In 2021, Simon-Chautemps referred to as time on a 14-year stint in F1. However, via his JSC7 consultancy, he is nonetheless closely concerned in racing. He is lending his companies to French crew Sainteloc on its change to single-seaters, in addition to German race knowledge supplier Paceteq. As well as, he’s concerned in motorsport engineering recruitment and in public-speaking gigs on management.
He has additionally been sharing his technical perception with F1 viewers, beginning with French broadcaster Canal+ in 2022. And, after a check run in Brazil final 12 months with F1 TV, he was just lately confirmed for extra appearances in 2024, together with finally week’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“I at all times wished to create my very own motorsport consultancy firm,” Simon-Chautemps tells Motorsport.com about his profession change.
Julien Simon-Chautemps with F1 TV presenters Laura Winter and Ariana Bravo.
Picture by: Julien Simon-Chautemps
“I had a household again within the UK, so I used to be commuting forwards and backwards to Switzerland. After which the crew wished to make some adjustments as nicely, so it occurred and a brand new chapter began.”
In his position, JSC – as he’s recognized within the paddock – is having to distill the processes that groups are going via over a grand prix weekend into clear and concise language for the viewers, which makes the duty not that dissimilar to that of a race engineer.
“There are a variety of parallels between speaking with the driving force and a crew and expressing what you need to say on TV,” he provides.
“On TV, the problem is to elucidate very technical issues in a manner that informal viewers would perceive it.
“F1 TV has an enormous database of images and movies, and the crew is unbelievable, so I’m actually having fun with my time with them. There’s a steep studying curve however the assist I’ve had from Canal+ and F1 TV has been priceless and I’m very grateful for the chance.”
Julien Simon-Chautemps
Picture by: Alpine
Engineering, communication, resilience
“You do not actually must be an knowledgeable in a specific discipline, however you clearly have to have technical data,” he explains. “You want a robust understanding in lots of areas as a result of it’s a must to communicate with folks answerable for engines, aerodynamics, tyres, mechanics, battery and so forth.
“A very powerful high quality is you want to have the ability to talk. For me, an amazing engineer is a good communicator, as a result of there’s usually a variety of stress and it’s worthwhile to make the correct choices and infrequently some pivotal calls in a really brief timespan.
“It isn’t at all times straightforward, however usually a nasty resolution is best than no resolution. You possibly can see lots of people fully freeze beneath stress and never even capable of function.
“There are some tense moments on the radio when the driving force is kind of vocal. If somebody is shouting at you on the radio, you continue to have to function and direct the mechanics, the engineers and inform them what to do.
“And the opposite level is resilience. It is advisable to not let errors or poor outcomes get you down. Simply mud your self off and concentrate on the following race. It is advisable to be pretty cussed as you might be at all times searching for enhancements to make the automotive higher.”
Kimi Raikkonen along with his Alfa Romeo race engineer Julien Simon-Chautemps
Picture by: Alfa Romeo
Spending Valentine’s Day with Marcus Ericsson
Folks abilities are the overarching theme right here, as all drivers function in a different way and race engineers have to shortly uncover what makes them tick.
“Kimi was not somebody to provide driving recommendation to,” says Simon-Chautemps. “However he is somebody who tells you: ‘Hear, the automotive is doing that, I am not going to alter my driving however if you happen to enhance the automotive there, I’ll go faster.’ And while you did, he was going faster instantly, which was very rewarding.
“Alternatively, you have got a man like Romain who was a particularly fast driver, particularly in qualifying, however was rather more fiery.
“Some drivers want extra data on the radio, some want much less, but it surely’s a part of your job to have the ability to learn them, what they want and wish, so you will get one of the best out of them. Generally that matches and typically it does not.”
“I keep in mind inviting Marcus into my home as a result of he was a bit down, he was on his personal,” Simon-Chautemps remembers. “I had forgotten it was Valentine’s Day, however fortunately my spouse might see the humorous aspect of it! So, all of us spent Valentine’s Day collectively in my flat…
Julien Simon-Chautemps on engineering Marcus Ericsson: “It is advisable to be their buddy and hearken to them once they have an issue.”
Picture by: Alfa Romeo
“It’s important to create this bond and persuade them: ‘Hear, we all know now we have this drawback, however we’re right here to do that job and you are able to do it’. It is advisable to talk, it’s worthwhile to be their buddy and hearken to them once they have an issue.”
“Kimi might have been a very good race engineer”
Working with the mercurial Raikkonen for 3 years was arguably essentially the most demanding stint however, whereas the taciturn Finn had the picture of being troublesome to work with, that popularity could not be farther from the reality, Simon-Chautemps says.
“He was placing on a entrance of the ‘Iceman’ and a man that is troublesome to speak to, however I keep in mind Kimi calling me on a Sunday speaking to me about how we might enhance the event on the dampers,” he remembers.
“If that is not dedication, I do not know what’s. On the technical aspect, he’s extremely educated and is aware of what wants altering to get essentially the most out of the automotive. He might even have been a very good race engineer himself and he actually loved making an attempt to enhance the automotive.
“Kimi might even have been a very good race engineer himself and he actually loved making an attempt to enhance the automotive.”
Picture by: Alfa Romeo
“He was there as a result of he beloved racing. All the pieces else for him was an annoyance; advertising, communication, speaking to sponsors and the media, I am positive it was not his favorite factor on this planet to do.
Simon-Chautemps‘ effusive reward for the Finn doesn’t suggest there weren’t any tense moments between the pair. One flashpoint got here on the 2020 Tuscan GP at Mugello, when Raikkonen acquired pissed off throughout a crimson flag, and once more when he was handed a five-second penalty for crossing the pit entry line.
“In Mugello we had three crimson flags in a row, and I feel it was the primary time we had a crimson flag within the race for a very long time – we had been a bit rusty on that,” he remembers.
“Automobiles had been aligning within the pitlane after which it’s a must to return to them with all of your pit tools and Kimi shouted: ‘The place are the blankets, it’s a must to convey the blankets!’ After that we put a process in place the place we had been actually the primary ones to have the blankets prepared after a crimson flag…
Julien Simon-Chautemps
Picture by: Alfa Romeo
“After which I instructed him he had a five-second penalty and he yelled: ‘For what?!’ I keep in mind coming again house and seeing a message from Kimi saying: ‘Sorry, I used to be possibly a bit harsh on you, so I apologise for that’.
“There was loads of humorous communication like that. The one factor I can say is that I at all times had fun working with Kimi and that is one thing I’ll keep in mind all my life.”
But it surely’s not simply the world champion’s well-known ‘I do know what to do’ win within the 2012 Abu Dhabi GP, which Simon-Chautemps labored on as his efficiency engineer, that was a satisfying second.
As anybody working within the sequence is nicely conscious, it is uncommon for multiple or two groups to problem for the highest step. That makes it key to set your expectations accordingly and discover motivation in attaining what’s potential on any given race weekend fairly than get pissed off about not having the quickest automotive.
“The rostrum in Spa with Romain in 2015 whereas the crew was dealing with large monetary difficulties, or the primary factors we scored with Jolyon and Marcus, had been actually proud moments, too,” he concludes.
Julien Simon-Chautemps
Picture by: Lotus F1 Workforce
“You possibly can’t at all times win, so it’s worthwhile to set your personal degree of expectation and discover happiness in attaining your personal goals.
“In the event you can’t win, it’s a must to attempt to rating a podium. If you cannot rating a podium, it’s a must to rating factors. If you cannot rating factors you attempt to get in entrance of your most important opponents.
“You at all times must try for one of the best you may presumably obtain, by no means get too downbeat, and be a crew participant that encourages these round you to attain their full potential for the good thing about the crew.
“That is the way you keep motivated in F1. And that is additionally what I like about F1; these are the teachings we are able to all be taught from, which I additionally attempt to instill in my youngsters.”
