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) We take the bus since my grandfather's most powerful car was a Solex. The first image I have of a racing car is that of a field, cows, and in the distance a rear wing passing by. I was fascinated to see the route take part of the road to Elbeuf. Sitting at the Nouveau Monde bend at the bottom of the circuit, my grandfather and I watch the different events. I remember