Mario Renzi: “What motivates me is to capture and transcribe emotion”

How did you experience this 2024 season through your lens?

What still motivates me after 28 seasons is capturing and transcribing emotion. My work gives me real proximity to the pilots, whether in victory or defeat, which allows me to capture their emotions in the moment, without interfering. In the way I approach them and in the choice of focal lengths I use, I try to be as close as possible to them. I always try to convey emotion before even thinking about describing the scene. I establish a certain distance with the pilots to be able to remain transparent in what I capture.

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This season was particularly notable with Lando Norris. I like people who are not infallible, who have no filter. And, indeed, I was marked this season by the face of Lando Norris. I perceive everything when I photograph it. Lando, who could have been world champion despite small mistakes, exudes an authenticity that touched me deeply. Conversely, Max Verstappen, whose talent I admire, has emotions that are much more difficult to capture. For me, McLaren's victory in Abu Dhabi surpassed Max's title in terms of emotional intensity. This clearly illustrates the contrast between two essential aspects of my season: a strong connection with the emotion of a driver like Lando, and the challenge of transcribing that of Max who wins the title.