EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH DEREK WARWICK - MARCH 2003

I am pleased to publish my exclusive Q&A with Derek Warwick. Derek agreed to answer a few questions for me regarding his career and I would like to thank Derek for his time and effort in answering them all. I hope you enjoy reading his answers as much as I did!

WH - What is your earliest memory of wanting to become a racing driver and how old were you when you competed in your first race and where did you finish?

Derek - My first race was in Karts, racing on a track in Southampton. 12 years old. I can't remember where I finished but I did win the Southern area Championship in that first year.

WH -  How easy did you find it to rise through the “ranks” into Formula 3 and how highly did you rate Nelson Piquet during your battles in F3?

Derek -  It was very difficult for me because we ran out of money after the first year and I was encouraged to work and concentrate in the family Business.

We then started F2 Stock cars racing with and against my Father and Uncle. I won some 4 to 500 races, winning the English, British, European and World Championships.

We did Stock cars, Formula Ford and Formula 3 with two of my mates one was a Carpenter and the other was a Diesel mechanic, neither could change gear ratios or set up a car so I did most of the technical work. 

So to answer your question I sometimes sit back and think "HOW" did we do it, yes it was very hard.

Nelson was very good but not unbeatable, remember his budget was some £60,000 we spent only £17,500 in 1978. I believe with equal budget and running the team from Ralt's workshops there would have been a different outcome to my career, also remember Nelson won the BP championship and 13 races I won the Vandervell championship winning 12.  

WH - On entering Formula 1 with the Toleman team in 1981, it took you most of the season to actually qualify for a grand prix, what with it being Toleman’s entry into F1 too. How did you feel when you achieved your first GP start? 

Derek - The Rory Byrne car was wrong design for Formula 1 so we had to suffer in 81 and 82, the car was impossible to drive especially with the Hart engine, so when we qualified in Las Vegas for the last race we were very proud and got very "PISSED" on Sunday evening! 

WH - By late 1983, you had become a regular points scorer for Toleman and started to attract attention from bigger teams. When you signed for Renault for the 1984 season, were you pretty confident that you would win races for the French team? Did you have any idea how badly 1985, in particular, would turn out for the team?

Derek -  The 84 Renault was a good car, led races, few seconds etc. But in 85 we lost all our key people - Tetu, Larrouse and our aerodynamicist. Renault decided to bring in a new boss from car division who did not have a clue about motor racing. We tested the new car at Rio before the season started, the car was 3 seconds slower than the 84 car.  The season then went from bad to worse.

WH - Much has been said for Ayrton Senna’s vetoing of you as a Lotus driver for 1986. How did you feel at the time and with the benefit of hindsight do you think he was right that Lotus could not run two competitive cars by that stage? 

Derek -  I still believe that Senna was probably the best driver/package ever. But, he probably ruined my F1 career. He was right that Lotus couldn't run two no 1 cars, but Ayrton also knew I was a threat both on the track and off and maybe I would have got the upper hand. I know one thing - I would have loved to have been a team mate to Ayrton to see just how good I was, remember not one of my team mates was over all quicker than me?

WH - How much of a wrench was it to leave F1 at the beginning of 1986 and then for 1991/92 for Sportscar racing, albeit with teams that you won races with? 

Derek - F1 was all I wanted to do so I was very pissed off. I enjoyed racing sportscars because I was for a change in the best car not an also ran. also the cars were quick and I had a lot of fun. 86 2nd, 91 2nd, 92 1st and winning Le Mans.

WH-  What was driving for Bernie Ecclestone like during your time at Brabham?

Derek -  Bernie was a good boss, very hard but very fair, you always knew where you were. He loved his motor racing, he was professional, organised, smart, clever and bloody frightening. By the way the car was SHIT. I thought Gordon Murray is involved, don't worry he's a genius. WRONG. He was already smoking some think. 

WH - You spent 4 seasons overall driving for Arrows between 1987-89 and 1993. Along with Damon Hill (Hungary ’97), you went pretty close to winning a grand prix for the team (Rio ’89 and Montreal ’89 spring to mind). How frustrating was your time with Arrows?

Derek -  Arrows was always a stop gap but unfortunately I got stuck there. They sometimes had the money but didn't want to spend it, in 89 we had Ross Brawn - the car was very good but they didn't spend the money, they pissed off Ross - he left. Engine rebuilds were stretched. Lots and lots of mechanical stops.

WH - Lotus. You were often linked with the team and finally drove for them in 1990. Were you disappointed as to how things turned out that season?

Derek -  Unfortunately the car was very bad, the car wasn't stiff enough and kept breaking (Martin Jerez, me Monza). The engine was at the end of its development and much too heavy. It was probably my last chance to get back into a top team.

-WH - How difficult was it to continue racing after the death of your younger brother Paul at Oulton Park? 

Derek -  Paul as you know was very special to me and my family. A part of me died that day and I miss him more today than when it happened. I have spent the last 11 + years with the RAC/MSA trying to make British racing safer. I believe Paul would have been something special - winning G.Ps and and World Championships. There's not a day that passes that I don't think about Paul, the only pictures and trophies in my house is of Paul.

WH - An F1 career in which you secured two second places in less than fully competitive cars is a record to be proud of. But are there any regrets that you have regarding your F1 career though?

Derek - Sure, I never won a GP, never got myself into a top team at the right time and proved that I could have beaten the best. But, I never wished I was any one else, how many people wished they were Ayrton Senna?

WH - Team mates in F1 - best and worst please!

Derek -  Best was probably Patrick Tambay (lot of fun as well). Worst was Teo Fabi - he let all the drivers down when we went on strike in 82 (no fun)

WH - Murray Walker seems to be a bit critical of you during your stint in touring cars, in his recent autobiography. Have you read his book and do you think he is a bit misguided in his opinion!?

Derek -  No I haven't, I'm disappointed with my time in touring cars, I think I had too many business commitments to concentrate on touring cars so I think I probably treated it as a hobby? Remember again they were SHIT cars and I quite often had the upper hand.

WH - Who is the driver you most admired during your time in F1?

Derek -  SENNA

WH -  Finally, Michael Schumacher – is he a hero or villain and will he win the 2003 F1 title?

Derek -  Definitely a "HERO". Yes he will win the 2003 title.

Again, many thanks to Derek for taking time out to answer my questions. Certainly, it is interesting to read about his views on Bernie Ecclestone and the current Ferrari technical team - Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne battling for the likes of Toleman (later to become Benetton) and Arrows before their successes with Michael Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari 

Derek Warwick Q&A Copyright -  Wayne Hemingway, 2003