Interview with Natalia Fabrichnova: Alonso has the largest vocabulary. Natalya Fabrichnova: personal life Work in Russia
April 27 through the Old City of Baku along the highway"Formula One" race cars rush by. We met withFormula 1 race commentator Alexei Popov and Natalia Fabrichnova, the only woman in the world to comment on Formula 1, and discussed the impact modern technologies to professional motorsport, learned what Russian pilots lack and how racers drive in everyday life
Photo: Anastasia Karagodina
Ɔ. Formula 1 is one of the most popular types sport in terms of television audience and the number of spectators who come to see the races in person. How can you explain such popularity of this sport?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Uniqueness. Because Formula 1 is technology that will come into our lives in the future. The best of the best are here, on machines that are at the forefront of technology and that cannot be seen in everyday life.
Ɔ. Are there any examples of technologies that have come from Formula 1 into our lives?
Alexey Popov: Pretty much everything we have in a modern car comes from racing. Now sports officials are even somewhat holding back the development of technology in racing so that they do not catch up with the automotive industry, because otherwise they will become uninteresting. Now there is a trend towards full electrification, robotization of cars, and in the future - a transition to fully automatic driving. But this is bad for racing, because the element of danger, struggle, human emotions, even a fight after the finish line is important for the viewer, otherwise no one will watch. It would be like football without contact and without the ball. Nowadays, the electronic component is already too big: the engineer monitors a million sensors and dictates to the rider what to do. At this time, 50 people are calculating a strategy: what will happen if you stop now, and what will happen if you turn around later. It turns out that the romance of the races of the 60s is leaving, when a person not only had no radio communication, but he could drive a whole circle and not find out where he was. The 1976 World Champion won the race in pouring rain and thought he had lost. He ran to beat his mechanics in the face. They told him: why are you mad, you are a champion! He thought for a long time that he was being played. So in everyday life I am for progress, but in racing I am for regression, because, in my opinion, they, unfortunately, have become too electronic. I would go back to loud petrol engines. Even if it's not environmentally friendly.
Ɔ. Environmentalists are generally shocked by motorsport lately. Is the situation really a stalemate?
Alexey Popov: This is complete hype. I'll tell you more: even the electrical industry as a whole is a hype. I understand that Tesla and so on is fashionable, hipster. But the manufacture of a lithium battery is no less harmful to the environment than a modern internal combustion engine, because it has improved significantly. I'm not trying to protect the horse in front of the car, but look: the books are left, you now have a notebook and a pen in your hands. I myself am for the metro, for the tram, for clean electricity.
Natalia Fabrichnova: And I am for the electric Formula E, after all! This is a new championship, fashionable. The fifth season of such races is already underway.
Alexey Popov: Cars look like in comics, cosmic, but they drive slowly.
Ɔ. Are car manufacturers in Formula E the same as in Formula 1?
Alexey Popov: The same, because they need to follow fashion. And it's funny! In Formula E, all teams have exactly the same cars, with the same electric motors. And I was shocked that all the manufacturers fit in there. Now there are factory teams of BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Jaguar, Nissan - all whales. That's where the hype is! Four German manufacturers who are allegedly fighting among themselves can report to their hipster audience: we are participating in an ecological product. In this situation, I regret to state that Formula 1 is the last stronghold of true motorsport.
Ɔ. How to make car racing great again?
Natalia Fabrichnova: It seems to me that these should be the same gladiator fights that were before. The struggle for technology, which Alexey spoke about, should not affect the entertainment. Because when they began to make hybrid motors, the sound disappeared. I remember my first Grand Prix in 2008 - it was Italy, Monza. When you go to the track, you go through the park. And I remember that literally the earth was shaking from this sound, because when they turn 20 thousand revolutions, there is a whistle throughout the park. And now you're standing next to the car, and you don't even need earplugs.
Alexey Popov: I first got into racing in 1992. And that's the first time I'm in the pit lane. The car has not left yet, it was brought in the garage. At a distance of five meters from the car, the asphalt under the sneakers began to vibrate. Asphalt! Before that, I had already written about Formula 1, commented on it, already loved it. But to hear it and see it with my own eyes - it was just an explosion.
Ɔ. It seems that the new generation does not really like cars at all.
Alexey Popov: Of my three sons, two of my eldest are French, their mother is French, they live in France. Therefore, I see this section of society from the inside there. My eldest son is 23 years old. By this age, living in the Soviet Union, I counted the days until I got my license. The dream was the old seven, which still needs to be saved ... I prayed for this car. My son, at 23, has no license, he uses a blablacar. The second is 17, but fortunately he is interested in cars.
In Europe, the car has long become politically incorrect, even in the country where Renault, Peugeot, Citroen are produced. That is, racers are driven into reservations, like smokers. Paradoxically, I live in Moscow and I don't have a car, I have legs and a subway. I don't like traffic jams and I don't understand why buying a car.
Ɔ. Let's talk about ordinary people who would like to start watching Formula 1. What do you need to pay attention to, how to understand what is happening in this sport?
Natalia Fabrichnova: In my female opinion, it all starts with the fact that you choose who to root for. Sometimes people decide to root for a Ferrari driver because he is a legend, a red car, Italy. Picking by looks is a classic. This approach is closer to me: listen to what they say and write about the athlete, and choose the person you want to root for. For example, Lewis Hamilton, a glamor man who is always on the lips, a kind of Ronaldo. Ferrari has Sebastian Vettel, a very reserved German who lives in Switzerland. He did not immediately admit that he already had a wife and two children. In our era, he has neither twitter nor instagram.
Alexey Popov: You have to go to the go-cart track. The cost is within 1000 rubles for a ten-minute check-in on the map. A person will immediately understand what Formula 1 is. Every time I see a “racer” on a roaring Gelendvagen, I want to come up and call him to go kart. And on the karting tracks, I saw thousands of such examples, when such “racers” are torn by such modest thin girls like Natalya, who won races. Or grandfathers older than me.
Ɔ. It is interesting that none of you advised to follow our Russian riders. Why?
Alexey Popov: We do not yet have such a level of motorsport development. In Germany, in the super-car country and the country of racing, before the advent of Schumacher, according to by and large, there was no Formula 1 boom, as in Spain before the arrival of Alonso. This guide is needed.
Ɔ. And Kvyat is not a conductor?
Alexey Popov: Not yet. It is necessary for a person to start winning races, and more than one.
Natalia Fabrichnova: And also to get him into a competitive team.
Alexey Popov: Everyone should start promoting him, like Khabib Nurmagomedov. Until he started defeating the best in the world, no one really knew about MMA. Everyone asks about Formula 1: how are ours doing, and you try to explain that he arrived tenth and that's great, because he has such a car. To do this, you must first be interested. We have our own audience, but for a quality explosion, we need something to happen. Vitaly Petrov paved the way. Kvyat continued.
Ɔ. What is missing now Russian athlete Kvyat and our motorsport in general?
Alexey Popov: Unfortunately, the case. After all, if it were not for the case, the same Schumacher might not exist. And we still have a long way to go. Already now there are Markelov, Mazepin - two guys who are close. And behind them there is another younger guy, Robert Schwartzman, from St. Petersburg, he is already at the Ferrari Academy. He is very fast.
Natalia Fabrichnova: There are only 20 seats in Formula 1, and this is a big problem. The competition is crazy. In addition to being the best, you must have sponsorship, and you must also have good luck and good support from the media. And in the "Formula" the press, especially the English-speaking one, has a colossal weight, the teams also read, listen, and evaluate something.
Ɔ. In Russia, it seems, they began to follow motorsport more. Is it because of the new track in Sochi?
Alexey Popov: It is very fortunate that we were able to take advantage of the Olympics. If it weren't for the Olympics, no one would have started to build a track in Sochi, which costs about 11 billion, this is to level the whole plain near the sea. In Sochi, even if it's cold, in any case, you can go. Yes, it takes a little longer for the tires to warm up. Journalists in Sochi can organize test drives. There are also our own races. For sports in general in the country, this is a qualitative breakthrough.
Ɔ. Natalya, how much do you think professional career changing the usual driving habits of Formula 1 drivers and other professional motorsport drivers?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Behind the wheel of a conventional car for pilots, everything moves very slowly, compared to how it all happens on the track. I once watched a video of Jenson Button, a race car driver, how he was looking somewhere to the side while recording a test drive of some ordinary car, doing something in parallel. The racer grasps on the fly everything that happens around him, for him to drive a car at a speed of 60 km / h is like walking on foot. There is one more video, where Ricardo Patrese, a Formula 1 driver, drives his wife around the race track, if I'm not mistaken, in an ordinary car.
Photo: Anastasia Karagodina
Ɔ. On Saturday, the next stage of Formula 1 will begin in Baku. What is interesting about this route?
Alexey Popov: This is the longest straight of the entire World Cup, there is a section of 2 kilometers along the Caspian Sea. Baku itself is very interesting, I would say that it is a city that at the same time resembles Paris, Barcelona, Moscow in some places, and Sochi in some places. A very interesting city.
Natalia Fabrichnova: The racing there is always great, because the track is narrow, and when there is a struggle, if someone is a little overdone, then he immediately enters the wall, and at that speed it means damage to the car.
Live broadcast of the Baku Grand Prix qualification can be seen on Match! Arena on April 27 at 15:55, the race itself on April 28 at 14:50 on the Match TV channel.
Interviewed by Dmitry Elovsky
Natalia Fabrichnova is one of the invited guests at the meeting "Women in Motorsport" within the framework of the General Assembly of the International Automobile Federation. She speaks to the racers and talks about how she single-handedly represents the fair sex in the commentary business. Then the young athletes rush to take a photo with Natalia, and she seems to be a little embarrassed, realizing that their racing achievements are no less than her television ones.
In the past, Natalia herself was a racer, professionally engaged in karting. It was the professional look of the pilot that she once brought to the broadcasts of Formula 1, making up a couple of commentators with the guru of this business, Alexei Popov. In addition, she graduated from VGIK, worked on television for a long time, so in terms of working on the air, she is also a professional, and not a casual passer-by.
"Western colleagues still make round eyes"
How do you like today's event? Do you think such meetings are important for the promotion of women's motorsport?
For me personally, it is a great honor, because such women have gathered here who have achieved success in different types motorsport, a traditionally male environment. They work two to three times as hard to get anywhere. I was even a little worried, because I needed to say something, to inspire. But when I saw little karting girls, I was already inspired by myself. As a rule, everyone says that it is necessary to develop women's motorsport, but this is not particularly moving. And there are some girls here who are doing it right now and overtaking guys on the tracks. For the next generation of riders, these encounters are important because they will see women supporting each other and the community growing.
- How do you feel in the world of motorsport? After all, you are the only female commentator in the world.
I feel great, but my colleagues are still not used to it, they still make round eyes. In the West, there is a lot of talk about equality, but it all remains only in words.
Natalia Fabrichnova with the first Russian racer F-1 by Vitaly Petrov at the 2015 Russian Grand Prix. Photo: © RIA Novosti / Mikhail Korytov
- And in fact?
But in fact, I regularly hear: "Are you the only female commentator? What? From Russia?" Specifically, this causes such surprise for them, because, in principle, they allow women to take interviews, they allow them on the radio, but they try to take only male commentators on television.
- That is, we are ahead of them in this regard?
Yes! Can you imagine?!
- You had a difficult entry into this role. Have you finally mastered it?
Oh, it's been almost seven years now. Yes, at first it was very difficult, because the profession is public, and you get everything doubly. If a man made a mistake, they can point it out to him, that's all. And here it is added that this error arose due to the fact that she ... she! It makes you work harder. I have already got used to this rhythm and I am very glad that I am working with Alexei Popov, because he is such a person who never stops developing, and this only makes it more difficult: you need to comply with him all the time.
"Sirotkin is a strong guy, I'm waiting for his return"
How did it happen with Sergei Sirotkin that he did not find a place in the team? Is it fair? Because the story of the return of Robert Kubica, who comes to replace him, looks like pure marketing. Will he even pull the level of Formula 1 now after his injury?
You know, there's an irony in that. After all, when Seryozha came, everyone said: a paid pilot, a paid pilot. But this year, Williams took the pilot who paid more money. But they don’t call him that, because he created a reputation for himself, albeit eight years ago, which, especially by the standards of F-1, is an incredibly long time ago. But in sports we need beautiful stories, such comebacks. This is already real Hollywood, especially since the Americans are now at the helm, for them it is ideal.
- And in terms of results?
We need to wait at least for the tests. Everyone is worried about the city stages: will he be able to drive a car there. Because it seems like a movable arm, but ...
- He does 70% of the work anyway.
Yes. That is, you understand, in the "Formula" ...
- So, while you have no forecasts?
We must wait at least until Barcelona, where there will be full tests on the new car. I was in Abu Dhabi, I saw, it seems, the backlog is not too big. But there the teams do not disclose what tires they are on, what fuel they use. When this information is open, it will be possible to compare, now everything is a pitchfork in the water.
Are we expecting a comeback from Sergey? Because he has proven himself within the team as a hard worker and in the peloton as a good guy.
Yes. In "Formula 1" justice is not worth waiting, unfortunately. As for Seryozha, it's just ... I can imagine his feelings, you've just gained experience - and you are immediately asked to leave. I hope this will give him strength, fuel his motivation and set him up clearly to come back.
- You talked to him. How does he not give up?
No no no! He is a very strong guy, even despite his age. So we told him that we would definitely wait for his return.
"Kvyat's fate will be decided by the team's attitude towards him"
We'll all be waiting! And Danya Kvyat, what are his chances in the second coming to Formula?
Danya and I have not talked one-on-one yet. The Ferrari team had a slightly strange attitude in terms of press access: they didn't give it to us. I hope that I will be able to talk in Barcelona or Australia, and then it will already be clear how much he will be determined to fight in this team. Because, you can imagine, it's like returning to an ex-wife!
Many people compare Kvyat's story with what Felipe Massa once had. After all, he also started in Formula 1 not very well, then he was a test driver for Ferrari and returned as a very strong driver. Do you think his experience in the Scuderia will help Dana?
Alexey Popov is a well-known TV commentator and journalist. It is difficult to find a person who knows more about the world of auto racing than he does. A whole era of motorsport in Russia is associated with him, since the beginning of Alexei's career coincided with the appearance on the screens of our country royal races series "Formula 1".
The beginning of journalism
Alexey Lvovich Popov was born in Moscow on July 13, 1974. Thanks to a combination of circumstances, he managed to very quickly meet his true calling, which became a hobby, a hobby, love and work. Since motorsport was not popular in the USSR, there was no information about the events taking place in it. Alexei's grandfather worked at the trade mission of the Soviet Union in Belgium. Therefore, the grandson sometimes went to him on vacation, where in 1988 Alexei Popov saw the first Formula 1 race in his life. Despite the fact that he was not in the stadium, but just watching a television broadcast, this was enough to find his true love for life.
Passion captured him so much that he quickly learned French, which made it possible to receive information about the results of races from French newspapers.
Alexey's debut in the journalistic field coincided with the beginning of the career of Michael Schumacher. It was in 1991, following the results of the Belgian Grand Prix, where the first performance of the legendary racer took place, that Alexei Lvovich Popov prepared his first article for Sport Express. The editor liked the quality of the material, so his work began to be regularly published in the newspaper.
The beginning of a career in television
In 1992, RTR decided to start broadcasting Formula 1 races in Russia. Despite the fact that the channel had excellent television commentators (G. Burkov, S. Cheskidov), there was a need for a first-class specialist who understood all the subtleties. Alexey Popov attracted attention thanks to his articles on the topic of motorsport, which is why he was invited as a consultant. Everyone was shocked at his young age. At the time of his debut as a commentator, he was 17 years old.
1992 was a very eventful year for Alexei. He was invited to work for a company that has television rights to broadcast Formula 1 in Russia. Samipa's firm was located in Monaco, where he moved permanently and stayed there for ten years. Alexey Popov, a commentator on the French channel of racing of various series at that time, still managed to make the Russian-language television magazine Chrono.
Work in Russia
Alexei began working on Russian television again in 1996, but fate decreed that Formula 1 broadcasts stopped in the middle of the season. They resumed already in 1999 on the TVC channel. Sergey Cheskidov and Alexey Popov commented on them. "Formula 1" was not the only place of work for Alexei at that time, "Chrono" was broadcast on the same channel, on which he also continued to work. Sergey and Alexey came up with an interesting quiz that inspired the fans very much. At the end of the broadcast of the next stage of the race, they asked some tricky question. Experts ran to the post office, as it was very important to be the first to send a telegram with the correct answer.
Since 2000, Alexey began to comment on the races alone, since Sergey Cheskidov left the project.
"Formula 1" without Popov
Since 2006, the rights to broadcast the races belonged to the REN TV channel. Having worked a whole season with Alexei, the channel did not renew his contract for the new year 2007. The true causes of this event are not known for certain. According to the channel's management, they were not satisfied with the presenter's financial requests. According to Alexei himself, the channel decided to choose a new TV commentator and announced a casting, to which he did not receive an invitation. One way or another, but he went to work on the channel "Russia-2". And the races on the REN TV channel were led by other people. How this step was justified is a rather controversial issue, neither the fans nor the experts have come to a common point of view. But in the end, because lack of funding Formula 1 changed channels once again, moving to the Sport channel in 2009.
New blood
In the 2012 season, the staff is being updated and Natalya Fabrichnova and Alexei Popov begin to comment on the races. "Formula 1" found a charming professional who perfectly complemented Alexei. Despite some doubts of the fans at the beginning of the duet, they quickly changed their point of view. Natalia has a pleasant voice and competent speech, in her work one can feel the knowledge of the world of auto racing and the ability to improvise.
Since November 2015, Natalia has stopped commenting on races due to a change in position, and Alexei is left alone again, which cannot be called a disadvantage. He can work equally well in tandem with another leader and alone.
And at the beginning of the 2017 season, fans can again hear the voice of Natalia in a duet with Alexei.
Outside the world of Formula 1
The personal life of Alexei Popov is practically not covered, and there is little information about her. It is known that he was married twice, currently divorced. The first wife was a Frenchwoman by nationality, two children were born in the marriage. In the second marriage, a third child appeared. About 20 years ago I gave up alcohol.
Alexei can be called a polyglot. He speaks in five foreign languages: French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and English. The degree of ownership of them is different. In addition to auto racing, he commentates on biathlon and rugby matches, which he also enjoys. He also conducts sports news, comments on major sports tournaments. In addition, his numerous articles are published in various publications.
Advantages, disadvantages and interesting facts
All fans know that Alexey Popov is the Russian voice of Formula 1. This phrase is part of the greeting that Alexey begins each of his broadcasts. As it turned out later, these words referred to the channel, and not to the journalist himself.
Among the indisputable advantages is the experience that Alexey Popov owns. His biography is inextricably linked with Formula 1 and other series of auto racing. And also respect is caused by his correct speech and real emotions. Even when the battles are not in full swing on the track, he always knows what to tell.
Among the shortcomings, one can single out that it does not always finish the started phrase and change the subject. And also sometimes distracted from the events on the track, telling something exciting from the life of the pilots.
Exactly 25 years ago, with the Spanish Grand Prix, the television career of one of the best sports commentators of our time began. The invariably high ratings of auto racing, which changed the broadcast channel several times, are primarily due to Alexei's talent. His emotions, knowledge and genuine excitement and ability to convey the mood of the holiday reigning in the paddock can turn even the most boring car race into an exciting event watched by millions of viewers.
Natalya Fabrichnova began her journey to success after studying at VGIK. After graduation, the girl took up work on television. She had to get acquainted with several professions: an operator, an administrator, she also worked as a producer, tried to work as an editor. After Natalya Fabrichnova first commented on a sporting event, she realized that she liked this activity. In addition to work, Natalya Fabrichnova is fond of theater and watching movies, but after gaining popularity, the girl does not have enough time for her hobby.
Roman Natalia
The biography of Natalia Fabrichnova is interesting to fans because she began a stormy romance with Alexei Popov, who also works on television. This story began from the moment when the photo of Natalia Fabrichnova with the eminent Formula 1 commentator Alexei Popov "circled" many of the country's publications that covered events in sports. It was this man who helped the young girl to become sports commentator in the field of supercar racing.
Popov had known Natalya Fabrichnova for a long time, even at the time when they were jointly engaged in amateur karting. Then the girl tried to lure Alexei into the professional world of karting, because he was one of the best racers, but she never succeeded.
Photos with Natalia Fabrichnova indicate that they meet together quite often, and not only to discuss working days. They spend holidays together, meet with loved ones together. The girl admitted that she was very sympathetic to her chosen one, they never even had disputes or quarrels.
Fabrichnova's hobby
Natalya Fabrichnova is still engaged in karting, despite her busy schedule. Because of her career as a commentator, she had to miss winter season, but in the summer, she tries to get out on the track as a racer every year. Not so long ago, Fabrichnova managed to win third place among karting athletes. It is worth noting that among her rivals were only men.
Natalya Fabrichnova is also fond of motorcycles, but she rarely rides in the city, as she believes that it is dangerous to travel on such extreme vehicles in a city full of cars.
The beginning of a career in Formula 1
Favorite transport of N. Fabrichnova
Despite the love of racing, active participation in sports events related to motor transport, Natalia prefers to move around the city by metro. She has her own car, but she only uses it on weekends. As the heroine herself complained, her female nerves cannot withstand the endless traffic jams in Moscow. Natalya is against racing outside the race track, she drives very carefully, but even the traffic cameras did not spare her, because quite recently she was issued a fine for speeding in the capital of Russia.
Despite the fact that the girl is successfully developing her career as a commentator in Formula 1 races, she manages to drive karts as well. At first, the girl was treated condescendingly, because there are very few women in this sport, and especially those who managed to achieve any success in this path. Most professionals have a stereotype that the female sex is unlikely to achieve significant results in this sports direction. Natalia Fabrichnova managed to dispel all doubts by winning bronze at one of the open summer karting tracks. After this turn of events, many began to perceive the young girl as their serious rival.
Natalya Fabrichnova managed to successfully pass the driving exams in her life and get the rights of category "A". She loves motorcycles since childhood, and when she first saddled her "iron horse", she immediately began to succeed in riding it. However, due to her cautious nature, the girl does not drive around on it in the center of the capital, because this is a very traumatic type of transport.
Hobbies of Natalia Fabrichnova after hours
In her free time from racing, Natalia loves to spend in cinemas. She also loves horses and reads a lot. Since childhood, she has been used to visiting theaters, even now, with her busy schedule, she tries to visit this cultural institution as a spectator at least once a week.
Formula 1 commentator on Russian TV Natalya Fabrichnova in an interview with the newspaper "Sport Day by Day" spoke about the nuances of working and communicating with the racers.
Question: Most of the inhabitants believe that the commentators are on a short footing with all the Formula 1 drivers. Is it really true?
Natalia Fabrichnova: It all depends on how many years you have been a commentator. If you are a beginner then you must follow general rules, use exclusively press windows that have their own schedule. But there are people in the paddock who have been working in Formula 1 for 10-20 years. Naturally, they have already been with many press officers of the pilots for almost half a lifetime, everyone knows them, so they can feel a little freer. But the commentator, of course, is a slightly privileged profession. Unlike newspapers, you need to give out the information you receive not the next day, but right there, on the air. Therefore, we need as much fresh news as possible, some insiders.
Question: Personally, can you already approach any pilot or only the Russians?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Alexey Popov, who has been in Formula 1 for 23 years, helps me a lot. He knows everyone, so he shows me the rules of good manners. Everyone has access zones in the pass, so Alexey acts as a guide, showing how the world organized by Bernie Ecclestone functions. It is clear that I am on friendly terms with Spanish-speaking pilots, because I speak their language, and it is more difficult for me with the same Lewis Hamilton, a native speaker in English. Alexey, for example, is fluent in French, so he communicates fluently with native speakers. And of course, we were lucky that both Vitaly Petrov, when he was in Formula 1, and Daniil Kvyat are very open guys. You can always approach them to talk outside the general press window, and they will tell you something that interests you at that particular moment.
Question: Judging by what I managed to see in the paddock, the most open of the riders is Daniel Ricciardo. Or are there more talkative guys?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Due to the fact that this is the leader of the team, and therefore in front of everyone, he really smiles all the time. Ricciardo is always in good mood may be joking. All in all, a great guy. But there are guys like Pastor Maldonado who are on the other side of the pit lane, if you know what I mean. He plays for a team that is not currently top. Bumps are constantly pouring on him, because almost every weekend he crashes a car, gets into some situations, after which he is punished. For this season, he took number 13, and it seems to me that everything that happens to him is no coincidence. This is a man of bad luck. But he's a really open guy, he can wave at you and say hello even when he's walking down the track with the engineers. Well, you can also note Adrian Sutil. Where is Sauber now - zero points. There is no crowd of journalists in front of him, but he is also a very interesting person. With him you can talk about something other than Formula 1, which is a big plus.
Question: And who, a kind of "Snow Queen"?
Natalia Fabrichnova: The answer to this question can be guessed by looking at just five minutes of communication between the riders and the press (laughs). "Snow Queen" from the snow country.
Question: Kimi Raikkonen?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Yes. And it seems to me that the last year or two he began to work a little on this image. I myself have seen him smile when asked a long, three-story question, to which he says "Yes", "No" or simply nods his head. And everyone laughs.
Question: Is there anyone who has caught a star?
Natalia Fabrichnova: They all have the right to feel like stars, there are only 22 of them in the "Queen of Motorsport". Most often, star disease comes to those who succeed early. Then they all calm down and become normal guys.
Question: Which of the foreign riders managed to master the Russian language best of all?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Fernando Alonso has the largest vocabulary.
Question: Everything is clear, thanks to his friend Dasha Kapustina.
Natalia Fabrichnova: Yes, Dasha has made and continues to make her contribution to this. We talked a little, and she said that Fernando knows not only Good Morning. Although this, you see, is not bad, because this expression is more complicated than “Hi” or “Bye”. Alonso is a polyglot. He gives press conferences in several languages, easily switching from one to another.
Question: What are the advantages of working at home "Grand Prix"?
Natalia Fabrichnova: On the one hand, it is not important that the organizers speak Russian in order to understand how to get accreditation or book a seat in the press center. On the other hand, it is much more pleasant psychologically. Up to the point that you don't have to think about a visa or pack a big suitcase (smiles). There are even gingerbread in the press center, which already helps to feel more pleasant.
Question: What if we talk about difficulties?
Natalia Fabrichnova: More complex schedule. We have noticeably increased the number of live broadcasts and reports. At the same time, intensive preparation for inclusions remains - you need to read everything in the same volume and at the same time work two or three times more.
Question: Is the TV show any different?
Natalia Fabrichnova: He is standard. But this time we showed free races at Rossiya-2, and not at Sport-1, as at other stages. And of course, in Sochi there is a much larger film crew.
Question: Paddock, press center... Is everything in Sochi made according to a template or is it somehow different from foreign Grand Prix?
Natalia Fabrichnova: If there is a template, then it is the highest (smiles). Let's give an example. The press center at the city stages is some kind of prefabricated structure. In Canada, this is almost an awning, which is blown by all the winds, and people are forced to sit in jackets. Everything is much more convenient here. And there is no such thing as the Asian Grand Prix, where it is very hot on the streets, and in the press centers the air conditioners work so that you have to sit in jackets. There is even food for journalists in Sochi.
Question: So it's not like that everywhere?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Far from everywhere. Sometimes they just give you water, and here you see what a variety of everything. The devil, as they say, is in the details.
Question: Daniil Kvyat will be a Red Bull driver next season. How likely is it that he will immediately be able to fight, if not for the championship, but at least for the top three, given the strength of the new car?
Natalia Fabrichnova: I'm always afraid of forecasts. Sometimes in the regulations they can change completely, it would seem, insignificant things, but once - and the pace is lost. The same McLaren are switching to Honda, Lotus is switching to Mercedes engines. It is impossible to say in advance that Red Bull will be in the same good shape. Although, of course, we hope so. Especially knowing the talent of Kvyat himself. If everything goes well, we will cheer for podiums and victories.
Question: Are there any talks on the sidelines about the appearance in Formula 1 of someone else from the Russians?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Not yet. We are glad that we have Kvyat, we are counting on Sauber test driver Sirotkin ... But usually teams keep this kind of information secret until the last moment.
Question: It turns out that only the return of Vitaly Petrov is more likely if he finds a sponsor?
Natalia Fabrichnova: Yes. This is the defining moment. Even behind Alonso there is a Santander bank. We are lucky that Kvyata supports Red Bull, we need someone to support Petrov as well.
Question: Do you see a Russian in other racing series who can make a name for himself in Formula 1?
Natalia Fabrichnova: We have been following Artem Markelov from GP2 all season. This is a very talented boy. All he needs is just to cope with the qualifications. He just rides brilliantly in races, but in qualifying, in his words, "constantly fails." Either there is no clean circle, then the car breaks down, then his own mistake ... He often manages to come to the points zone, starting from the end of the twenty. I would advise everyone to remember this name.
