Purple Bull Junior Programme’s future director Gwen Lagrue, very similar to Helmut Marko, has constructed a fame through the years for figuring out and creating quite a few promising abilities who later established themselves in Components 1. However who’re they, and what number of drivers has he helped on their technique to the highest?
Whereas Helmut Marko helped form a technology of drivers who went on to develop into a few of Components 1’s greatest stars, most notably Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, Lagrue may boast a formidable observe file of his personal. He’ll successfully take over the Austrian’s position in figuring out and creating the subsequent technology of excellent abilities for the Milton Keynes-based staff’s junior programme.
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Whereas Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are actually effectively often known as the 2 main merchandise of Mercedes’ junior system for the reason that creation of its younger driver programme, Lagrue additionally performed a key position in figuring out and creating different abilities who stay on the Components 1 grid right this moment.
Esteban Ocon
Lagrue first turned concerned in Ocon’s profession lengthy earlier than both of them turned a part of the Mercedes set-up. With the Frenchman’s household struggling to cowl the appreciable prices of climbing the junior single-seater ladder, Eric Boullier noticed sufficient potential in Ocon to attach him with Lagrue, who was working for Gravity Sport Administration on the time. The Lotus/Renault-linked organisation subsequently stepped in to supply the monetary and administration assist Ocon wanted to proceed his development by means of the decrease classes.
Picture: Race Photos
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Their paths remained carefully linked when Ocon turned related to Mercedes in 2015. Across the identical interval, Lagrue additionally joined the German producer and later took accountability for its young-driver programme. His involvement with Ocon continued all through the next years, together with after the Frenchman established himself elsewhere.
Ocon in the end by no means turned a Mercedes F1 race driver, however his profession nonetheless represents one of many earliest examples of a expertise whose rise was carefully supported by Lagrue. Almost a decade after making his Components 1 debut, the Frenchman has develop into a relentless presence on the grid.
Alexander Albon
The Thai is one other present Components 1 driver whose path crossed carefully with Lagrue effectively earlier than reaching the highest class. The pair first turned acquainted throughout Albon’s karting profession, the place he emerged as one of many standout names of a extremely rated technology that additionally featured Max Verstappen. When the programme supporting Albon selected to half methods with him on the finish of 2012, Lagrue stepped in and supplied him a chance throughout the Lotus set-up.
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Their relationship continued as Albon progressed by means of Components Renault, Components 3, GP3 and Components 2, with Lagrue supporting him all through these phases. Albon additionally accomplished simulator work for Mercedes earlier than being launched when the chance arose for him to return to the younger driver programme that beforehand dropped him.
Lagrue shares emotional farewell message forward of Purple Bull transfer
In a prolonged submit on social media, Lagrue regarded again on his 11-year journey with Mercedes following his remaining Grand Prix with the staff in Hungary, putting explicit emphasis on the drivers he helped nurture throughout his time in command of the junior programme. Amongst them have been Esteban Ocon, Nyck de Vries, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, alongside Fred Vesti, Doriane Pin and the various different younger abilities who handed by means of the Mercedes system through the years.
For Lagrue, seeing these drivers develop and progress in direction of the very best ranges of motorsport was one of the crucial rewarding points of his position. He inspired the present and former members of the programme to proceed pursuing their ambitions, working laborious and taking advantage of each stage of their journey, whereas underlining the significance of the staff surrounding them in serving to them attain their full potential.
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Relatively than specializing in Mercedes’ championships, victories and data, Lagrue highlighted the individuals he labored with and the chance to information younger drivers by means of essential phases of their careers as essentially the most significant a part of his time with the staff. He additionally expressed his gratitude to Toto Wolff for the belief positioned in him and thanked your complete Mercedes organisation, bringing an 11-season chapter to a detailed earlier than shifting on to the subsequent stage of his profession.
