GP Traveler Magazine December 2018

NICHOLAS LATIFI NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

CHARLES LECLERC THE MAN BEHIND THE HELMET

CANADIAN GP

SOUVENIR PHOTO ALBUM

WWW.GPTRAVELER.COM

GP TRAVELER MEDIA Time to get social with us.

Visit GPTRAVELER.COM and connect with our social platforms.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE Another Formula One season has come and gone, and we are now tasked with the long wait until the F1 engines will roar again in Australia come March.

As you might have noticed there have been a lot of changes at GP Traveler, all made to better serve our readership and in order to adjust to an ever changing media landscape. We have decided to publish our digital magazine only once per year, at the end of every season. Our focus will now be to provide the best content on our platform; GPTraveler.com, as well as on or growing social media platforms.

Amongst all these changes, we remain true to our mission. To become the leading independant Formula One media outlet specializing in timeless off-track content.

In this issue of GP Traveler Magazine, we will present a rising Canadian star; Nicholas Latifi, who has just become the newest member of the Williams F1 Team family. Latifi will be the test driver for the iconic British team in 2019, but he does have his sights on a permanent race seat in the future. We also have a special 1 on 1 interview with none other that Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s new leading man.

We hope this edition will get you trough the winter break. Please connect with us if you are not already following us on our social media platforms.

Thank you, and enjoy the issue.

Joey Franco Editor-in-Chief

PAGE 4 // DECEMBER 2018

GP TRAVELER MAGAZINE Volume 9 / December 2018

PUBLISHER Joey Franco EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joey Franco CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Stefano Facchin CONTRIBUTORS Joey Franco Stefano Facchin Piero Facchin Joshua Paul Anthony Di Stavolo Joseph Grasso LAYOUT & DESIGN Studio Zoetropia GP TRAVELER MAGAZINE is a GP TRAVELER MEDIA publication GP TRAVELER MEDIA 7679 RUE CARTIER MONTREAL, PQ H2E 2J6 CANADA No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from GP TRAVELER MEDIA website: GPTRAVELER.COM facebook: facebook.com/diehardf1fans instagram: @gptraveler twitter: twitter.com/diehardf1fans

CONTENTS 8..................EVENTS 16.......COVER STORY 24....LECLERC INTERVIEW 28.......ALBON Q&A 32...CANADIAN GP ALBUM

PAGE 6 // DECEMBER 2018

PHOTO: Joey Franco

TAG HEUER MELBOURNE EVENT TAG Heuer held its highly anticipated Grand Prix cocktail event with a special guest appearance by Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 driver, Daniel Ricciardo. The event was a celebration of TAG Heuer’s ongoing partnership with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing as the Official Timekeeper, Official Watch and Team Performance Partner of the Formula One Team.

PAGE 8 // DECEMBER 2018

Le Grand Soir

Le Grand Soir has become the official kick-off event for the Canadian Grand Prix. This year the event was held at Le Grand Quai, in Montreal’s Old Port district. Proceeds from the event were donated to La Fondation Vero & Louis and Giant Steps Foundation.

Photos: Joey Franco

PAGE 10 // DECEMBER 2018

The Grand Prix Ball On Wednesday 4th July 2018 the Hurlingham Club hosted the 8th Annual Grand Prix Ball; the only time of year where Formula 1 cars are driven in London.

Formula 1 stars Mark Webber, David and Coulthard and Simon Lazenby hosted the televised event on the Thames at Hurlingham Club’s splendid 42-acre estate; widely considered one of the world’s top private member’s clubs.

PAGE 12 // DECEMBER 2018

Amber Lounge Abu Dhabi It was a night that will go down in history as Amber Lounge welcomed the Formula 1 drivers, teams and party-loving international guests for the celebration of the year.

F1 drivers entered Amber Lounge’s luxury oasis on Sunday night and let their hair down for one of the greatest end-of-season parties to date. Fernando Alonso, departing from the Championship after 17 years, was joined by his fellow drivers Max Verstappen, Kevin Magnussen, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Stoffel Vandoorne, Marcus Ericsson, Brendon Hartley, Sergey Sirotkin, Antonio Gionivazzi.

International cricketer Chris Gayle and former pro football player Michael Brown were also spotted in the crowd.

When the time came to say goodbye to the Spaniard, the club plunged into darkness for the ‘Black Out’ moment, then lit up with 17 specially designed bottles of Moët Champagne filled with sparklers and flashing lights. Each bottle signified a year he has competed in Formula 1.

PAGE 14 // DECEMBER 2018

NICHOLAS LATIFI

THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK Text: Joey Franco Images: Eneka Stewart

PAGE 16 // DECEMBER 2018

As a child, Montreal-born, Toronto-raised Nicholas Latifi would return to his home town during the Canadian Grand Prix. The much anticipated race became a ritualistic family pilgrimage of sorts, a high-octane bonding experience with his father, uncles, and cousins. Unlike the majority of the young spectators at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve who dream of one day becoming a race car driver- Nicholas had no ambition or desire to one day suit up as a Formula One driver. Somewhere between his unemphatic viewing days and this year’s winter break, Nicholas found himself behind the wheel of a Formula One car at this year’s Canadian grand Prix.

A NEW LIFE The Latifi’s moved to Toronto when Nicholas was six months old. In Toronto, Nicholas has a seemingly normal upbringing. He was very much involved in varsity sports, especially basketball and soccer. Although Toronto was his adopted home, Nicholas was very much attached to his Montreal family, and visited them very often. One of those trips to Montreal would pave a new path to a career that would surpass his wildest dreams.

“I stumbled across the sport [racing],” he confesses. “The first time I actually tried a kart, there was this one weekend that I was in Montreal in the summer, I was with my uncles and my cousins, and they had some go karts,” They never really raced them, but just had them to take them out on the weekends — family bonding type.

Nick and his older brother went with them at the track one weekend, he was 12 at the time, the karts were quite fast- the track was in Terrence, and no longer exists.

“I thought I was quite good, and I actually enjoyed it,” His dad and uncle were passionate about cars in general, but never raced. The passion for motors was simply a pleasure enjoyed as a familynothing more, nothing less.

When he got back to Toronto he asked father to find a karting track. Papa Latifi followed suit, and found a local track in Markham, Ontario- in the Greater Toronto area.

Nicholas started going to Formula Kart track in Markham on the weekends.

“The owner of the track, a guy by the name of David Tennison, he used to race when he was younger, and he was coaching drivers at that point. The cheesy was to say it, but it’s kind of how it happened, the first laps that I started going around, he saw some talent in me ... he was trying to convince me and my parents for me to try racing. In 2 or 3 occasions he said no “I didn’t really want to race, it was just something I was doing for fun... I really loved it and I enjoyed it- it was just not something I wanted to make a career out of at the time.”

Tennison kept pushing all the time, and his parents also figured he should give it a try. “I tried one proper race and from then on I was kind of hooked.”

His first race was in the rain and on slick tires, it was in a four stroke kart in an endurance race.

“I think I must have spun off the track about six times.”

David Tennisson was coaching him at that point where he upped his game by getting a twostroke kart and entering the Florida witer Rotax tour. His karting career would last for about four years.

His family remained very supportive, “ I didn’t get into it because of a passion from my parents, it was solely my decision to stick with it,” he states. “They were supportive, they never put

PAGE 18 // DECEMBER 2018

“I didn’t really want to race, it was just something I was doing for fun... I really loved it and I enjoyed it- it was just not something I wanted to make a career out of at the time.”

PAGE 20 // DECEMBER 2018

any pressure for me to do it or even lets say feel like I had to continue doing it.”

His parents went from non motorsport parents to being all absorbed and passionate about motorsports.

In 2016, he would take the biggest leap in his career, signing with Renault as a Formula One test driver.

“The year I was with Renault as a test driver was quite special, the highlight was for sure the opportunity to get to drive the Formula One cars,” he says.

“Just being able to observe in the background, sit in on the debriefs, follow the sessions on the radio, it was just a really good environment to learn and to just absorb as much information as possible to see what it’s like for a Formula One race driver.”

A season highlight was driving the 2012 F1 car that Kimi Raikkonen won the Abu Dhabi GP with Lotus.

Last year, he got to test the 2017 car in two separate test occasions. “That was just amazing to see what these new cars, how much grip they have.

His 2017 F2 season was by far best season in race career in Jr single seaters, where he fin-

PAGE 22 // DECEMBER 2018

ished 5th in the standings. His superb performance in 2017 brought his to a new home in the Formula One world; signing as a test driver for the Force India F1 team.

This role allowed Nicholas to test the car on several test days and free practices, including a Friday practice at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during this year’s Canadian GrandPrix.

“Thinking back to my early years going to the Grand Prix, before I even thought or knew I was going to start racing, obviously never in a million years would I have thought that oh, I’m going to get the opportunity to drive this track in a Formula One session.”

Nicholas finished 9th overall in F2 with the DAMS team. It was also announced that he is joining the iconic Williams F1 Team as a test driver for the 2019 season.

The FUTURE Working with three different Formula One teams is clearly an advantage in terms of having a shot to fill a seat as a race driver in F1. Does Nicholas have what it takes to one day get a chance to race in F1? He sure thinks so.

“If I didn’t think I could compete at the top-level of motorsports and be a Formula One driver, then it’s not something that I would be pursuing in the first place.”

PAGE 24 // DECEMBER 2018

Charles Leclerc; the man behind the helmet Text: Piero Facchin // Photos: Joey Franco

Charles Leclerc is a “man on the move”. Now if that isn’t an understatement, I don’t know what is. You see, this talented young man has opened the eyes of quite a few people in the world of Formula One. And after only one year in F1, spent at Alfa Romeo Sauber F1, he’s moving to what some see as a double sided sword, at Scuderia Ferrari next year, replacing a veteran, once world champion, Kimi Raikkonen. Having a driver this young at Ferrari hasn’t happened since 1961 and it’ll be interesting to see how he and Vettel will feed off each other.

Earlier in the year, during the Canadian Grand Prix, we sat down with Charles to have a little chat, one on one. I must say that I was quite impressed by this young man’s demeanour; cordial and frank but also very determined. The conversation was actually carried out in Italian, a language that Charles speaks fluently.

When speaking about the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Charles admits, “I often played this circuit on my Playstation when I was younger. It’s similar to Monaco in the sense that it’s all about finding your rhythm, the walls are close, and there are some high kerbs. It’s not an easy track.”

He adds, “Here you have to be careful with the kerbs because we take them at high speed and they can upset the balance of the car.”

Charles has been racing for practically all his life. His dad used to be a driver as well and this is but another example of a father transmitting his passion to his son. “Having my dad as a driver, I’ve always been in the motorsport atmosphere and from when I first tried a kart at 3 ½ years old; I fell in love with racing. I always had Jules Bianchi alongside me with whom I raced a lot together.”

Jules was actually coaching young Charles when he first started karting.

When asked about being at Alfa Romeo Sauber F1, Charles very proudly replies, Charles Leclerc is part of the new, young blood that will replace many of the older drivers. These young men are from their own generation with their own experiences and values, as well as certain lifestyles specific to their age.

I asked Charles if he had a particular car that he would like to have, as a dream car?

Charles replied, “Yes, two actually; the 8C that I’ve always really liked and the La Ferrari, for which there are no other supercars like it.”

What about driving music? What does Charles Leclerc listen to when he drives?

“I like many types of music except very hard rock and classical. I enjoy Coldplay, The Quinns.”

PAGE 26 // DECEMBER 2018

“There is a big sense of pride to be representing such a legendary make as Alfa Romeo. I could not have asked to start in a better team. And to be in an Italian team is also very pleasing because I’ve always had great rapports with Italy, being so close and having raced there so often.”

One question that I like to ask is about food.

If the earth were to stop turning tomorrow morning, what would be your last meal? To which Charles grins and does not even hesitate one second and says “pasta with a good tomato sauce” (pasta al pomodoro in Italian).

He just loves his pasta!

If Charles was not a professional racer what would he be doing? “I’ve always liked fash-

ion and even wanted to go into architecture when I was younger, even car designer.”

There’s no doubt that Charles Leclerc, has refined taste and is sensitive to the beautiful things in life. He’s also fast and moving in the right direction.

PAGE 28 // DECEMBER 2018

Introducing Alexander Albon

Following the departures of Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso were tasked with replacing both drivers for their 2019 lineup.

Daniil Kvyat was a natural choice, given his past experience with Toro Rosso, as well as stints with Red Bull racing Ferrari. Surprisingly, Alexander Albon received the call to fill the second seat at Toro Rosso.

The 22-year-old British/Thai driver, was plucked from obscurity and will compete as a Formula One driver in 2019.

Albon has had a very impressive season in Formula 2 this year and, up until last weekend in Abu Dhabi, he was one of only two drivers who could have won the title. Like many of his contemporaries, Albon started racing in karts winning various championships. He joined the Red Bull programme in 2012.

Although born in London, Albon races under the Thailand flag. It means that 2019 will be the first time there has been a Thai driver on the Formula 1 grid since Prince Birabongse, who raced in the early Fifties.

Here is a first in-depth interview with the new Scuderia Toro Rosso driver, as he processes the fact that he will be a Formula One driver in a few months.

Where were you when you received the call to tell you that you are now an F1 driver?

I received the call on Monday afternoon. I was told that I was now confirmed as a Toro Rosso driver and that the team was ready to

make an announcement. I was in the shopping mall buying a pair of trainers so I rushed back to the hotel straight away!

What was your reaction? Did it come completely out of the blue?

I was beyond excited as I have waited for this moment since I was six years old. I can’t say that it came out of the blue, because I have been trying to resolve my situation with Nissan e.dams to allow me to join Toro Rosso for the past few months. I still couldn’t believe that it finally happened!

Who were the first people you told about the news?

My mum was the first person I called, she was most probably more excited than I was.

You are known for your exciting overtaking maneuvers, are you confident you can bring your racing style into F1?

Yes, I am. The way the cars are designed in F1 make it hard to overtake, but with the rules for next year, I’m sure there will be some nice battles. Quite a cool fact is that I raced with around half of the drivers on the grid from karting, so in some ways I think it will feel like battling like the old days!

You race under the Thai flag, how proud of a moment will it be to be the first Thai driver on the F1 grid since the early 1950s?

I am so proud to be representing Thailand. It is a huge honor for me and my family to be given such an opportunity. Hopefully I will do them proud.

GP3 Series, Red Bull Ring, award ceremony. Image shows Charles Leclerc (MON/ Art Grand Prix), Alexander Albon (THA/ Art Grand Prix) and Nyck De Vries (NED/ Art Grand Prix)

Red Bull Junior team (from L to R) Daniil Kvyat , Lewis Williamson, Stefan Wackerbauer, Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Callan O’ Keffe pose for a team portrait in Salzburg, Austria on April 10th, 2012 Photo: Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool

PAGE 30 // DECEMBER 2018

How tough a period was it after being dropped from the team in 2012?

Very tough, it was a difficult year for me for numerous reasons, not least because of my results, but it made me work that much harder. I was on the brink of stopping racing all together. Since then, I knew I had to impress every time I drove and fortunately Dr. Marko gave me a second chance.

Did you think your F1 dream was over at that point?

I never gave up on it, I needed to believe that it could still happen. Having said that, I knew that my chance of going to F1 was very slim as I didn’t have a proper budget. In reality, the only way I was going to have the opportunity was through Toro Rosso/Red Bull, but as we all know, it is not easy to impress Dr. Marko!

What are your hopes and goals for the 2019 season?

Personally, I don’t really set goals for the end of the year. It’s more about trying to maximize each race weekend as it comes. I won’t have many days in the car before Melbourne, so it will be very important to be as prepared as possible and take each race as it comes. Of course, it would be nice to fight regularly for points and at the sharp end.

Who are your idols in F1?

Michael Schumacher, I was obsessed!

Outside of motorsport, what else do you enjoy spending your time doing?

I spend most of my time training and the rest with my family and friends… and pets, I love animals. We have two dogs and five cats at home.

Do you have any hidden talents people may not know about?

I would say I’m pretty good at drawing and designing. I even help design other drivers’ helmets!

2018 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: STEFANO FACCHIN

PAGE 32 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 34 // DECEMBER 2018

THURSDAY June 7th

PAGE 36 // DECEMBER 2018

FRIDAY June 8th

PAGE 38 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 40 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 42 // DECEMBER 2018

SATURDAY June 9th PAGE 44 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 46 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 48 // DECEMBER 2018

SUNDAY June 10th

PAGE 50 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 52 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 54 // DECEMBER 2018

PAGE 56 // DECEMBER 2018

GPTRAVELER.COM