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As the French Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard circuit (June 21-23) approaches, continue to follow our series dedicated to French personalities in the world of Formula 1. In our latest interview, FanF1 talks to Pierre Guyonnet-Dupérat, the race's press officer, who brings his extensive FIA experience gained from working closely with its president, Jean Todt.
Just five years after making his debut in the world of motorsports, Pierre Guyonnet-Dupérat already has a career that resembles an intensive course in F1 communications. After a notable stint at the FIA, where he worked closely with President Jean Todt, the 29-year-old Frenchman joined the French Grand Prix organization in March, still driven by the two principles that have guided him since his debut: a relentless pursuit of excellence and a sincere love for his work.
What does he do at the French Grand Prix? “I am the press officer for the French Formula 1 Grand Prix,” explains Pierre. “I handle most of the communications tasks related to the event.”
And before that, his time at the FIA? He started at the FIA in January 2015 with a six-month end-of-studies internship in the digital department. This position quickly became permanent and he soon became head of the department, overseeing the FIA website, social media, apps, and overall digital strategy. One of his first projects was the launch of the FIA's Instagram account.
In June 2016, he joined the office of FIA President Jean Todt as project manager and press coordinator. For a year and a half, he traveled with Mr. Todt, liaising between the president and the communications team as well as all other FIA divisions on issues the president wished to address.
August 2017 brought him a new challenge: the newly created position of Deputy Media Director for Formula 1. In this role, he organized press conferences, managed media relations for Grand Prix events, coordinated journalists, the media center, and teams, and handled all FIA communications related to Formula 1. “Working with Jean Todt taught me a lot, both professionally and personally,” explains Pierre. “His work ethic is extraordinary, and those 15 months allowed me to build a network among the key players in the sport and to clearly understand how everything fits together.” Education His career path is unusual. He holds a technical degree in marketing and a master's degree in entrepreneurship and strategic innovation, studies he chose with the aim of starting his own business. A spontaneous application led to him landing the internship at the FIA, but his fascination with motorsport was already there. Why motorsport, and why F1? “My passion began with rallying and historic cars, thanks to my father, a rally-raid driver who competed in the Paris-Dakar several times,” he says. “I also spent a lot of time with Clay Regazzoni, a former Ferrari driver and close friend of my father's, which allowed me to discover Formula 1 at a very early age. “For Pierre, the DNA of the sport—excellence, quick decision-making, rigor, and pushing the limits—reflects the teamwork required to lead a driver and a car to victory, a mindset he now applies to the organization of the French Grand Prix.
Entering the sport “People often think that Formula 1 is a closed world, but there are many bridges,” he notes. “Beyond the engineers, there are the sponsors, the promoters, the FIA, and the teams. You just have to be bold and reach out.”
France's place in F1 “Today, France is well represented,” says Pierre. “The first Grand Prix took place here, the acronym FIA is French, its presidency is French, and we now have the French Grand Prix back on the calendar, an all-French team, French managers, and French drivers.” Even if there is no coordinated national agenda, the enthusiasm for motorsports is undeniable, he adds. “We had a ten-year hiatus without a Grand Prix, but it's back, and that was the missing link. The passion has been alive for over 110 years, and last year's success at Le Castellet proves it. The French Grand Prix is secured for five years, and we hope to extend it for another decade.”
When asked to choose a single memory from his Formula 1 career, Pierre pauses, his eyes reflecting the countless moments that shaped his rapid rise in the sport. When asked which race he will never forget, his answer is not about a podium finish or a thrilling duel on the track. It is the memory of the Mexican Grand Prix, the weekend when he managed to bring his wife, who was far removed from the roar of engines, into the heart of Formula 1. He took her to the paddock, introduced her to the drivers, and showed her how the sport works from the inside, transforming a professional commitment into a shared family experience. Off the track, his enthusiasm is just as intense, even if it takes a different form. He describes his work as a “small contribution to a common goal,” whether it's developing policies at the FIA or, currently, fine-tuning the French Grand Prix for the next edition. He spends his days liaising with teams, striving to make each race better than the last, always with an eye to the future. When he takes off his helmet, his love of cinema catches up with him—if only he could find the time. Even with a busy schedule, he finds time to watch a movie whenever he can, remembering that the stories on screen are a welcome counterpoint to the high-speed drama of the track. Other French voices in the sport include Lionel Froissart, Magali Bernard, Florent Gooden, and Marine Deloffre.
