With the current work programs of a team, which have reached dizzying rates of consultations between driver and constructor, these two protagonists rarely allow themselves moments of relaxation and show off by giving interviews together
Translated by this website
At Interlagos we met two characters who in recent times have made their interests fully coincide; right on the eve of what was to be the great Sunday. CHAPMAN looking for a new talent who, alongside Andretti, would bring prestige to his reputation as a discoverer of young drivers and DE ANGELIS confident in his potential looking for a team that would highlight his natural skills. Sitting at a table in the back of the garage we started.
Elio «Before»
Elio, as you will see next, Chapman told us that, after having observed you for some time, he was convinced of your potential at the Paul Ricard tests. Is this true or did it take further contact?
I don’t think so. The fact that he called up several young talents to the “Ricard” and then chose me is because I did better than the others, certainly no further agreements were needed after that. The only discussions were on the fact that I had to cancel my previous contract and the very fact that he wanted me at all costs is represented by the substantial help he gave me in the dispute with Shadow.
Do you think the first person to discover you was your father who believed in you and helped you financially?
I think I have shown a lot, especially in the car, so I think the biggest credit goes to my willpower that brought me this far. To the luck that assisted me and to my father who helped me at the beginning.
Apart from the economic boost, didn’t you receive a moral boost from your father?
The moral boost, in my opinion, is what you have within you, the will to assert yourself at all costs in a sport that is so difficult.
It turns out that in the early days your father wasn’t so keen on you embracing a career as a racing driver. Why did he change his mind?
I think that, when I won the world karting championship, my father, fearing my future desire, indulged in statements against my desire to race in a car. So much so that in that period he entrusted me with his second offshore boat. But then he realized that my future was in single-seaters, and he supported me, as he still does today.
Do you see Mario’s figure a bit like that of your mentor?
Certainly. I like having him as a friend and confidant, that is, in the position of a driver from whom I can learn many things, as his great experience is unique in current F.1.
After the tests or after the race, how are your conversations based?
If Chapman is not there, first we speak Italian. Then we exchange all the news and impressions that we have brought from the track to set up the car in the best possible way. He always gives me a lot of advice on how to behave and how to acquire greater sensitivity in feeling the car completely in my hands. We realized that we both have almost the same way of setting up the car and then it is as if we were two on the same car with the possibility of finding out what is wrong, not in one lap, but in two laps, in the same environmental conditions. We are a valid help for the team as they spend less time working on the cars.
Is Lotus a point of arrival or a launching pad for you?
Initially it can be both a point of arrival and a springboard. Without a doubt, it is a competitive team that can even lead me to a world championship one day. It is the only team that can compete with the Ferrari squadron. I don’t want to cause controversy, but all the drivers think they can drive a Ferrari one day. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t do anything crazy. By this I do not want to say that, if I were offered the chance to drive a car from Maranello, I would refuse. But I certainly wouldn’t accept immediately, I would think for a moment before saying yes. The short time I was at Ferrari meant a lot to me, and now I can say the same thing about Lotus, but I have no romanticisms.
What do you think of Villeneuve?
The same thing that everyone is talking about now: he is a very good driver who has the potential to become world champion as soon as possible. I have a certain admiration for his way of approaching the races. He really gives himself from start to finish, without any prior calculations. Having a winning car and being one of the most prepared young drivers will make his task easier.
In your opinion, how much does it cost a manufacturer to let a young driver like you race?
I don’t know…
The manufacturers are very tight-lipped about economic factors and do not reveal anything. I only know that Chapman pays me based on the score and gives me a certain amount based on what he receives from F.O.C.A.
Elio «After»
INTERLAGOS. “Always a Renault that ruins everything for me…” This is what Elio De Angelis cursed on Monday morning at the Hilton Hotel in Sao Paulo, while waiting to board the Varig flight that will take him to Rome (and where our TV will be waiting).
Why does Renault always ruin everything for you? What do you mean?
In Monte Carlo a year ago I didn’t qualify because Renault set the time at the last moment. Here Arnoux “snatched” the top step of the podium from me.
Would you say you could have caught the “yellow arrows”?
Yes, and I am referring to Arnoux. Jabouille, no, I couldn’t do it, but René was within reach…
Then he continues: I had already seen, when Jabouille was in the lead, that I had no problems with Arnoux. He gained little speed on me, unlike his teammate who was too fast for everyone. I, on the other hand, was gaining a lot in the mixed section and when I saw that Arnoux took the lead, because I passed Jabouille who was going slowly, I seriously thought about winning my first GP.
Then, what happened?
I was getting closer and closer to Arnoux.
I was at 1”8, when the front tires started to deteriorate. I slowed down to let them cool, then I got closer again. But in doing this the tires still had the same problem and, reluctantly, I had to resign myself behind the Renault. It is not possible to understand why the tires degraded in front, it was a problem for everyone, Lauritzen of Goodyear told me at the end of the race. But it is strange, perhaps it was the abrasive asphalt of the track that brought our GYs to this state.
How was the car?
Good overall. The only issue was the undrivability with the tires in “tilt”, otherwise I had no problems.
But in the morning your father had sent a telex home, asking your family not to watch TV because you had a vent valve and the engine would break, there wasn’t time to change it…
(laughs) Actually, we all thought that. Instead, we realized that it was an ignition wire that was draining the battery and causing the engine to cut out at 10,600 rpm; more than cut out, like a lack of power. Typical of when a valve spring is about to go to waste.
Elio’s state of mind, on the starting grid, after the real problem had been found, was sky high. The Roman knew he had a car that could allow him to do great things. Even the side skirts, which had given him some problems in the tests, seemed to have come to their senses since the last test in the morning. At the end, then, while Chapman and David Thiene were congratulating him, Chapman shouted at him: “Did you see that the car is good?”, Elio nodded and replied: “But there is the Renault…” Chapman: “That’s a separate problem…”
“Finally, one of my cars is back on the podium”, Chapman shouted as he ran toward Elio at the end of the pits after he had finished the lap of honor.
What did you think, we asked de Angelis, when you crossed the finish line?
A great joy, then immediately a great rage. When I saw the Renault stop without petrol and Arnoux coming back in another car; one more lap and I would have won my first GP!
What’s the difference between the current F1 you drive and the ones you’ve driven up to now?
The current Lotus is the best F.1 I have ever driven. It is easy to enter the curves, it is a car whose behavior is immediately and well understood.
The Ferrari, from the little I drove it, seemed “harder” to have in hand, and perhaps even more difficult. The Shadow was a disaster from every point of view. Even the engines, despite being the same ones I have on the Lotus, were different in my opinion. They did not have the same elasticity, the same power as the ones I have now.
What was the best moment?
In the first laps, the engine was singing like a charm and the tires hadn’t started jumping left and right yet. I was in fifth gear at 10,600-10,800 rpm, I was catching everyone in front of me and I was passing them with pleasure. I was with Arnoux, and I realized that we were both gaining on the leaders.
The worst moment?
When with Arnoux in the lead, thanks to the tires, I realized that I couldn’t pass him anymore! I had to settle for staying behind. My only hope was that he would break something, but honestly, he didn’t deserve that kind of luck.
What was the best compliment you received after the race?
The one from Chapman who told me: well done, we gave 36” to Williams!
Has Chapman said anything else to you?
Yes, after the race he examined the car and, apart from his happiness together with Thieme for being on the podium after such a long time, he told me that my second place was practically worth a victory, because I arrived without oil in the gearbox. Despite the repairs, the box broke again and I had lost all the oil during the 40 laps.
How did you fix the external gear box?
After the breakages of the three days of testing, for the race, since we couldn’t do better, we even put some chewing gum… to make sure it didn’t break (could it be “Brooklyn” offered by Scheckter?). Now in England they will make a new one like this, because we have gained in aerodynamics, but it needs to be more robust.
What was the funniest thing that happened to you during the race?
The final lap, when I reached Zunino. I was only thinking about getting there and I didn’t risk passing him, you never know…
I think at that moment Zunino thought he was going very fast, because he signaled me to pass him on the right and I did nothing. Then, at the next curve, he signaled me to pass him on the left and I did nothing. He didn’t understand why I didn’t pass him, maybe at that moment he thought he was going like an arrow…
Your plans now?
Straight back home, then to England to do some things to prepare for South Africa.
When will we see the new Lotus?
I don’t know, a lot depends on this: if it goes well, as we all hope, there won’t be a Lotus 82. However, if this were to betray trust in some way, Chapman will bring out the new one.
Your prediction for the World Championship?
For me, either Jones or Villeneuve wins.
Chapman had de Angelis in his notebook from Monte Carlo '78
Our conversation with Chapman as Elio and his father Giulio listened to intently. Wanting to know the main reason why Chapman had set his sights on the young Roman, we asked him how, when and why among the many current young people eager to join Lotus, he chose Elio:
I had been following Elio for a long time and I was impressed to see him doing so well with a car like the one he drove last year. I had already written his name down in my notebook when I saw him racing in Formula 3 at both Silverstone and Monte Carlo. At Silverstone I was impressed by his way of recovering and at Monte Carlo by his determination to win at all costs.
I think these two qualities are very important for a driver who wants to drive my car, he showed me the rest in the test program at “Paul Ricard”. Once I had established that Elio was the right driver for my team, I did not hesitate to try all means to bring him to Lotus.
And are you happy now that you made a good choice?
Certainly yes, Elio has already demonstrated that he has good potential and that he can join the ranks of the best drivers. I will be very happy to see him progress day by day in his first year with Lotus.
Was your choice psychological towards Andretti, giving Mario the opportunity to feel like the master with the student?
I don’t think that’s completely the case. There is a certain amount of truth to it, though, as I’m sure that Elio’s current position in the team is what he deserves. Mario, for his part, is happy to advise Elio whenever the opportunity arises, and de Angelis can learn a lot from Andretti.
What are the essential differences between the current car and that of last year?
It is a completely different car, but one that is between the Lotus 79 and the Lotus 80. In simple terms it is the compromise between the two single-seaters, the result of wind tunnel tests, both with the model and with the full-size car.
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