Interview with Bertrand Baguette

In his third year in the category, the unassuming 23-year-old Belgian accountancy graduate enjoys a 31-point lead in the series, and can clinch the title at this weekend's penultimate round at the Nurburgring.

Bertrand took a break from his preparations to talk to AUTOSPORT about his prospects for the weekend and his plans for 2010.

Q. I understand that you were in attendance at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. Did you have any productive talks about a drive for next season?

Bertrand Baguette: Yes, absolutely. We were invited there by Renault to visit the Renault F1 team. I think there that there were eight of us [drivers] from the [Formula Renault 3.5] championship, and it was very interesting. I would say that we have three very good contacts, but now we have to work to make it come true.

Q. There was a photo of you talking to Manor Motorsport/Grand Prix's John Booth in the paddock, is that one of the avenues that you're pursuing?

BB: We spoke to him, but I am speaking to several teams, both incoming teams and ones that are already in F1. We have a lot of proposals, really, and now we are trying to find a way to go there.

Q: With Vitantonio Liuzzi's promotion to a race seat, is there a chance Force India might require a new test driver?

BB: Of course, of course, it's an opportunity. There are a lot of things to try, many possibilities that we are working on. It's not easy, right now we need funds and that's what we are trying to find. [Draco team boss] Adriano Morini has put a team of very good people around me, and I am sure that they will be able to find something good for me.

Q. Moving away from F1, I am sure that a more pressing matter for you is the Formula Renault 3.5 race at the Nurburgring this weekend. A 31-point advantage means that it's feasible to wrap up the drivers' championship ahead of the Motorland finale on October 24-25, what are your thoughts?

BB: Winning the title is the main target now, because if I don't win the championship then there's no point talking about F1. I have a 31 point lead on [P1 Motorsport's James] Walker, so even if this weekend turns out to be a disaster I will still be leading the championship. Obviously, I don't want it to be a disaster. The problem is the last race will be at Motorland Aragon, and nobody knows that circuit. So, I would much prefer it if I could already seal the championship at Nurburgring, that would be very good.

Q. Have you worked out all of the maths and where you need to finish in relation to James to achieve that, or will your approach be similar to previous races, where you can afford to be a little bit more careful?

BB: Well, I will not fix all of my attention on getting one [particular] result. We will just try to do our best and see where we are. I have to drive like in the last race at Portimao, and avoid taking any risks or crashing. That was already my approach at Portimao, where I didn't try to pass Jon [Lancaster, for the win]. I was quicker than him, but I preferred to stay behind and take the points for second, rather than try a move and finish my race in the gravel.

Q. It is a very different scenario compared to the last time you were involved in a title fight, for the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup in 2006. That was very closely contested between four drivers in the final round (the others being current A1GP Portugal racer Filipe Albuquerque, reigning Japanese F3 champion Carlo van Dam and 2008 Formula Master champion Chris van der Drift). Is there anything that you can take from that experience?

BB: Before the second, and last, race in Barcelona that year there were four drivers separated by four points, and I was the fourth one. So, I had to push to be ahead of the others. Here it is completely different, 31 points is quite a big advantage. It is just a case of trying to avoid leaving Germany with a score of nil, if I pick up points I think it will be okay.

Q: Things have changed dramatically in the standings over the last couple of races. Marcos Martinez has had four non-scores after a big points lead at the start of the season, and there has been fire at Walker's P1 Motorsport team. Do you feel that they have run out of time to stage a comeback now?

BB: The fire was a very bad thing, that's not really the way I would like to fight or beat someone. I spoke to James on Thursday, and he told me that everything would be okay for them. They have found a new building, and they are building new cars supplied from Renault. The only problem for him is that they have lost everything, including all of their data, so it might be quite hard for him. They might have some problems from that point of view, but I believe they are still strong enough to fight for the championship.

Q: Given your form from other rounds this year, how competitive are you expecting to be at Nurburgring and Motorland?

BB: The Nurburgring is not a circuit I like that much, but it won't be a problem, I should be quick anyway. The main thing is that we have a very good set-up now. We've showed at Le Mans, and at Portimao, that we have a good understanding of the car. However, we have had a break of a month and half since the last race, and someone like [Jaime] Alguersuari has competed in three Formula 1 races in that time, so I expect him to be strong. I have done a lot of training in Italy with [Formula Medicine's] Dr Ceccarelli and drove some Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula 3 in preparation, but nothing special. Anyway, I think I can fight with him for first place and I will try to beat him.

Q. Draco has come extremely close to winning Formula Renault 3.5 before with Markus Winkelhock and Pastor Maldonado. They could, perhaps, have been accused of throwing away the title with accidents. What advice, if any, have you had from the Morinis?

BB: Definitely, above all else, to keep calm. They tell me to take points at every race, and that consistency is extremely important. But, to be honest, that's already my way of thinking.

Q: Can you briefly describe the journey you have taken from catching the motor racing bug to being on the verge of a prize Renault Formula 1 test?

BB: Well, since I was four years old I have been going to race circuits with my father, he was big fan of motorsport, but he never raced, just looking. One day, when I was 14, I decided I would really like to try karting, so we went out and bought our first kart and raced in the Belgian championship. I loved it, and after four years I became Belgian champion, and I also won one European race.

Because of that I got a test from Renault Belgium. They were taking 30 promising Belgian drivers to test and evaluate for a prize drive in Belgian Formula Renault 1600. I won that test, and that's how I began single-seater car racing. My father took a risk and it's thanks to support from Renault Belgium and RACB, the Belgian federation, that I am here. Without that invitation I would probably still be karting now.