A very relaxed Sébastien Ogier showed up for each quick interview at the stop points of the Rally Chile stages. When responding to the WRC media team, the Gapençais always showed a smile. As if he had planned his move, the Toyota driver however limited himself to only a few words despite the good atmosphere when quickly debriefing his feelings after each SS.
« It’s good to start », « Hello, I understand (the instruction), I don’t have much to say », « Unlucky “. Here are some examples of his responses. His goal? Very clear, that of sending a message to the FIA, which recently sanctioned him with a suspended fine of 30,000 euros for having criticized him in Greece.
It was only at the end of the day that the person concerned developed his speech a little further, reassuring the WRC team and above all confirming its ambitions. “ I have nothing against you, I will give you more comments during the weekend. Today it’s like this. It’s not the smartest way but it’s the only tool we have. »
Ogier plays it like Verstappen
An episode which comes especially a week after that of Max Verstappen in Singapore where he also limited his speaking during the FIA press conference after qualifying, inviting journalists to ask him questions outside the room. A way for him to point the finger at the Federation and its desire to control everything that comes out of the mouths of the pilots while the Dutchman had been punished with community service the day before for “inappropriate” words.
It’s Sébastien Ogier’s turn now, on the other side of the world where he makes a lot of noise despite being almost silent. “ Today I don’t feel like talking and, as I said, I’m sorry for everyone who deserves better than that, but the FIA leadership told us to keep quiet, so it’s a little sad. It’s not just rallying at the moment, but let’s see what the future holds, » he said, still opening the door to a potential return to normal this Saturday. The message has in any case gotten through even if the FIA would have done without it, particularly with two big players in their respective discipline, Max Verstappen and Sébastien Ogier.
The resumption of the Rally Chile is scheduled for 2:07 p.m. this Saturday and will be followed on AUTOhebdo.
READ ALSO > Will the sanction given to Sébastien Ogier in Greece have consequences?
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