Teammate interview - Lotus ART / Bianchi / Gutierrez

What did you know about your teammate before this season?
Jules: I knew him from Formula 3 in 2009. So it was not really new for me to be with him. I know he is very quick and a bit younger than me, but I knew it would be a bit tough for me to have him in the same team this year.
Esteban: We know each other since 2009. He has more experience and for me it is a pleasure to be his teammate because it’s good to have him as a reference because he is quick. I hope I can learn a lot from him.

What are each other’s strong points?
Jules: On track he is very quick especially in the slow corners. I can learn a lot from him. It helps me to improve even if it’s his first season, he is a good reference.
Esteban: Jules is very quick on one lap. Basically, it is a very important point with the Pirelli tyres. Plus, Jules is very consistent. He has a good pace.

Any weaknesses?
Jules: It’s difficult to say you know... I don’t know.
Esteban: My experience probably.
Jules: Yes, probably.
Esteban: Sometimes, Jules may be pushing a bit too much.
(Both laugh)

Who is always the last one to get to the track?
Esteban: Me.
Jules: Yes, I win that one easily.
(Both laugh)
Jules: This morning, we said we would leave at 9:30 and at 9:50 I was still waiting for him.
Esteban: I like to take my time...

Who is the wildest one on and off the track?
Esteban: I have to say... No Jules, you have to say it yourself!
Jules: Do you mean I am the wildest?
(Both laugh)
Jules: Okay, maybe me...
Esteban: I am the wildest off the track, but I cannot tell you why!

Who is the most successful with the ladies?
Jules: I think it’s me.
Esteban: Yes, I think it’s Jules... Anyway, we don’t know because I have a girlfriend and he doesn’t.
Jules: It’s been a tough year for me (Laughs)!

Are you superstitious?
Jules: Yes. I always use the same underwear during a meeting.
Esteban: Really?!
Jules: Yeah, it’s over there, you can see it. It’s the blue thing. But they don’t seem to be working that well this weekend. I should change them (Laughs)! I started doing that in Formula 3. It seemed to be working pretty well back them. This year, not so much!
(Both laugh)
Esteban: I don’t have that type of superstition.

Who will have the best car in ten years time?
Jules: It depends on our career of course...

Who will have the most beautiful wife in ten years time?
(After the longest pause ever...)
Jules:... Me?
(Both laugh)
Esteban: For me, whoever I marry will always be beautiful.

What word would you use to describe your teammate?
Esteban: Aggressive, but in a good way.
Jules: Calm. He looks calm.

Who has the best fashion sense?
Jules: It’s difficult to say.
Esteban: We don’t really see each other outside the track.
Jules: I have to wear Puma stuff all the time... (Pause) And they are really, really great stuffs I should add! (Laughs)
Esteban: I like wearing nice clothes, but I don’t like shopping. Yes, I need a sponsor!

Who is the shyest?
Jules: Maybe me.
Esteban: Why?
Jules: When I meet people for the first time, I’m not comfortable.
Esteban: I’m a little bit, but not too bad.

Who is your favourite sportsman?
Jules: Schumacher. He is the best. That’s it.
Esteban: For me, it’s hard to say. I think it’s Robert Kubica.

Who tells the most jokes?
(Esteban’s engineer Gaetan Jego enters the room)
Jules: Gaetan is the best to answer.
Gaetan: I probably tell the lamest jokes. Jules makes a lot of practical jokes to our truckie.
Esteban: We cannot mention these jokes though.
Jules: It’s a secret!
Esteban: To be honest, they always to the jokes in French.
Jules: Yes, it’s true that for me it’s a lot easier. It’s a French team.

Jules, if you were to invite Esteban for dinner, what would you cook?
Jules: Fajitas! You like then?
Esteban: Yes.
Jules: Then I would do that? I improved my cooking skills from last year (Laughs). I’d buy Old el paso and voila!
Esteban: I would cook you very difficult pasta (Laughs). Honestly when I go to a restaurant and I see snails I think about the French. So if you cook fajitas to me, I will cook snails for you.
Jules: No! I would not eat that!
(Both Laugh)

Who has the most contacts in their phone?
Jules: I have more girls so... (Laughs)
Esteban: 296. We can compare the BBM?
Jules: I don’t know... BBM, I have 87
Esteban: 151. I win!

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