Imagine the rush – an 18-year-old, standing on the podium, having just conquered a legendary race steeped in history. That’s Théophile Naël, the young Frenchman who stunned the racing world by winning the FIA FR World Cup in Macau. He didn’t just win; he etched his name alongside icons like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. Let’s dive into what he had to say after his electrifying victory.
Q: You’re the winner of the FIA FR World Cup and the 72nd Macau Grand Prix. How does that feel?
Naël: “It feels really, really good. Honestly, I just focused on being patient. The car had pace all weekend. My starts on both days weren’t ideal, so I made sure to stay calm. Racing in Macau is unpredictable; anything can happen until you see that checkered flag. It was a total rollercoaster of a weekend, and now all the emotions are finally hitting me.”
Q: Where does this victory rank among your best career moments?
Naël: “This is definitely the best so far, without a doubt. I wasn’t expecting this at all! I think the reality of it will sink in tomorrow. Right now, I just want to celebrate with my family. They’ve been my rock since the beginning of the weekend, especially my brother, who’s also my physio – he does it all! It’s such a cool moment. This was my first time with KCMG ENYA Pinnacle Motorsport, and I loved working with them. The car was amazing, the team spirit was incredible, and it made for my best weekend ever.”
Q: Was there a moment when you truly believed you could win, especially when you were back in fourth and Freddie Slater was pulling away?
Naël: “There was a point in the race where things didn’t look so great. I knew I had the pace, but overtaking was incredibly difficult. If someone is aggressively blocking the inside line into Turn 3, you can’t risk trying to pass on the outside. It was just too risky, so I decided to hold my position. But, as we all know, anything can happen in Macau, and that’s exactly what we saw! I’m super-happy it worked out.”
Q: Your move for the lead, going three-wide into Lisboa, was spectacular! What was that like from behind the wheel?
Naël: “I came into that corner with a lot more speed than the guys in front. They both had to brake pretty hard for Turn 2. I used the slipstream to close the gap, then went for the outside line. I saw I had just enough space to squeeze Mari [Boya] before we had to brake. I went for it, and thankfully, it was enough to safely make the corner.”
Q: You mentioned it’s hard to fully grasp that you’ve won, but you must be aware of the legendary drivers who have also won in Macau, like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. What does that mean to you?
Naël: “I know that only the biggest names in racing have won this race, and now my name is among them! That’s just incredible. I’m only 18 years old, and I hope the best is yet to come. I think this win will give me a huge boost moving forward.”
And this is the part most people miss: Naël’s age. At just 18, he’s facing intense pressure and expectations. His ability to remain calm and collected under such circumstances is truly remarkable. But here’s where it gets controversial… Some argue that his aggressive overtaking maneuver was borderline reckless. Was it a calculated risk or simply youthful exuberance? What do you think?
Relive the FIA FR World Cup action here: https://youtube.com/live/ahLeKG_cfmM?feature=share
So, what are your thoughts on Théophile Naël’s victory? Do you think he has what it takes to become a future Formula 1 star? And what did you think of that overtake? Let us know in the comments below!