Over the past twenty years, during which he has closely followed Formula 1, André Venema has interviewed just about everyone who matters or has mattered: from Emerson Fittipaldi to Max Verstappen, from Bernie Ecclestone to Lewis Hamilton. “Rarely did I think afterwards: what a waste of my time. But I did feel that way about the two most boring conversation partners ever, a Finn and a Canadian.”
One-on-one conversations usually provide a better insight into a person’s character, sense of humor, and habits. For instance, I remember laughing non-stop for twenty minutes with Daniel Ricciardo in Montreal years ago. It was a hilarious conversation about tattoos, groupies, and his brewery: unforgettable. It felt as if we were both stoned. I discovered that Bernie Ecclestone is a master manipulator who likes to drench his stories in feigned ignorance and sarcasm.
With Max Verstappen, you always get an honest answer, regardless of the topic. The same goes for Yuki Tsunoda. He is sincere, funny, and has no hidden agenda. This is the kind of interaction you appreciate when you’re granted (usually) ten minutes of audience with a driver or other personnel.
Recently, I had another one of those sessions that I didn’t anticipate. In 2022, Valtteri Bottas personally invited me to an event in Melbourne where he presented his own gin (Oath). We had a pleasant and relaxed conversation about various topics, particularly Finland, and the gin was excellent. So, when I wanted to talk to him in Austria about his double Masters victory in Zandvoort, I thought the topic would interest him. Especially since Bottas 2.0 is no longer the shy boy he once was. I was mistaken: after seven long minutes during which I spoke more than he did, I thanked him for his time and left.
It’s also impossible to have a decent conversation with Lance Stroll as a journalist. Just listen to him after Grand Prix races: he never says anything meaningful. The disinterest is evident on his face, even after the umpteenth crash. Stroll rarely gives interviews, and when he was with Williams, I once joined him in Baku. But when asked about racing, fashion & music, passions of his (and his father’s), he responded emotionlessly and flatly. It was a waste of time.
Stroll recently crashed his expensive Aston Martin AMR25 into the wall twice in Zandvoort, but still managed to score some World Championship points. You rarely see any emotion or self-criticism from him. Does his father Lawrence realize that no matter how much money you invest in the best staff and equipment, the driver ultimately holds the magic wand? Money can buy a lot – especially in motorsport – but it can’t buy a Formula 1 World Championship title for Lance Stroll.
