This Tuesday, the Círculo Ecuestre hosted a visit from Jaime Alguersuari, father and son, journalist and former Formula 1 driver, and former motorcycle world champion Sito Pons, as part of a dinner-colloquium focused on the evolution of the world of motorsport in Spain from their perspective and experience. The event was presented and moderated by Tirso Gracia, member of the Governing Board of the Círculo Ecuestre.
During the meeting at the Barcelona club, the speakers addressed key issues such as talent management in elite sports, the importance of psychological management in performance, and learning throughout their careers. In this regard, Alguersuari Jr. highlighted that, currently, in motorsports it is not always enough to be the fastest. In this sense, the former F1 driver stressed the importance of mental balance in high competition: “elite sport is psychological management, it is not enough to be good or fast. My father helped me do things very early to believe in myself and my abilities”.
In turn, Alguersuari Sr. praised the level-headedness of his friend and pupil, Sito Pons, recalling that he was the first Spanish rider to believe that it was possible to fight for a motorcycling world championship since Ángel Nieto and Ricardo Tormo. That is why he highlighted his great admiration for his ambitious yet respectful attitude towards his environment: “There was nothing more important than bikes for him. He had an obsessive attitude and perseverance. He always gave his maximum", assured the journalist and businessman.
For his part, Sito Pons also praised Alguersuari Sr., thanking him for giving him the opportunity to reach the world championship. “Without the Solomoto criterion, there would be no Spanish world champion beyond Nieto and Tormo. We wouldn’t have had the strength to go to the world championship", said the former world champion. On the other hand, he also recalled that the two families feel like one due to the great relationship they have had all their lives, which is why he remarked on his admiration for Alguersuari, especially for the passion, perseverance, and self-belief he showed throughout his career: “it is contagious for all of us around him”, he stated.
The time in Formula 1
One of the star topics of the colloquium was Jaime Alguersuari Jr.’s time in Formula 1, who at the time was the youngest driver in history to debut in the category. In this regard, he insisted that being able to compete for several seasons in the top category of motorsport was a true success, as well as being able to compete against his idols, such as Michael Schumacher or Fernando Alonso.
Despite this, he noted that his exit from the competition was a hard blow for him and his family, admitting that at that time he did not want to accept it because “I was in my best moment”, In this line, he told that his idea was to renew with Red Bull, but on December 16, 2011, already at the end of the season, they informed him that there was no possibility of renewal. “I didn’t understand anything. The problem was that I couldn't accept that situation”, he lamented.
On the other hand, the former driver also told how social media did not help him during his time in the competition, highlighting that his appearance caused, especially in the press, that “he made Fernando Alonso's figure uncomfortable”. That is why he regretted that all this toxic environment caused him to become “harsh and bitter” at 20 years old, adding that with more life experience he would have managed the situation in a very different way. Regarding his experience in F1, Alguersuari also explained that, in his first season in 2009, he was not really physically prepared to endure a race and “ended up destroyed”.
Finally, the speakers addressed how advances in safety and technology have transformed Formula 1, from the prevention of serious accidents to the redesign of racing circuits, moving away in some cases from classic tracks. The colloquium concluded with a global message: persevering and maintaining confidence are key to facing both success and adversity. A piece of advice that summarizes the experience of three generations in the world of motorsport.