Breaking news
Formula 1
Boullier wasn't "desperate" for post-McLaren F1 job
Ex-McLaren Formula 1 chief Eric Boullier says aiming for "something different" pushed him towards his new French Grand Prix role, because he was not "desperate" to stay in the paddock.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Feb 27, 2019, 9:35 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Boullier returned to the F1 paddock on Tuesday at the start of the second week of pre-season testing, his first appearance since resigning as McLaren's racing director last summer.
The Frenchman has taken a "strategic advisor" and global ambassador role for the French GP, which returned to the calendar last season at Paul Ricard.
Asked by Motorsport.com why he focused on his new role instead of trying to return in a team capacity, the ex-Renault, Lotus and McLaren man said he was keen to grasp the opportunity to "work with great people" having been part of the project's "origin".
"So, when they called me and asked if I wanted to rejoin, to continue the story, that was something I wanted to consider," said Boullier.
“[I was not] desperate to stay in the paddock, to find another job in the paddock. I’ve done it for nine years in F1, 22 years in racing. Actually, I started when I was nine years old.
"It's not that I've done everything, but why not? Maybe I can come back one day. I think at that stage of my career I wanted to focus on maybe something different.
"And I can guarantee you, there's life outside the paddock."
Boullier was team principal at Renault and Lotus before assuming his racing director role at McLaren, where he spent four seasons.
French GP managing director Gilles Dufeigneux said he didn't want to miss the "huge opportunity" to get Boullier into the team.
"I remember 10 years ago when we started with the prime minister to have this idea of organizing F1 back in France, everyone was telling us for F1 to be a success in France you need pilots, teams, expertise, broadcasters," said Dufeigneux.
"We didn't have anything in this spectrum. Now, we have Eric, we have [Renault managing director] Cyril Abiteboul, [Alfa Romeo team principal] Frederic Vasseur, [drivers] Romain Grosjean, Pierre Gasly, and from Monaco, Charles Leclerc.
"We've got the French Grand Prix. We've got the Renault team itself. The broadcasters.
"It's part of the family. We've got expertise everywhere in Formula 1. He was free on the market, so we did not lose this opportunity to call Eric."
The return of the French GP in 2018 was marred by huge traffic problems, which have been targeted as the number one priority by the organisers.
Boullier said he was "not trying to bullshit anyone" when he called the race a "success", which he wants to establish for the long term.
"My role is to try to bring connection and clarity between all the parties and actors – the teams, drivers, Formula One Management," he said.
"It's important to have a dialogue with them.
"There are various business models for promoters, so we just want to make the one we have [suitable] for the future just to guarantee the long-term success."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Giovinazzi quickest for Alfa as second F1 test begins
Next article Norris sets F1 test pace as Mercedes hits trouble
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Latest news
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
4 h
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
7 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
8 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 8 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe