Marc Gene: witnessing five World Champions at Ferrari

F1: Beyond The Grid

karenellenbevan

Leisure, Sports, Technology, Automotive

4.8 • 5.2K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ferrari ambassador and former test driver Marc Gene has been with the team since 2004.

During that time, Marc has had the privilege of working alongside five World Champions: Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and now, Lewis Hamilton.

Do they all have a common trait that makes them so successful? What’s the difference between one-time and multiple World Champions? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Marc shares stories from his years working with each of those legends.

The Spaniard also talks about his own racing career in F1, which started with Minardi in 1999, why he loved testing Formula 1 cars for Williams and Ferrari, winning Le Mans in 2009, and much more.

It’s All To Drive For. Be there!
Book your seat at a 2025 Grand Prix – tickets.formula1.com

Transcript

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0:00.0	I've always been ambitious and in teaching I've found plenty of opportunities to progress.
0:05.0	As head of English, I now get to support all of the teachers in my department.
0:09.4	They often learn from my advice, though actually I often learn from theirs.
0:13.4	The support and development we all get from each other is amazing.
0:16.5	It benefits not just us, but every student we teach.
0:19.8	How many of the professions can say that?
0:22.4	Every lesson shapes a life. Start shaping yours with a minimum starting salary of £31,000.
0:28.4	Search get into teaching.
0:32.9	Michael Schumacher, Kimmy Reichen and Fernando Alonzo, Sebastian Vettel, and now Lewis Hamilton.
0:40.5	Having been part of the Ferrari furniture for more than 20 years as a test driver and an ambassador,
0:47.4	Mark Jene has worked with Summer Formula One's greatest drivers.
0:51.8	I think I've made the most of my career.
0:57.2	I don't have the talent of Leclerc or Hamilton.
0:58.5	I'm a very good driver.
1:04.1	I've won Le Moe, and probably on my best year, I was in the top 15, 12, probably drivers in the Formula One.
1:05.2	But because I've been able to compare myself to these great drivers, I am humble enough
1:09.8	to know certain drivers are better.
1:15.6	What makes the difference from the multiple world champions from these great drivers is the fact that they work as if they have no talent.
1:23.6	And I think that what makes, for example, Michael very special. He was on a holiday, for example.
1:27.6	I was testing somewhere.
1:28.7	At the end of the day, he would call me.
1:30.0	He would never disconnect.
	...

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