This weekend took place the third GP of the year... virtual, of course, the Covid-19 health crisis having joined the party! But no GP without a pitlane reporter, and for that, we got news from one of the best known of all in the paddock. Vanessa also spoke with us about her passion for motor sports, her job as a journalist, and of course the upcoming season!
Like many of us, Vanessa is confined to her home in Madrid.
“I spend my days doing sport, but also developing many new projects with Red Bull Spain and Red Bull Austria, while staying in touch with my Vlog team to be ready for the resumption of the season. »
Less present on social networks during this period of confinement, she left the juggling and other challenges to the pilots. She explains that “The situation in Spain was somewhat complicated and people had a very difficult time, I didn't have the heart to do that. » Indeed, Spain is the third country with the most deaths from Covid-19, and the virus spread there quickly without being detected.
She then continues by saying: “But since [the situation has improved] I have been a little more active on social networks. » We have regularly found her live on Instagram for several days, for good times of laughs!
His second year at Red Bull “ obviously always gives wings”, and she emphasizes: “I can't wait to be able to do this second season, even if I already did a Vloq at the Qatar GP with the Moto2 and Moto3 categories. »
“We have a lot of ideas in mind for this new season, and we want to be able to bring them to fruition as quickly as possible, as soon as the competition resumes. »
Her Vlogs are only done in the presence of the pilots, she notes with a smile that “Fluffy [Editor’s note: the camera that allows him to make his Vlogs] is very bored and collects dust on a shelf. »
But she adds “this could potentially change in the future, but not during the confinement period. » Indeed, if races are played behind closed doors and limiting the number of journalists, she and her Red Bull team will have to adapt: “They will try to reduce the number of people inside the paddock, and test everyone to protect them and their families. But televisions must go there, and Red Bull to produce Vlogs as well, because there is a need to be on site to produce content for the public. As for interviews for online media, pilots' statements can be processed remotely. This will change the way we work. »
Vanessa obviously follows the virtual races, which are not worth the atmosphere in the paddock, but the fight rages on the track and these races allow fans to see the drivers during this long period : “I watched the videos, not live, but it’s still very nice to hear the drivers talking and joking with each other, it’s quite funny. »
She also returned to some key facts concerning this long period of break between the tests in Qatar and the future Grand Prix:
“There are pilots who have undergone surgical interventions who will be able to recover more peacefully, and for whom the confinement period could work in their favor [Editor's note: Marc Márquez]. »
She also insists on the fact that it will be necessary “a period of training and then testing before starting the season, because it has been several months since they have been on their motorcycles. »
Vanessa is quite optimistic about the resumption of a season this summer, which she, like us, is impatiently awaiting. She adds that " After the statements by Carmelo Ezpeleta and from the press release of a few days ago, if he is optimistic, there is no reason why things should not resume. We must remain optimistic, the season will resume at some point. »
“I say yes to closed doors if that’s the only way to do it. It's going to be very unfortunate for the public, but it's better to do races behind closed doors than not to do them at all. For the sporting side, but also for the teams. »
“There was a general economic effect which will be relayed to sponsorship. If the teams do not have the money from sponsors, there will be no teams next year: either it is a total collapse or we will have to try to save the 2020 season by doing the best we can. »
“It will be unfortunate for the fans who probably won't be able to be physically at a circuit, but I think not doing it at all would be catastrophic for our sport. »
