Q&A: Jérôme on Culture, Diversity and Inclusion

Q: How has ROKiT Venturi Racing been preparing for Season 8?

“Since August there have been a few changes within the team, most visibly with our driver lineup with the arrival of Lucas and also new additions to the engineering team. It was important for each new team member to take time to adapt and get up to speed with our procedures and workflow. The onboarding has been very smooth and we are all working well together as a team as we saw from pre-season testing in Valencia. We have also worked on the car and spent time understanding the new regulations and their implications. We have prepared ourselves as best we can to be ready for the coming season.”

Q: With a combined 131 E-Prix starts, ROKiT Venturi Racing has one of the most experienced lineups on the grid in Edo and Lucas. How will this benefit the team?

“Not only do we have a very experienced driver lineup but we also have a very successful pairing. Edo is the current vice World Champion and Lucas won the Drivers’ title in Season 3. Experience is rewarded in Formula E and both of our drivers have been pushing the team forward and have helped to improve the package that we will be racing with this season. I think it’s an advantage that we have Edo and Lucas working well together and we need to ensure that we make the most of their experience and pace.”

Q: Season 8 will mark your first campaign as ROKiT Venturi Racing’s Team Principal. What are your personal goals and objectives?

“My personal objectives are no different to the team’s and across the organisation, we are aligned with a common goal to constantly strive to improve ourselves and improve our performance. Last season we finished seventh in the Teams’ Championship and we want to better that in 2022. We want everyone to be able to perform at their best and by doing so, we know we can fight at the front. The margins between first and fifth in Formula E are so fine, we will focus on each race as it comes and we’ll see where that leaves us at the end of the season. Time will tell.”

Q: As a former driver-turned Team Principal, you have a unique perspective in the Formula E senior management landscape. How can you channel your own experiences from the cockpit into your new role?

“The role of the Team Principal is to ensure that we have the right people in the right roles and the right resources in place for them to perform at their best and also, that the team is working well together -that the chemistry is right. Because of my experiences as a driver and now in my current role in management, I’m in the fortunate position to understand many of the challenges that our different team members face. Different roles and backgrounds bring different perspectives and although these differences can be subtle, they play a role. We have established a very healthy environment - we have a productive and efficient working dynamic.”

Q: ROKiT Venturi Racing is a champion of sustainability, diversity and inclusion. What are the team’s goals away from the track in Season 8?

“For many Formula E teams, working towards sustainability is naturally at the forefront of why we go racing and joined the championship. In 2021, we secured FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation but despite that, our ethos to strive means that we continuously challenge our protocols, our methods and make sure that we are always contributing more.

“That merges with our attitude towards diversity and inclusion which is very close to our heart. This was something that Susie championed when she joined the team over three years ago. This is part of our agenda as a team and we are committed to making a difference on that front as well, not only because we believe that it’s the right thing to do but also because we believe it will bring increased performance for the team and contribute towards a more sustainable future.

“Throughout ROKiT Venturi Racing our team members come from different backgrounds and we want to create an environment that is friendly, welcoming and inclusive for everyone. There is always room for improvement and just as we do with every area of the racing team, we will be relentless in the pursuit of levelling the playing field. There is a lack of diversity in motorsport, and this is something that we need to change and influence at ground level so we can shape the future of our workforce and our industry. This is our team culture, it’s at the forefront of everything we do and we believe it’s essential to our longterm success.”