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00:05Hello everyone, today I'm here with Melanie Villeneuve, Gilles Villeneuve's daughter and Darren Jack,
00:09founder of All of Fame Collection and the Formula One Memorabilia Collector. Thank you for being here.
00:17It's a pleasure.
00:18Pleasure, great to see you again. Thanks for having us.
00:22Recently, Gilles' helmet became the most expensive racing helmet ever sold,
00:28reaching a record price of $1.25 million.
00:33But beyond its financial value, when did you realize that Gilles' helmet was not simply a historic object,
00:42but something that would hold such a special meaning for so many people?
00:48Yeah, I mean, it's a fantastic question really.
00:51Obviously, it's been a very interesting subject matter over the past,
00:55I guess it's going on almost two weeks now.
00:59Breaking news across the world that the Gilles Villeneuve helmet has been sold for the most expensive price ever,
01:08which is amazing to have Melanie join us as well,
01:11because it just speaks to the legacy that Gilles has left behind
01:15and the mark that he's made on so many fans of all ages.
01:20You know, I can speak about myself being only two years old when,
01:25you know, Gilles turned his final lap.
01:28But it's very evident to me, even somebody from my era, how important Gilles was.
01:34And to answer the question about the specifics of that helmet,
01:40really, it's a great question.
01:43It comes down to a lot of the rarity of them.
01:46You know, back in those days of the late 70s and early 80s,
01:51the drivers didn't have many items.
01:53Melanie knows well that, you know, for example, in race suits,
01:57her dad would be stitching patches back on another suit,
02:02being done by family members and things like that.
02:05Whereas today, you know, they're using three, four suits a weekend.
02:08And the same sometimes with helmets, as many as three, four,
02:12sometimes even five helmets a weekend if they have a special.
02:16Whereas Gilles' helmets, it's probably around about five that maybe exists in the world.
02:23So there's a lot of scarcity there.
02:26Melanie, do you want to add something?
02:30Well, I find it, in a way, it's a testament to my father's story.
02:36So I find it a little bit amazing, you know, when Darren came to me
02:42and he told me about this.
02:44And, you know, I can only sit on the side and look at it
02:48and muse about how people value certain things.
02:52I mean, for me, it's particular.
02:54I mean, for me, it has, it's invaluable, of course, but that's personal to me.
02:58And to see how the outside world and the community of collectors would put value on such things.
03:05He is right.
03:07There is a lot of scarcity back in the day.
03:09The drivers only had maybe a couple of helmets per season.
03:13They didn't give them out.
03:14They didn't collect them.
03:15But we're talking about a different era then.
03:19And I think that if scarcity is a factor in the value, I think also maybe the story of my
03:26dad is part of that value.
03:27And I think that I'm just happy to be able to see that people still think about him.
03:34They want to talk about him.
03:35And they're proud to reflect what he's done.
03:40So, you know, it just, for me, I think it's super cool.
03:44Can you tell me through exactly how the transition happened?
03:48Was this a private sale or an option?
03:53Yeah, it was a private sale.
03:55So, Hall of Fame Collection, it's pretty well known that we have a big collection as well that I started
04:02many years ago.
04:03And I actually had a passion just for building a collection and never even thought about it as a business.
04:09But we all have to do something for a living, you know.
04:11So, luckily, I'm able to run the Hall of Fame Collection memorabilia company.
04:16And the private collector who had the helmet for many years, it was time for him to part with it.
04:25And we was able to broker the sale to one of the clients we have.
04:30So, it was done via our private sale.
04:35And, yeah, it was a very exciting transaction, also a very emotional transaction.
04:42And something that meant a lot to the new owner, who's been building a bit of a collection.
04:48So, for him to be able to add one of Gilles' helmets, you know, from one of his heroes as
04:54well,
04:55heroes of the sport, to go alongside some of the others is, you know, I can speak for him, is
05:01a dream come true.
05:03Were there multiple collectors interested in acquiring the helmet?
05:09Yeah, absolutely.
05:10I mean, Melanie will know that at the moment, how many people are of interest in Gilles, you know.
05:19It's absolutely fascinating.
05:20We were just at the Canadian Grand Prix, fortunately, at the same time together.
05:25I was able to go down to the mall.
05:28And there was a merchandise area set up by Melanie and with the Villeneuve merchandise.
05:36So, you've got Gilles' T-shirts and hats and various jackets, which are amazing designs, if I can say.
05:44They're very cool things that I would wear, honestly.
05:47A lot nicer than the modern Formula One stuff as well.
05:51Not that there's anything wrong with that, but my personal taste, I thought it was very cool.
05:55So, there was hundreds of fans, you know, in that store all day long.
06:02And it was amazing to see, you know, there's a beautiful replica car.
06:07I think that's going to be used in the movie.
06:09Melanie will know more about that.
06:11A replica helmet.
06:13So, people were just fans everywhere, you know.
06:16And I think everyone's dream would be to have something like this in their collection.
06:21And so, yeah, multiple people were interested in it.
06:26And, you know, from a business standpoint, if we had lots, it would be, business would be booming.
06:33But scarcity, it makes it more rare, makes it more of a story too.
06:38And, yeah, so lots of interest and lots of interest since the sale as well.
06:44So, many fans who wear Villeneuve's shirt or caps today never actually saw him race.
06:51What do you think still makes his legacy feel so relevant today?
06:56You know, that's something that I find particularly curious myself.
07:01And the thing is that, you know, I look at his story and how he came to be in Formula
07:07One.
07:08And if I had to define why he's so special, beside the fact that he was so spectacular as a
07:15driver,
07:16was his rags to riches kind of story.
07:20So, he came from a very little village in Quebec, in a nation where racing or sports racing is not
07:27at all part of the cultural heritage.
07:29Here, we play hockey.
07:32And so, he was fascinated by speed, by going fast.
07:39And he came from really nothing.
07:42And so, he started racing snowmobile when he was maybe 18 or 19.
07:46So, he started really late.
07:47He didn't start with go-karts.
07:49He didn't start the usual way.
07:50And I think when you look at his beginnings, it really defines why he was so unique.
07:56Because he was unique in everything that he was doing, the way that he was sliding the cars, the way
08:00that he was racing the cars,
08:02the way that he was finding the limits on every corner, the way that he, even the way that he
08:08started a race,
08:09and he wanted to be the fastest at every single point in the race.
08:13And if that meant that he was the fastest at every single corner, that eventually he would win the race.
08:18What was important to him was to be fastest at every corner.
08:22So, it's just a particular mindset that made him spectacular.
08:27And so, people really related to that.
08:31He was humble, he was accessible, and he came as anybody else came from Small Village.
08:39So, I don't know, there's, you know, it's a little bit part of my adventure to try to figure out
08:45exactly what made him so special.
08:47And every day, I'm learning a little bit more about him.
08:50And every day, I love him more.
08:52So, that's part of the fun for me.
08:55Exactly.
08:57Yeah.
08:58Just to add to that, I think also the fact that, you know, at such a young age,
09:02he was signed by an amazing historic team, such as Ferrari.
09:07Like, you know, it's the most historic team in Formula One, and probably the most loved.
09:12So, it gave the fans, you know, somebody new to root for, someone who was young, fast, adventurous,
09:20and only in his second Grand Prix, he's driving for, you know, the most famous team,
09:25which he continued to have the rest of his career with, right?
09:28So, that allowed also the Ferrari fans to take him under their wing.
09:33And it's amazing, too.
09:35You know, he had Jodie Schechter as a teammate.
09:39He was a world champion.
09:40But, you know, I can speak, as I know in my industry,
09:44that Gilles is significantly more popular than even a world champion.
09:48So, it is quite a mystique as well.
09:53And driving for Ferrari in that era was something that is still close to a lot of people's hearts today.
10:02Gilles was famous for his ability to drive constantly at the limit,
10:07often giving the impression that he could go beyond what the car itself allowed.
10:13Do you think that kind of approach still exists in Formula One today?
10:18And is there a current driver who, through his different style or attitude on track,
10:24reminds you in some way of Gilles?
10:27Personally, Max Verstappen seems to be the driver who reminds me him the most today.
10:33I will let Darren go first.
10:35I think he's often at every single Grand Prix.
10:40And I believe he knows very well the driving style of each driver, probably better than me.
10:47So, I'll let you run with it, Darren.
10:50Yeah, thank you, Melanie.
10:53Hilarious, interesting, because when you said Max, that was the name that quickly jumped to my mind.
11:00And so, it's a nice comparison, really, because obviously he's a four-time Formula One world champion.
11:08His aggressive style, as far as pushing the limits and pushing the boundaries of what the car can do
11:15and what he's able to do as a human, for me, is the most impressive racing driver I've ever seen.
11:24And even studying the old racing drivers, probably, too.
11:29You know, it's incredible what he's able to do.
11:32And I think, you know, in a similar era to Gilles, probably would have been, you know, a very good
11:41comparison.
11:42A lot of them today, the drivers have to be a little bit more calculated.
11:47It is a different driving style, especially this year in 2026.
11:52But Max has that little bit of old school in him, too, which is kind of cool.
11:57And we've seen that recently by him going to the Nürburgring and driving the 24 hours there.
12:03That's kind of what the older drivers did.
12:07So, yeah, I kind of agree.
12:09I'm not sure, Melanie, if anyone comes to mind for you or even personality-wise or anything like that.
12:17It's a tough comparison, I know.
12:18But what do you think?
12:20I think you're right.
12:22I think that would have been my choice as well.
12:26And I think that you're right when you bring back the fact that back in the day,
12:30drivers would, you know, go to different and multiple races.
12:35For example, they would go to Indy and they would do the Indy 500 or they would do the Le
12:39Mans
12:39or they would do other, particularly the Mille Miglia or others.
12:42Today, we haven't seen that in a long time unless they're at the end of their careers.
12:49But for Max to be doing it in the full run of his season, I think, is unique nowadays.
12:55And I think he's super, super fast.
12:58And I think he does things differently.
13:00He drives in a unique way.
13:02I think I heard my brother tell me that.
13:06And so I think if my dad had to be compared to somebody and it smacks,
13:10well, I can just be happy about it.
13:13So Melanie, when people talk about Gilles, they immediately think about the driver.
13:19But what is the first memory that comes to you, to your mind when you think about your father?
13:28It's kind of a tough question.
13:30You know, we were quite young when my brother and I, when he passed, I was nine.
13:35My brother was 11.
13:36And we do have memories, but they're not specific memories.
13:44They're general memories and they're general feelings.
13:47And I think that if I had to remember him as a human being, you know, he wasn't the kind
13:56of dad that said, well, you have to have a schedule that is really, really tight.
14:03And he wasn't, I don't feel that he was a dad that was harsh necessarily with us.
14:11And he wanted to push us.
14:13I think that he wanted us to be the best that we could be.
14:15He wanted to be, he wanted us to be competitive.
14:18Obviously, he was competitive himself.
14:21And, but he was always out there pushing us to do some kind of sports.
14:24And so he was, it was fun to be around him.
14:26So if I had to, if I had to call on an emotion, I would, I would go to, you
14:33know, him being the fun dad.
14:34And, and obviously he wasn't around all that much because he was always racing or testing and then doing some
14:41PR work, especially at the end, last two years, he was absent quite a bit.
14:45So whenever he was home, it was always fun because we'd go out and he'd take us out on a
14:49boat or he'd do crazy things in a car.
14:53And he was, he was driving his cars the same way that he was driving his formula cars.
14:57So it was always super fast.
14:59And, and, you know, we loved it.
15:01We were little kids in the back saying, dad, go faster, go faster.
15:03And he would, and he would, you know, make our hearts go, go faster.
15:10So if I have to, those are good memories that I keep.
15:14And they're, they're just very general, in a general sense.
15:18That would be the kind of, of man he was with us.
15:21Today we see Formula One as a much safer sport.
15:24Do you think younger generations can truly understand what it meant to be for the family of a racing driver
15:32in the 60s or in 80s?
15:37You know, it's a different world today.
15:39So for, for the younger generation who didn't live those, those years, to look back and it's, it's completely different.
15:47Sports were different.
15:49The, the society, how it regarded sports was different.
15:53Um, so, I mean, today, uh, the, the drivers are superstars, really, truly superstars.
16:01Uh, and maybe in the 60s, they were a lot less.
16:04And in my dad's era, they were starting to become really superstars.
16:07And I think Senna, uh, was the one that really, you know, exploded in terms of media attention.
16:13And that comes at the same time as TV rights, uh, were expanding and, uh, TV access were expanding.
16:19And so a lot more people were able to watch the races live in real time.
16:23And now today it's completely different.
16:25I mean, now you have like drive to survive.
16:27You can see, you can see in the back, you can dive into the select personality or reality TV in
16:33a way.
16:34So, I mean, the media has changed a lot.
16:36It has changed the sport in terms of its media, uh, how people view the sport.
16:40Um, but at the end, at the end of the day, the drivers themselves, uh, have to be completely consumed,
16:48uh, by their passion, by what they want to do because they're in it all the time.
16:53And for the families, um, it may have been a little bit easier back in the day because there was
16:59less, uh, media attention and because they were, I mean, there was less, everything is relative.
17:04I mean, there was a lot of, uh, media attention, but it was less, um, focused and intense as, as
17:10it is, I think today.
17:11Um, and we were lucky in a way, um, because my dad really wanted us to have us really wanted
17:17to have us around.
17:19So when, uh, when we moved to Europe, uh, he brought a motor home with him.
17:23And so he wanted to have the kids and, and, uh, Joanne, and he wanted to be on the track
17:28all day long.
17:29And so we, we slept on the track.
17:31Uh, and so for us, it was, it was this peak preview into how everything was working today.
17:37I don't think that you would have that.
17:39So it's, it's, um, we had that access back in the day, maybe that today would be very difficult to
17:44have.
17:46Yeah, I completely agree.
17:48For this reason, I really love Formula One of the Past.
17:52Nice to hear.
17:54What do you think about it, Darren?
17:56Yeah, I mean, it's definitely well summed up, uh, there by Melanie, but, um, and she can relate a lot
18:04more than I can.
18:05But, um, you know, I've fortunate to have been going since I was a young child as well and observing
18:12the drivers up close.
18:14Um, for many, many years and getting to know them personally and doing business with them too.
18:20So, um, yes, completely different era.
18:23I think it's extremely hard for anyone to really understand unless you've lived in that.
18:28You know, you, you get a little bit of, uh, you know, uh, an opportunity to, to see things now
18:36with more access, whether it's on YouTube, whether it's on, um, old racing videos and such, you know,
18:43you have access to find that information out and to see it, but to really live through it and, uh,
18:49and, and understand it is, um, completely, completely different times, you know?
18:54So, um, yeah, so very interesting, very interesting subject matter.
18:59And I think, you know, as Melanie said, if you can imagine now one of the drivers bringing their kids
19:06to the motor home and sleeping with them in the track, it's, you just couldn't see that, you know, uh,
19:11couldn't see that happening.
19:12And, um, yeah, um, different times.
19:16I mean, even the, the wives would do the stopwatch, they would do the timing and have a pit board
19:21and, or, um, a clipboard and be writing down the times of the drivers, you know, which is, it's unbelievable
19:28to think about it now.
19:29Right.
19:30Compared to what we, where we can just access the information as fans on a, on a, on an app
19:35or something like that live timing.
19:37So, uh, they were different parts of, uh, you know, even, um, you know, uh, the, the, the wives would
19:46cook, cook for the team and stuff like that.
19:49They would be heavily involved and, um, as part of it as well, sometimes too.
19:53So yeah, completely different times.
19:55And it doesn't even seem that long ago, you know, that it has changed that much, but, um, with all
20:00of the popularity of the sport and the sponsor demands and the money that's involved now is very, very different.
20:06But, um, observing current drivers as well and how they deal with it is, is also very, very impressive, to
20:14be honest, uh, how they live their professional lives because it, it's not an easy life for them.
20:21Yeah, of course.
20:23Jill's story is often told about speed and talent.
20:27What is the most human lesson he left you with?
20:31The lesson, the lesson that he left, uh, the, the biggest lesson, um, what I'm learning about him is, uh,
20:39the sheer force of will that he had, uh, complete determination.
20:44Um, I think for him to be able to, uh, rise up from, from the village in Quebec to all
20:51the way to Ferrari.
20:52Like I said before, he started racing.
20:54I mean, he did drag racing.
20:56Um, you know, he had a Mustang when he was 17, he, he got a Mustang and he was drag
21:00racing in the back streets.
21:02Uh, and there were, you know, local competitions from, you know, young guys, young men in villages getting together and,
21:09and really drag racing, uh, Mustangs down the streets.
21:12Uh, and he was doing that when he was 17 and then he started playing around and, and, uh, doing
21:18a little snowmobile, uh, when he was 18, he started super late and he started with snowmobile and he was
21:2323 when, um, he did his first season in, uh, for the Ford.
21:28And so between his, uh, in about eight years, he went from his first race in snowmobile to driving for
21:36the utmost, most, uh, most divine, if you would, uh, uh, team in, in, in, in Formula One, which is
21:44Ferrari.
21:45So how do you, how do you do that?
21:48You do that from sheer talent, but you do that from the determination to harness that talent.
21:53And I think that recognizing, uh, your own potential is one thing, but then every day pushing to make sure
22:01that you follow your dream.
22:02That's another, uh, set of skills, which it's, it's a mental skill.
22:07It's an emotional skill.
22:08And it's something that I, I, I really like to, to figure out just even for myself would be great.
22:13Uh, so that, that for me is, is inspirational.
22:17Yeah.
22:18And if I can add on to that, it's just, uh, extremely well summarized there.
22:23I think, um, just by observing some of these greats, you know, uh, the modern word is goats, you know,
22:30so the greatest of all time.
22:32And the helmet sale has proved that he is in that conversation is one of the greatest of all times
22:38in Formula One racing history.
22:40Um, uh, which is incredible because not many other people get that opportunity unless they have that world championship title.
22:49And, uh, he's, he's, you know, um, considered one of the greats and it comes to mind for me when
22:56I study business and sports and athletes from the past, whether it's Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan or Usain Bolt
23:04or Muhammad Ali or Gilles Villeneuve, um, Ayrton Senna.
23:08You know, they've, they've, they've all got these, um, abilities in different areas and a lot of it is talent.
23:16Yes.
23:17But it's work ethic.
23:18Again, we, we think about Max Verstappen, you know, he has a simulator on his plane, you know, he's, he,
23:25he enjoys the work, you know, he puts in the work, but determination can get you anywhere.
23:30And, uh, persistence and self-belief, um, and talent and Gilles story is incredible from going racing Mustangs there that
23:39I didn't even know about until now.
23:40So thanks for that lesson to snowmobile racing, to being noticed by another world champion like James Hunt and getting
23:48given those opportunities.
23:50as you get given those opportunities, we all need people to help each other get there as well.
23:56So recognizing that talent, recognizing that determination and, uh, and us still looking back at his life and his legacy
24:03now to recognize and learn things for ourself that hopefully people will look at us and, and pick up on
24:09in years to come too.
24:11So it's, um, you know, it's, that's what life's all about really is, um, is, is those things.
24:16that anyone can do anything in any career, if you just believe in it, you work hard and you're persistent
24:23and Gilles Villeneuve is a great testament to that.
24:26That's very well said.
24:28Thank you very much.
24:30Yes, I completely agree.
24:34So you can be like Gilles too, Laria.
24:37I hope so.
24:39You're doing it.
24:40I hope so.
24:41I hope to, um, to, um, reach my, my dream one day to be in a formula one track with,
24:48uh, with a microphone, uh, to, uh, tell, uh, um, people who loves formula one, uh, stories behind, uh, and,
24:58uh, and just to say, stay on track to talk about my passion with, uh, with people who wants to,
25:05to follow that passion with me.
25:07That's wonderful.
25:08After Gilles, Jacques chose to become a racing driver and he reaches the top of formula one.
25:14As a family, how did you experience that moment?
25:17More as a community, pride, or also as the return of fears that you thought you left behind?
25:26Um, well, actually, uh, Jacques' rise in, uh, motorsports was, um, was quite wonderful.
25:34Um, he started, uh, he started in Formula Three in Italy.
25:38So he started, uh, right off the, the, the gates, um, with a three-year stint in Formula Three.
25:44The first year was difficult because he had to learn and he had to learn a lot and he had
25:48to learn in Italy with a lot of pressure.
25:50Obviously, he was Gilles' son, uh, and I can't believe the amount of pressure that he, he had to carry
25:56and he had to learn at the same time.
25:58So, I mean, he had to manage, uh, those, those considerations and he did very well.
26:02Uh, and then he went off to Japan and he had, um, he had a very good time in Japan.
26:07And then he was, uh, asked to come and do a race here in Canada.
26:12And it was, um, it wasn't supposed to, to be him.
26:15The first invitational that he did in Formula Atlantic in, in Montreal, I think it was 1992.
26:20Um, he had been asked players, was a sponsor and players had asked, um, uh, an agent whose name is
26:26Tom Moser.
26:27And he said, uh, Tom, uh, go and hire Jacques Villeneuve for the Trois-Rivières race.
26:33And, uh, Tom didn't think, uh, thought it, uh, he, they hadn't met my brother.
26:38And so he called my brother, but they had really met my uncle, whose name is the same name.
26:42And my uncle usually was doing that race, but I mean, by mistake, he called my brother.
26:46So my brother came and he did the invitational race.
26:49And I think he came in second in that race and he did incredibly well.
26:53And that opened the door for, uh, players to, um, to propose a deal for him to do one year
26:59in Atlantic and then go directly to Formula Indy.
27:01With a good team, uh, and he did incredibly well.
27:05He, uh, did rookie of the year.
27:07And then, uh, obviously, uh, 1995, he won the Indy 500 and the championship.
27:12So, I mean, the accolades were amazing at that time.
27:14I'm, I'm in New York.
27:16I'm young, uh, you know, I'm at university and I'm just, for me is, is growing up seeing, we're two
27:23years apart.
27:23So when he was starting Formula, Formula three, I was 15, he was 17.
27:27And so I kind of grew up with him doing that and there was no, I always knew he was
27:33going to do that.
27:33Even at a young age, for some reason, he always played with his little, uh, toy, uh, cars when he
27:38was, you know, five, five, six years old, always saw him with cars.
27:42And I kind of always knew that he would be doing that.
27:44Um, and so it was kind of normal.
27:47Uh, and then he was super, super good, which, you know, we were very happy with.
27:51And then he did incredibly well in, uh, in Indy and then he, whoops, everything happens so fast afterwards, you
27:56know?
27:57And so it's as if, if you had planned it, you couldn't have planned it better.
28:01Uh, and sometimes you, you are at the right time doing the right things and you catch the right wave.
28:07And, uh, and I think that Jacques was, was doing all of that and performing incredibly well.
28:12And, uh, and he was driving incredibly well with, uh, a lot of speed and a lot of talent.
28:18And, uh, and so when he went to Williams afterwards, you know, his, I think his first race in Australia,
28:221996, I think he had pole position, uh, Derek, correct me if I'm wrong.
28:28Yeah, you're right.
28:28Uh, he, he, he, so his first race in Formula One, he has pole and he almost won that race.
28:37And, uh, he was actually leading and he was asked to come in the pits for something.
28:41Uh, and he came to the pits and, and at the end of the day, it wasn't necessary for him
28:45to come into the pits.
28:47Uh, and had he not come to the pits, he would have won that race.
28:50And so I think there's only what, Darren, two other drivers in the history of racing that maybe their first
28:56year, their first race, they have pole and win the race.
28:59I think you can count them on, on, on, on the fingers of one hand.
29:02And I don't even think there's five of them.
29:03So, um, so, you know, I see that happening and you, you kind of just floating on the cloud and
29:08you're like, oh my God, this is happening.
29:10This is great.
29:11And, uh, and then you just, you know, had his, had his career.
29:13So we're all very happy, uh, and, uh, that he was doing well and, uh, that he had such a
29:19beautiful career.
29:20Um, but I think that, you know, as far as I'm concerned, growing up, uh, that's what he was supposed
29:26to do.
29:27So, uh, so yeah.
29:31Fascinating.
29:32And I have to say, uh, I'm enjoying this cause I'm learning a lot too about this Tom Moser.
29:37I know him actually, and didn't know that story.
29:40I don't think a lot of people know that about, uh, uh, your uncle being the one that was supposed
29:46to be called.
29:46And it's absolutely fascinating.
29:49Absolutely fascinating.
29:50I've heard a similar story from the Brabham's where David Brabham got a call for the, uh, for, for the
29:56Peugeot in, uh, in Le Mans.
29:58And it was supposed to be, uh, or it was Jeff Brabham.
30:02It was supposed to be David or the other way around.
30:04I forget.
30:05Yeah, that's right.
30:06It was supposed to be David.
30:07So they got the wrong one, but that's a great mistake.
30:10And, um, that happened there.
30:12And, and it's, it was wonderful for me to hear and talk about Jacques too.
30:16Cause growing up, I was a Jacques fan, you know, and, uh, my parents were Gilles fans.
30:22And, um, in growing up in Britain, wearing a Jacques Villeneuve t-shirt, you know, when there was other British
30:28drivers racing against him and stuff.
30:29It was, it was, uh, good memories for me and I met Jacques first time in 1996 in the paddock
30:35as well.
30:36And, uh, and fortunate to know him today as well, quite well.
30:40So, um, was a big fan of his career and nice to see him continue that legacy and, uh, and
30:45to get the world championship for the Villeneuve name that they deserved.
30:49But yeah, some, some great stories there and good facts.
30:53I think, uh, Giancarlo Baguetti, if I might be right, in 1961, perhaps won his first Grand Prix in a
31:00Ferrari.
31:00I might be wrong there, but, um, I think maybe that was the, perhaps the only one or the last
31:06one.
31:07And Jacques definitely would have won if they hadn't have told him to slow down a bit.
31:12Cause, uh, he had some oil issue and, uh, and they let, they let Hill win.
31:17And Jacques was, uh, very happy to finish second.
31:19Okay.
31:20Okay.
31:20Okay.
31:20So, okay.
31:20So he didn't come into the pits.
31:22It was just like a slow, but I would say, okay.
31:23Yeah.
31:23So it's like, yeah, it's a slow down.
31:26Yeah.
31:26You were right.
31:27Yeah.
31:27He would have won had they not told him about the issue.
31:31Right.
31:31So, um, that's definitely something that sticks in a lot of Formula One fans memory as well.
31:37And, uh, and there's a lot of, I think, similar traits to Gilles in the sense of racing and, uh,
31:44from Jacques that a lot of people notice.
31:46And, uh, Jacques certainly wants to be his own man and he very much is.
31:52But, uh, I think when people can notice that, um, you know, like we talked about Max and the, the
31:58bravery and the, and the, the effort and the determination and, and, and Jacques had that, had that trait too.
32:07Perhaps that was, that was in him from Gilles.
32:10I completely agree.
32:12I really, um, love, um, Jacques, um, I, I'm 25, so I couldn't, um, watch, uh, his racing live, but,
32:24uh, um, then I studied, uh, Formula One, uh, even for work.
32:29And, um, um, it's, it's, it's like really, really, um, fascinating, even his style, uh, on track, uh, really, really
32:38colorful, really, really cool.
32:40So, um, I, um, I really love, uh, to read about him, uh, and, and he was, uh, uh, uh,
32:46even, uh, uh, like a journalist for Sky Italy.
32:49So, uh, I know him well in that role because when I started to follow Formula One, he was in,
32:57uh, in Sky Italy with, um, with Sky journalists.
33:01So, uh, I, I knew him at first, uh, like, uh, like a sport journalist and I really admire him.
33:09Very good.
33:10Yes, he was, uh, he was a journalist.
33:12Yeah, you're right.
33:13It's good to see as well Jacques around the paddock and some of the other champions.
33:17Uh, I just came from Mika Hakkinen's place this morning.
33:21Um, we're going to be representing his collection now, which is exciting.
33:25But some of the past legends now, because the sport is so big, I think they're getting more appreciated and
33:33more respect from the young fans and people knowing who they are in Formula One, want them to be around,
33:40which is nice.
33:41You know, you see Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, uh, Mika Hakkinen, uh, most of the races now, you know, you
33:47see them often and whether they're in a TV role or like Jenson Button too.
33:52But, um, that's the nice thing about the popularity of the sport today is it's helping the legacy of those
33:58who came before as well, even back to, back to Gilles, you know?
34:03So it's, um, it's, it's, uh, they've paved the way for these guys today and they're finally seeing some sort
34:12of benefits from it in later years.
34:14Uh, I, uh, tell you, uh, my, my last question, um, if someone who had never heard of Gilles Villeneuve
34:22asking you why more than 40 years later, his name still moves so many people, what would your answer be?
34:32Because he was spectacular.
34:34I think that, uh, that's what I would say.
34:38And, uh, because it would, it would have to deal with his driving.
34:41Obviously he was with Ferrari, um, but he captured the mind of the Tifosi.
34:48He captured the mind of not just in Italy, but everywhere.
34:52Uh, and he became, I think, uh, he became the superstar of, of Formula One.
34:58And I think, uh, people admired the fact that he remained, uh, humble in a way and accessible, but, but
35:07above all, I think he was spectacular to watch.
35:10And I think that's what, if I had one word, maybe that would be, that would be it.
35:16And, uh, what do you think, Darren?
35:18Yeah.
35:19I mean, I can't really add onto that because it's, you'd summarized it well, but, um, it's, it's almost hard
35:26for it to put it into words.
35:27I think, you know, if you ask somebody that you don't even need to, you maybe even put your hand
35:32over your ears and you just look at their face because their face probably says everything.
35:38And they probably grasp for words and try to come up with an explanation themselves.
35:44Melanie's probably been asked many times and, and, and knows, knows the answer quite well.
35:50But for a lot of people, I think for myself, it's just hard to put into words.
35:55So you, you're left with like, what is it, you know, and maybe that is part of the allure as
36:01well as what is it we, we, uh, there's, there's many answers and it all needs to come from the,
36:08uh, the hearts of the person.
36:10I think, and, um, how special, uh, he was and how special he was on track and off.
36:17So yeah.
36:18Um, there it's impossible to define him with just one, uh, one word.
36:23Yeah.
36:24Um, yeah, I think it's, it's really, his, his story is, is, is, is amazing.
36:31He's, um, his bravery, his courage, uh, his skills on track.
36:36So, um, I really admire him.
36:39Thank you.
36:39Thank you both for, for your time and to, to talk with me, to, with Al, with Al, with Al
36:45Sprint about, uh, his story, this, this helmet, the story of this helmet.
36:50So, um, it was really a pleasure to me to talk to you.
36:55It was a pleasure.
36:56It was good to meet you.
36:57It was good to see you, Darren.
36:59Good to see you, Melanie.
37:00Thanks again.
37:02Grazie mille.
37:03For sure.
37:04For sure.
37:05Take care.
37:06Have a good day.
37:06Have a good evening.
37:08Thank you.
37:08Thank you so much.
37:10Grazie mille.
37:11Thank you.
37:12Bye.
37:12Bye.
37:12Bye.
37:13Ciao.