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On the occasion of the second French Grand Prix at Le Castellet, we continue our series dedicated to French personalities in the world of Formula 1. In the paddock of the Paul Ricard circuit, we met Julien Simon-Chautemps, the current track engineer for the Alfa Romeo team working with Kimi Raikkonen.
With over ten years of experience in Formula 1, Julien Simon-Chautemps has become a respected figure in the paddock, having supported drivers such as Robert Kubica, Jolyon Palmer, Romain Grosjean, Marcus Ericsson, and, more recently, Kimi Raikkonen. Since the start of the season, he has been working alongside the Finnish veteran, with both aiming to improve Alfa Romeo's performance. What do you do for Alfa Romeo? “I am Kimi Raikkonen's track engineer. I have been working for the Alfa Romeo/Sauber team for three years, initially with Marcus Ericsson. A track engineer is the sole point of contact for a car; I'm the only person allowed to talk to the driver during a session. At 300 km/h, you don't want to hear a chorus of voices, you need a clear message. My job is to get the maximum speed out of the car. I coordinate a small team—about five or six engineers responsible for performance, aerodynamics, powertrain, tires, etc.—and a team of six or seven mechanics. I distribute task lists, collect feedback while the car is on the track, filter that information, and pass on the relevant details to Kimi. After the weekend, I spend a day or two analyzing the race and a few days preparing for the next one. What is a Grand Prix weekend like for you? For the European races, we usually arrive on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning is spent in meetings about tires, strategy, etc. – a fairly routine program. We give the setup sheet to the mechanics, take the car to the FIA garage for inspection, and then have Kimi get in to check the pedals, seatbelt, and everything else. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we have briefings before and after the sessions, right up until the race on Sunday.” What is your work at the factory like? “Once back at base, I focus on analyzing the weekend's data and turning it into actionable feedback for the design and performance teams. It's essential that the factory understands where we need to improve to gain speed. I'm still a track engineer at heart: I've done this my whole career and I prefer to be at the circuits. ” What training prepared you for this position? “I studied at IPSA in Paris, a five-year engineering program specializing in aeronautics and aerospace. During my studies, I completed several internships, each lasting two to six months.”
And after you graduated? “My first job was at Prema in Formula Renault, where I worked with drivers such as Kamui Kobayashi and Robert Kubica. I then moved on to F3 and GP2, where I started meeting people from Formula 1. In 2007, I joined Toyota as Jarno Trulli's performance engineer. When Toyota withdrew from the sport, I spent a year at Caterham, six years at Renault, and now I work at Alfa Romeo.” Why Formula 1? “It's been a dream of mine since I was a child. My father took me to the Monaco Grand Prix when I was just over ten years old, and I've been hooked ever since. I love the technical challenges, the adrenaline rush of race weekends, and the pressure that comes with it. When I'm at work, it never feels like work: it's a passion, and you have to be prepared to make sacrifices to stay in this world.”
What are your most memorable moments? “The first victory with Kimi in Abu Dhabi in 2012, when he was driving for Lotus, is unforgettable. I would also highlight the podium with Romain Grosjean at Spa in 2015. We had to deal with a lot of problems off the track, and even bailiffs waiting for us after the race, so that result meant a lot.”
Are the drivers very different from each other? “Every driver is unique, so you have to adapt each time. Kimi has an extraordinary feel for the car and could almost be a track engineer himself. Marcus was a hard-working driver who asked for a lot of data over the radio. Grosjean's personality was completely different. There are no “bad” drivers in F1; some are just more competitive than others, but all are talented. The key is to establish a strong relationship. I spend more time with my driver than with my own family, so the first contact is crucial. Once trust is established, we often understand each other without needing to talk. I stay in touch with most of the drivers I've worked with. Marcus and I talk every two weeks, and I still get on well with Romain and Jolyon Palmer, which is a good sign of lasting relationships. What does the French Grand Prix mean to you? I'm delighted to be here, especially as I'm from the region. I was born in Saint-Raphaël, so having my family nearby makes this experience even more special. It's essential for France to host an international event like this. Seeing the sea of French flags in the stands last year was magical, a real display of national pride. France is well represented in Formula 1, both on the starting grid and in positions of responsibility. Your wife recently launched an auction of Formula 1 memorabilia, which is quite rare in this environment. Can you tell us about it? My wife wanted to support our children's school in England, but she didn't have the funds to buy computer equipment. So she came up with the idea of organizing an auction. I contacted my contacts to get souvenirs and collectibles, and it worked out well. We raised about £5,000, which went directly to the children. It was a great success.
Other profiles:
Other Frenchmen in Formula 1: Pierre Guyonnet-Dupérat
Other French Formula 1 drivers: Lionel Froissart
<a href="/f1//f1/news/22787-autres-pilotes-francs-en-formule-1-lionel-froissart.html/news/22736-Other-French-drivers-in-Formula-1-Magali-Bernard.html" target="blank” title=””>Other French drivers in Formula 1: Magali Bernard <a href="/f1//f1/news/22787-autres-français-en-formule-1-lionel-froissart.html/news/22763-Other-French-drivers-in-Formula-1-Florent-Gooden.html" target="blank” title=””>Other French drivers in Formula 1: Florent Gooden
Other French drivers in Formula 1: Marine Deloffre
