Johnny gives the Website another exclusive

At the Johnny Herbert Charity Karting event on 22nd November 1998, David Cunliffe managed to grab a quick interview with Johnny, exclusively for the Johnny Herbert Website:

DC: You've had three years at Sauber, Johnny - what were the highlights?

Johnny: I suppose, really, the highlight year was probably last year, because we had the good third place in Hungary, beating Michael [Schumacher], which was good for the team. The year itself was difficult in some ways - we should have got more points - but ending up where we did in the championship [6th] was good for the team too. This year was probably the most difficult as the team seemed to get a little lost in the middle of the season, and we really struggled to get points from that point on. Personally, I had trouble at Silverstone and Austria, and that's where my season became very difficult.

DC: You weren't very happy at being asked to stand aside for Alesi, were you?

Johnny: No, not really, because we were racing for position [at Silverstone]. I think it was a wrong call. And then what happened in Austria in qualifying, being asked to move over - which completely ruined my qualifying - again, I thought was unacceptable. That was probably the worst part of this year. Otherwise, I enjoyed the three years, and the rest of this year.

DC: Is Alesi as temperamental as he appears to be?

Johnny: Well, he is within the team - he's like a little kid. When he spits his dummy out, they react to it, which makes it very difficult when you're the other driver, because all the attention goes on him. It's a shame, because the guy's quick, although I think I had the edge on him all the way up to Silverstone until we started having those problems. When he starts spitting his dummy out, it just disrupts the whole team, and I think from when that started, the team started not to perform as well.

DC: I've bid £1.50 for his dummy in the Auction [it was a joke item!].

Johnny: That's too much!

DC: You're looking forward to Stewart now, presumably?

Johnny: Yeah, I am. A lot of things have changed at Stewart - they've got some new people in (and some good people already there). Alan Jenkins designed a good car last year; this year's car was probably not the best but, with Gary Anderson coming and Ford buying up Cosworth, I think that will make a major difference to the team's future. I think it's looking very, very good, and with Rubens and the rest of the team working together, we can make it into a team that will be a contender in the near future.

DC: Are you going to wear the kilt?

Johnny: Err... absolutely not, no! If that had been in the contract, I wouldn't have signed!

DC: What are your hopes for the next two years with the team?

Johnny: To be honest, at the point they're at, we've got to look at getting points consistently and maybe getting some podium finishes. I think that, once the podiums start coming consistently, then you can start to look at winning races. It would be fantastic to go to Australia and start with a podium, but I know it's going to be very difficult to do. But we have a good chance of doing well this year with everyone equal on Bridgestones - I think that will make it much more competitive.

DC: What do you think about the rumours linking Jaguar to the team?

Johnny: Well, I saw that, but I think it's just a Ford thing and won't really make any difference. It's Ford at the end of the day and, if they want to push that, then they obviously thing it's a good thing.

DC: Do you think that the best man won the Championship this year?

Johnny: Well, I think Mika did a good job, maybe he had the best car, but he still put in some good performances during the year and I know that Mika's not a slow driver. In a way, it was nice that Mika won because Michael's had it very easy in his career from his Formula 3, when Willi Webber used to pay for it at the beginning; his Sportscar days, with Mercedes who helped him to get into Jordan; and then he was fortunate that he got into Benetton very early - it went very well for him. Whereas Mika's had it more difficult, with Lotus and then to McLaren not in good cars. Then he had the accident and had to come back from that. So he's had it harder.

DC: Do you think that Michael [Schumacher] mad a bit of a fool of himself at Spa?

Johnny: Well, I think he did, and maybe it's something that, inside, he regrets, but I'm sure he would never admit it.

DC: Now that you're back with a British team, any thoughts about coming back to live in the UK or are you going to stay in Monaco?

Johnny: We're going to stay in Monaco, probably for another couple of years so that the girls can learn a little bit more French. We'll probably come back when our eldest is maybe 10 or 11 years old so that she can have a proper secondary education here.

DC: Are you actually going to send me more stuff for the website this year?

Johnny: Err... well, I'm going to attempt it! I promised you at the beginning of this year but, as normal, it didn't quite work. So, I'm going to keep trying! I'm going to try to get someone else to do it because I spend hours typing it out - I'm not very good!

DC: And are you going to put the website address on your helmet this year? [His Sauber contract only allowed the helmet space to be taken up by sponsors logos]

Johnny: I must admit that I've asked and, hopefully, that will not be a problem!

DC: It would be nice to see that - thanks, Johnny!

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© David Cunliffe, 23rd November 1998. All rights reserved.