, Romain Grosjean and pastry chef Clément Tilly.

Montreal, the French-speaking city par excellence, was also an opportunity for me to have great meetings with certain French people who came to study in Quebec or attend the Canadian Grand Prix. This is how a few years ago, I met a young photography enthusiast, determined to one day make it his career. Coming as a spectator that year, I advised him to persevere given the quality of the photos he presented to me. Today he is one of the most recognized photographers in the paddock. F1 and the DPPI agency, and you regularly appreciate his work in the pages of AUTOhebdo. Congratulations on your journey, Florent Gooden!

While waiting to share other memories and see you on CANAL+ at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix in a few days, take care of yourselves friends, and see you at the next corner!

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