A Conversation with Juniper & Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1™ Reserve Driver

0:03 I actually have the pleasure of introducing our special guest. Stoffel’s Formula One journey started in 2016 where he was actually a reserve driver

0:13 for McLaren and none other than Fernando Alonzo had an injury from the prior race.

0:18 So Stoffel had to jump in and drive.

0:21 And I believe he was only the fifteenth driver in the last twenty years who

0:26 earned points in his very first Formula One race.

0:29 And then he went on to be a driver alongside Fernando for a couple years with McLaren.

0:35 Over the last couple of years, he jumped into Formula E,

0:38 which is the electric version of Formula One.

0:41 And in fact, last year,

0:44 he won the World Championship in Formula E.

0:52 And now we are thrilled to have him as part of the Aston Martin Formula One family.

0:57 So, Stoffel, if you would join me up on stage.

1:05 Good evening. So again,

1:10 you guys have pens and write it on your name tag or whatever.

1:13 If you have questions, we can certainly take them.

1:16 How about the car this year? Here. Like,

1:18 pretty exciting stuff. I will point out,

1:21 I don't know if the audience knows this. We signed on as a sponsor last year,

1:24 but we signed on very late. So the network was locked down.

1:27 We couldn't actually get Juniper in the track side network last year.

1:31 But we've been in the track side network this year.

1:34 There've been two races this year. We’ve been on the podium twice.

1:38 I don't know if there's a relationship there or isn't it?

1:41 It might be the network. So I'm sure that's a part of it,

1:45 but from your point of view, like,

1:47 what what what's allowed the team to make such a jump in just one year?

1:50 That's unusual in Formula One. Yeah. It's it's it's very unusual

1:53 for a team in form one to make such a big step from one year to another.

1:59 But, you know, we've done it and and, you know,

2:01 it's great to to see those first two races that the car is performing very well with two podiums.

2:08 And especially what's been very encouraging is that the two types of tracks, Bahrain and Jeddah that are two complete different circuits was a very good confirmation

2:18 for the team that the car is actually you know,

2:20 working in kind of all conditions. So,

2:24 yeah, I mean, the team has done an amazing job. They've hired

2:26 a couple of new people within the team.

2:28 A few new aerodynamicists who,

2:31 you know, obviously, play a huge role in Formula One these days.

2:37 From different teams. And they've had a huge impact on that performance as well.

2:41 So yeah, there's been a big turnaround.

2:45 But in Formula One, you can never stand still.

2:48 And that's going to be very important right now is to kind of keep our feet on the ground

2:53 and and make sure we keep developing as well because that's what Formula One is all about.

2:58 It's all about development and now,

3:01 we've got a great base car,

3:04 but that needs to improve. And hopefully,

3:06 we can – yes, we can close-up the gap to to Red Bull right now who is the reference -- Mhmm.

3:11 -- and make their life a little bit harder. Yeah. That would be fun.

3:13 That would be fun. Well, you talk about development

3:16 and and and I think a lot of development happens through the data that you gathered.

3:20 And Tom talked about the telemetry that we gather.

3:23 And so I saw a quote from Mike Krack the team principal from

3:28 from the Aston Martin Formula One team.

3:29 And he said, you know, after a practice session or a qualifying session,

3:34 you know, the drivers will come back

3:36 and they'll have a point of view on what was going on with the car.

3:38 But before he listens to the drivers, he looks at the data.

3:41 Now as a driver, you may not agree with that order.

3:44 But from your perspective, like,

3:47 what's the what what can a driver learn from the data?

3:49 And then what can a driver ever add to the data,

3:51 kind of the the context and the feel that you have in the car.

3:55 And how does that work kind of hand in hand? Yeah.

3:57 That that's kind of the beauty about about Formula One and and,

4:01 you know, the the conversation between the drivers and and the engineers.

4:06 I mean, this sport is all about the data that we gather on track

4:09 and then how we can use that to to make the car more competitive and how I can use it

4:16 to get something from the car that I want that is gonna make me drive it faster.

4:19 So it's always a,

4:21 you know, after every session, usually,

4:24 the the drivers will debrief with their engineers.

4:27 They will tell what they feel inside the car.

4:29 And then it's kind of up to the driver to guide the engineers through the data

4:33 because the only thing they see is data traces.

4:36 Yeah. And they have to kind of understand what you're saying to improve the car.

4:41 So Yeah. Every session,

4:44 a lot of data comes in. There's loads of engineers that look at what is happening with the car,

4:49 not only just here at the racetrack,

4:50 but also the majority of them are actually back at the factory in the UK.

4:55 So it's very important that the data gets there quickly gets there safely as well - That’s where we come in?-

5:02 Exactly. Because it's I mean, it's a very competitive sport,

5:05 and we don't want any any other team to find out what we're doing,

5:07 of course. That's right. Yeah. And and, of course,

5:09 the network I mean, we heard Claire, your CIO talk about that.

5:12 And I mean, these cars have how many sensors on on a Formula One car?

5:16 Five hundred or something. Five hundred? Five hundred sensors or something.

5:18 So so that's constantly relaying information back to certainly the engineers in the garage.

5:24 But as you say back at race headquarters, which will be at the new factory as soon as it opens up.

5:27 Right? Yeah. And that that will be a big game changer for the team the new factory.

5:31 I mean, right now, the team has really kind of outgrown the current building that we're in.

5:37 I think one and a half years ago,

5:40 the team was about three hundred and fifty people.

5:43 We're now pretty much over seven hundred people.

5:47 So it's really needed that we up the scale of the factory

5:53 and have the facilities ready for for the next phase of of the team as well.

5:58 Yeah. New wind tunnel and a new building and the whole operation will be right there.

6:02 Exactly. So everything will be under the same roof it's going to be kind of a campus,

6:07 let's say. Yeah. So, you know, everyone will be in the same office space,

6:12 will be better for communication and and yeah,

6:15 hopefully push the team towards the next level.

6:18 While driving, what sensor is most important to you?

6:20 What sensor do you look at? What sensor?

6:25 Or just look information coming in. Yeah. I mean,

6:27 there there's there's a couple of things that, to me, are the most important.

6:30 It's it's kind of the the speed trace of the car.

6:33 And then together with the brake and the throttle application and the steering application,

6:38 that's kind of the main things that you look at and where you can see a lot of the car balance from,

6:45 especially the the steering wheel. Do you see something on that? It's a combination of both.

6:50 Like, I feel it in the car. Yeah. But then I use the data trace to show my engineers that look,

6:55 the corners are going left, but I'm steering right. So the car is not right.

6:58 So, like, you're radioing that real time. Exactly.

7:01 So I'm I'm telling that. And, yeah,

7:03 that's that's what I usually use to to to explain the car balance to the team really.

7:09 Makes sense. How big is the Formula E competition and is it growing?

7:16 Well, Formula E, it's it's very competitive championship.

7:20 So it's obviously fully electric championship

7:23 and a complete different set of regulations than Formula One.

7:27 I would say we don't have the capabilities to develop the aerodynamics of the car.

7:34 So everyone has the same aerodynamics.

7:36 It's just the powertrain that is developed by each manufacturer.

7:41 So the margins are very very close together,

7:45 which makes it a very close competition as well.

7:47 So complete. It's all about the driver and who won last year.

7:50 I won, so. I was I was actually gonna ask you as well.

7:57 Like, so you've you've done both.

7:59 So what what are the differences besides the fact that the the certainly the noise we we

8:03 we all as fans,

8:04 you know, recognize the difference

8:05 there, but kind of what's what's the difference in just the the feel or even the strategy?

8:10 Yeah. I mean, the the noise is definitely definitely one of them,

8:13 although I'm kind of used to used to that right now.

8:16 But I would say the biggest difference

8:19 as a as a driver is the way you break with the cars because right now,

8:24 it's it's like I don't know if you guys have tried,

8:27 like, electric road cars or something

8:28 but it's a it's a strange feeling sometimes on the brake pedal

8:31 because everything happens electrical.

8:33 So there's no actual brake discs on the car anymore.

8:37 Everything is electric. Right?

8:39 So the way you set up the brake system is is quite different than

8:42 than the normal Formula One car of these days,

8:46 let's say. Yes, makes sense. All right.

8:51 What do you love most about your job?

8:54 Everything. I mean,

8:57 I get to do what I love. So you know,

9:00 I grew up with with go karting when I was when I was young,

9:03 when I was six years old, and - Yeah I didn't go that far back in your bio.

9:07 Started with Formula One. You have a long history as a young boy.

9:10 Yeah. But I've kind of been involved in motorsports since I was since I was a young kid.

9:14 So, yeah, to have been able to to,

9:17 you know, make it a job now and to, you know,

9:19 to travel the world, to race everywhere is yeah.

9:22 It's it's great. Not bad. You just just told me you flew thirty two

9:25 hours from Sao Paulo this past weekend to get here

9:28 because you were bracing it for Formula E.

9:30 That’s the thing I don't know enjoy about it.

9:32 It's a little busy.

9:35 Did Vettel word Alonzo up,

9:37 or did he kind of tell him that that Aston Martin would have something special

9:41 for 2023.

9:42 I think if he did, he wouldn't have left. But - Yeah.

9:45 I I don't think he did. No. Yeah. So it was you well,

9:48 I don't you don't need to speculate on Sebastian,

9:51 but yeah. I feel like if he had thought that the team was gonna make this kind of jump,

9:54 he would have thought twice about retiring,

9:56 I would imagine. I Yeah. I mean,

9:58 you know, at the end, it's it's his personal decision.

10:01 So I think he wanted to move on to the next stage of his life

10:04 and spend a little bit more time more time at home because Formula One is exhausting as well.

10:10 It's a lot of traveling, especially when you've,

10:12 you know, got a wife and kids at home, then you know,

10:15 you can't spend a lot of time together. So I think he was ready ready for that.

10:20 Yeah. But I know that at some point he'll he'll miss being in the car.

10:25 Whether that's now already or whether that take will take a little bit longer.

10:29 It's something yeah. You can't get that adrenaline anywhere else.

10:33 Yeah. Which is why Fernando is, what, forty one years old and doing this still? He's still going.

10:36 Yes. What car do you drive apart from Formula One?

10:42 And have you been caught speeding? Do I want to reply to that or? Yeah.

10:50 I have been caught speeding, actually, when I was,

10:53 like, eighteen or something I lost my license for one month.

10:56 Oh, man. What kind of car do you drive? I have Diaz.

11:00 I have a Mercedes. I have an Aston. So have...

11:03 You have to have an Aston. Yeah. I mean.

11:10 This is interesting. So cars are changing, regulations are changing.

11:13 Where do you see Formula One in five years time?

11:16 Probably hard to predict, but any thoughts on that direction?

11:19 Yeah. I mean, the engine is going to change.

11:22 So the hybrid system on the engines will change.

11:25 It'll be more of electric battery capacity in the power delivery for the cars.

11:34 And then, yeah, I don't know what's going to happen with the aerodynamics.

11:37 I mean, it's very dynamic what the FIA and Formula One decide to to make the sport look like.

11:44 But for them, the target is to to really have all the teams compete close together.

11:50 They don't want just someone winning very,

11:52 very easily. Although every time you change the regulations,

11:56 you create more chance that one team is going to have you know a big difference compared to the others,

12:04 which we've kind of seen with - Which happened beginning last

12:06 which happened in the beginning of last year.

12:08 Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Alright. So before I let you go,

12:10 I understand a couple of days ago, was it was your birthday.

12:13 Yes. We couldn't let should go without getting you a little present.

12:16 Oh, Aston Martin slash Juniper colors.

12:19 Thank you very much. It’s a gin made here in Australia,

12:22 and it's actually made by indigenous people and it's believe it or not,

12:26 it has green ants in it.

12:29 Okay. You can see them floating in there. But it apparently gives it a very citrusy flavor.

12:33 Makes your driving experience better. Yes.

12:36 Don't drink and drive. Do not drink and drive.

12:38 Stoffel Vandoorne everybody.