Gwen Lagrue: finding F1's future stars

F1 Beyond The Grid

karenellenbevan

News, Leisure, Sports News, Sports, Automotive

4.7 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 September 2023

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ever wondered how your Formula 1 heroes are found in the first place?

Well, George Russell, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon may not be on the grid today if it wasn’t for the keen eye of F1 talent guru Gwen Lagrue.

He’s the Frenchman in charge of Mercedes’ junior driver programme, with a track record of uncovering hidden gems and helping them fulfil their potential in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Gwen talks about the traits that separated Russell, Ocon and Albon from others in their early karting years, what qualities he’s looking for when scouting young drivers, how regularly a future World Champion comes along, and some of the protégés currently on Mercedes’ radar.

Plus, you’ll hear the thoughts of Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff, on their recruitment strategy and whether Max Verstappen could have ended up at the team in different circumstances.

Related Episodes

Alex Albon

Esteban Ocon

George Russell

Toto Wolff

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Matt Ford.
0:01.2	And I'm Alice Levine and we're the presenters of British Scandal.
0:04.8	People do strange things, don't they, Alice?
0:06.9	I don't like the tone of your voice, what do you mean?
0:10.0	On our didn't mean you, I'm at the entire British public who in 2022
0:14.3	followed a live stream of a lettuce with a wig on.
0:17.5	Entirely normal behaviour.
0:19.2	There's more normal than what was going on inside Downing Street.
0:21.5	For this series on British Scandal we're taking you inside number 10,
0:24.6	covering the shocking and very short premiership of Liz Truss.
0:27.7	Listen to British Scandal wherever you get your podcasts.
0:35.7	Today's Formula One stars were all born to race,
0:38.8	but without careful nurturing from a young age,
0:41.7	their raw speed and ability would have remained nothing but potential.
0:46.0	Q. Guenlegru, the F1 talent guru,
0:49.3	responsible for polishing these hidden gems into refined jewels.
0:54.1	Take a bow, George Russell.
0:57.2	Finally, a Grand Prix winner and the 113th driver to do so.
1:06.5	An Esteban Ocon wins the Hungarian Grand Prix for his first ever win in Formula One.
1:17.8	Grand Prix winners, George Russell and Esteban Ocon both have Guenlegru to thank for their
1:22.9	place on the F1 grid. And as the man in charge of the Mercedes Young Driver program,
1:27.6	Guen scouts talented races, recruits them, takes them under his wing and fine tunes them
	...

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