It was about to be a busy few weeks for James Hinchcliffe. Once we met in Austin, he was simply beginning off a triple-header, having joined the F1 TV staff for the sequence’ North American swing. In between filming spots, he roamed the paddock choosing up info he may put to good use, then picked up a microphone the second any on-track motion — apply, qualifying, the race — wrapped up. When the automobiles have been off the observe, Hinch (as he’s typically referred to as) was on.
He’s gone from racing IndyCars to analyzing F1 drivers, however his profession path was extra of a avenue circuit than a straightaway. Eleven years in IndyCar (from 2011 to 2021) means Hinchcliffe is aware of what it’s prefer to battle for place on observe. However even earlier than he made it into America’s top-tier open-wheel sequence, he had dipped a toe into broadcasting — solely to return again when he hung up his helmet from being full-time driver. After spending a few years as an analyst for IndyCar and IMSA on NBC Sports activities, Hinchcliffe obtained a name from F1 TV.
“Coming right here, I did really feel slightly little bit of imposter syndrome,” he remembers. “I’ve by no means raced the automobiles, I have not been on many of the tracks.”
As System 1 expands in North America, so has Hinchcliffe’s presence on F1 TV subscriber’s screens: from masking three races in 2022 to eight races this 12 months.
Regardless of the hectic schedule, the gracious 37-year-old Canadian talked to Motorsport.com about drilling Alex Palou for F1 info, hanging out together with his childhood hero, and why IndyCar deserves extra respect from the FIA.
How did you get into F1?
My love for F1 began as a child. My dad was an enormous fan. Rising up in Canada, most younger youngsters, their dads love hockey they usually develop up loving hockey. [But] my dad wasn’t Canadian, he was British. And he liked motorsports. So I simply grew up with this enormous ardour for racing.
My earliest recollections of life, truthfully, are sitting watching races with Dad — on Sunday mornings, System 1, and Sunday afternoons, IndyCar. And going to the IndyCar race in Toronto. So, actually way back to I can bear in mind, I have been a fan of the game. And I actually began following and listening to F1 in ’96, when Jacques Villeneuve moved over from IndyCar and we had a Canadian to cheer for. In order that’s form of once I obtained diehard into F1.
How’s your relationship with Jacques Villeneuve? You in all probability see him frequently now right here within the F1 paddock.
It is nice. We have turn into good buddies, really. It is such a bizarre factor to suppose. I used to ship my 20 bucks a month to Switzerland for his fan membership and get the publication once I was a child. And now we’re colleagues, and we do some occasions collectively and stuff like that. So it is form of loopy that it is come full circle like that.
That should virtually really feel fairly surreal.
Yeah, it’s. My dad handed away a couple of years in the past, and Jacques invited me out to this occasion at a racetrack that he is a associate in, out in Western Canada, earlier this 12 months. And I will always remember: my telephone rang and it was this Italian quantity that I did not recognise. I answered the telephone name and it is, “Hey James, it is Jacques.” And he invitations me to this factor. I simply wished so badly in that second to have the ability to name my dad and be like: “Dude, you are by no means going to imagine what simply occurred!” Simply such a cool second.
James Hinchcliffe speaking to Kevin Magnussen on the Singapore GP
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Photos
Is it true that you just had the thought of turning into a motorsport journalist, when your profession as an expert racing driver would not have labored out?
Yeah. Properly, once more, I used to be younger and an enormous fan of racing. And my dad and I have been subscribed to Autosport journal, which, as you realize, is a weekly, however printed within the UK. By the point it obtained to Canada, it was already three weeks, typically 4 weeks, previous. It even typically got here in batches of two or three at a time. So that they have been weeks previous. However I did not care. I learn the whole factor, cowl to cowl, each single week. I imply, I may inform you what was occurring in British System Ford 1600 or in Ginetta Juniors. I knew all the pieces that was occurring, as a result of I learn the entire journal.
Once I first obtained into racing and first began karting, I truthfully did not begin considering I had any probability of a profession in motorsports as a driver. As a result of even at 9 years previous, I am like, That is not an actual job. Like, nobody really will get to do this. And in order that was how I figured that [becoming a motorsport journalist] was essentially the most enjoyable approach for me to nonetheless be concerned in racing. As a result of I liked studying these magazines, I liked watching racing and speaking about racing. So I figured, alright, let’s go into journalism after which I can observe across the racing world and nonetheless be a part of it.
Fortunately, the driving force factor labored out. However this was type of a enjoyable fallback plan.
You already did some TV work fairly early in your racing profession, really. How did that come about?
That took place by chance, which is form of humorous. I used to be racing in a sequence referred to as the Atlantic Championship, which was one beneath Champ Automotive on the time, when IndyCar was nonetheless cut up in North America. And so they had the home feed, which was the one that everyone noticed right here within the States or in Canada. However then there was a world feed that was picked up by a couple of international locations. It was very a lot a small separate a part of the published. It did not have a giant finances. It wasn’t actually the revered a part of the present.
The man that did commentary for it was a gentleman by the title of Jeremy Shaw. And he did it by himself. So he would simply ask individuals within the paddock to return up and spend 10 minutes with him in the course of the race, simply to form of break it up and have somebody to speak to. I had identified Jeremy for a couple of years. After my race one weekend he stated: “Hey, do you wish to come up for the beginning of the Champ Automotive race?”’ I stated, positive. So I did my race, obtained modified, went as much as the sales space and placed on a headset. The producer got here on and stated: “We’re reside to 170 international locations, do not swear.” And the published began.
On the first industrial break, Jeremy checked out me and he goes, “Do you wish to keep for an additional section?” So I stated, “Yeah, I will keep for an additional one.” On the finish of that section, he took off his headset and stated: “Do you wish to simply keep for the race?” So I stayed for the remainder of the race.
And on the finish of the race, he took his headset off and stated, “What are you doing subsequent week?” And so for the remainder of the season, I might end my race on Sunday morning, get modified, run as much as the sales space, and do the worldwide broadcast for Champ Automotive. Fully untrained, fully undeserving, and one way or the other I fell into this function. However it was what made me actually have a ardour for the tv facet of the game, and gave me that long-term purpose for as soon as I finished driving.
So then in the direction of the top of your IndyCar profession, you picked that up once more, working for TV as an analyst. How did that occur?
Properly, in all honesty, I used to be approached by NBC a couple of years earlier than that. They form of stated: “Hey look, you have obtained nevertheless a few years left driving, however once you’re completed, tell us. We would have an interest to speak to you about that.” As a result of I might made it identified that was one thing I wished to pursue afterwards.
So in 2020, I had a partial season and reached out to NBC and stated: “Hey, I am solely racing among the races this 12 months. Would you like me for the remainder of them?” They stated: “Yeah, completely.” So that they had me be a pit reporter for these races.
Then I used to be full-time racing once more the next 12 months. However now I had my foot within the door and I had seen the way it all labored and met the individuals. So once I determined to cease [full-time racing] on the finish of ’21, one of many first telephone calls I made was to the boss at NBC. I simply stated: “Hey, that is what I am considering of doing. Do you wish to discuss subsequent 12 months?” He threw down a three-year contract, and stated: “It is yours in order for you it.”
That will need to have been a busy time, in 2020, once you have been racing and doing media work.
I imply, 2020 was a weird 12 months although, proper? With COVID and the way in which the race weekends labored out. Every part began late and was type of unfold out. So it was bizarre doing the primary couple of races as a driver after which displaying as much as the following one with a mic pack and a headset — after which the following one, be again within the seat. That was a bit weird. However yeah, it is all a part of the game.
James Hinchcliffe in Austin
Photograph by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Photos
So that you have been competing in opposition to drivers, however you have been additionally interviewing them. What was that like?
It was powerful, I will not lie. It undoubtedly turned a lot simpler as soon as I had absolutely stepped again. However you realize, you have to be skilled. And on the identical time, I knew that in a approach I used to be type of auditioning for my subsequent profession. So I had to verify I did a great job and did not bury myself earlier than I obtained the prospect.
How did you find yourself at F1 TV?
I assume F1 TV was searching for somebody from the North American continent. And Ben [Edwards, British commentator] stated: “Properly, hey, I used to work with this man Hinch, and I believe he is doing TV now. He is not racing anymore. Perhaps we should always give him a name.” In order that’s form of the way it began. We did a three-race deal that first 12 months, six races final 12 months, and eight races this 12 months. It is going nicely.
How do you look again on these first experiences of working in System 1?
It has been superior. It is a actually, actually nice group of people who they have on the F1 TV facet. They’ve made me really feel very welcome.
It is a very completely different problem than IndyCar as a result of that is a world that I’ve lived and breathed for the final fifteen years. I do know the individuals, I do know the automobiles, I do know the tracks. It is way more easy. Coming right here, I did really feel slightly little bit of imposter syndrome. I’ve by no means raced the automobiles, I have not been on many of the tracks, I do not know wherever close to as many individuals. However the group did an incredible job of constructing me really feel welcome, introducing me to plenty of individuals, so I in a short time felt at residence.
I really like the format of what they do right here. Being a streaming service, in a way, versus a community tv broadcast on the IndyCar facet, it is a very completely different program in numerous methods. As somebody that is new to TV, it is form of enjoyable to expertise all of the completely different components that you would be able to have.
The European viewers in all probability expects to see former System 1 drivers on this analyst function. Had been you assured that you may add one thing to the published?
It is a passionate fan base, so I used to be slightly fearful that they would not take to an outsider, so to talk, coming in.However truthfully, I realized quite a bit from Jolyon Palmer. I started working alongside him at my first few rounds.
And I used to be very fortunate that the very first race I did was Austin, two years in the past. Alex Palou was doing FP1 for McLaren. I clearly know him very nicely from the IndyCar facet. I warned him forward of time, I stated: “As quickly as you get out of that automobile, I’m going to be at your step simply drilling you with questions. I have to know all the pieces.” As a result of he was the simplest man for me to get to. So I leaned closely on him, and on Jolyon.
What I got here to study was actually, on the finish of the day, 95 per cent of the racing is identical. The ideas are the identical, the challenges are the identical. There’s the intricacies of the automobile or possibly the observe, that is the 5 per cent that I can form of… I haven’t got to have an intimate data to nonetheless be capable to add one thing to the published. So I used to be undoubtedly nervous the primary couple of instances, however I believe it is come off okay and I’ve settled into the function properly.
While you have been racing within the U.S. and have been requested about System 1, you all the time stated your focus was in your U.S. racing profession. Had been you ever near a System 1 alternative?
Sure and no. I used to be near a European alternative, which places you on the observe to F1. However even at that degree… You know the way arduous it’s. So I would not say I used to be near an F1 alternative.
However again once I was 17 or 18, I had raced the System BMW Championship in North America. And I had finished fairly nicely. I gained the Rookie of the Yr championship and BMW supplied me a trip within the UK Sequence, which on the time was form of their highest degree sequence. Nico Rosberg got here by way of System BMW, Sebastian Vettel got here by way of System BMW, Nico Hulkenberg got here by way of System BMW. So it was at that time the place my dad and mom and I needed to decide: was I going to go transfer to Europe at 18 and attempt to pursue one thing over there? Or keep within the States and proceed what we had began constructing right here?
And in the end, schooling was nonetheless essential to my dad and mom. System BMW was nonetheless very low on the racing hierarchy. It was nonetheless an extended shot to have a profession in it. They weren’t fairly comfy with me abandoning my research and shifting throughout the pond to pursue a pie-in-the-sky dream, let’s be actual. So we determined to remain right here, and I am very, very glad for that call.
That was form of the one and solely time I ever contemplated it. Even as soon as I obtained to IndyCar, it was by no means actually a consideration. I used to be very pleased doing what I used to be doing there.
Properly, Viaplay F1 analyst Tom Kristensen just lately did an F1 check with McLaren. So possibly there’s nonetheless an opportunity so that you can get a chance to drive a System 1 automobile?
It has been talked about. I am working very arduous at attempting to arrange a check in some unspecified time in the future, simply so I can say I’ve pushed it!
“I believe it is nice for each if extra younger IndyCar drivers have a real alternative to return show themselves in F1.”
How would you evaluate the extent of driving in IndyCar to System 1 these days?
I believe each sequence are completely brimming with expertise in the meanwhile. It looks as if yearly you hear somebody say: “Oh, that is essentially the most aggressive driver lineup we have had in a very long time.”
I believe the automobiles problem you in very other ways. In System 1, clearly the velocity, the downforce, the cornering talents of those automobiles, the braking talents of those automobiles, are a lot greater than in IndyCar.
However with out energy steering, IndyCar is much more bodily in sure components. In F1, when you’re within the race, it is quite a bit about tyre administration, and you are not essentially driving to your or the automobile’s max capabilities, as a result of you might want to maintain the tyres [alive]. Whereas in IndyCar, the way in which the tyres are constructed, you possibly can form of do qualifying laps all race in some occasions.
With the extent of expertise in every sequence, you need to be simply so tuned in to that automobile on that day, no matter which sequence you are in, if you are going to be in rivalry for a win.
For the F1 tremendous license factors system, IndyCar at present will get much less factors than System 2. What do you make of that?
I believe I am within the majority of individuals that do not suppose that is proper. As that got here to gentle a couple of years in the past with the entire Colton Herta state of affairs, I believe lots of people realised that there was a flaw within the tremendous license factors system. In case you take a look at the extent of competitors in IndyCar and what it takes to be a race winner or a champion at that degree, it appears a bit misguided that it isn’t ranked slightly bit greater than it’s.
Look, all the pieces’s open for change. This technique’s comparatively new, and hopefully sooner or later it may be altered, as a result of I believe it will be nice for each championships to have extra drivers going every approach. We definitely have had some F1 drivers coming to the IndyCar facet. However I believe it is nice for each if extra younger IndyCar drivers have a real alternative to return show themselves in F1.
Speaking in regards to the future, what does your personal future appear to be?
We’ll see. I assumed getting out of driving and entering into TV could be slightly bit extra secure. Evidently that is not the case! Media is simply as fickle as driving is!
IndyCar’s broadcast deal is switching companions for subsequent 12 months and I am nonetheless ready to listen to if there’s a chance there for me on the IndyCar facet. I am already having some nice conversations with all people at F1 TV about working extra on this facet of issues, which is nice — so, enthusiastic about that.
I am nonetheless doing slightly little bit of driving in sports activities automobiles, within the IMSA championship. Hoping to perform a little bit extra of that subsequent 12 months. So if I can have a fairly comparable program subsequent 12 months to that I’ve had this 12 months — little bit of IndyCar, little bit of F1, little bit of IMSA — I might be a cheerful man.
