Jonathan Cecotto and Dennis Fetzer shared the Ford Mustang GT3 of Haupt Racing Team in the ADAC GT Masters. A good relationship, trust and mutual respect are essential, in order to be able to perform out on the track. But aside from tenths of seconds, tyre pressure and set-up, how well do the two team-mates really know each other? The answer, and a few anecdotes, can be found in this rather different interview.
Which of you would find a hotel?
Jonathan Cecotto: I always book my hotels myself. If I leave it to the team, then the hotels are always too far away and too expensive for me (laughs).
Dennis Fetzer: There you have it: Jonathan finds them. He has high standards, but is also careful with his money (laughs).
Who has the bigger suitcase?
Jonathan Cecotto: Phew, mine is really huge.
Dennis Fetzer: That is true, he has a huge bag.
Jonathan Cecotto: I don’t actually have a smaller suitcase, so always carry this massive thing around half empty.
Which of you is most likely to leave something at home?
Dennis Fetzer: Me! I am always forgetting my tickets (laughs).
Jonathan Cecotto: Or your helmet…
Dennis Fetzer: I have never forgotten my helmet?!
Jonathan Cecotto: Not yet… (laughs).
Which of you is more punctual?
Dennis Fetzer: Jonathan is more punctual. He actually always arrives before the agreed time. Personally, I am always on time when it comes to racing, but almost always late at home. I just use my time efficiently (laughs).
Jonathan Cecotto: He operates at the limit (laughs).
Which of you has the better taste when it comes to food?
Dennis Fetzer: I am a gourmet guy, you can see that, but Jonathan also likes to eat well (laughs). As such, we pick the restaurant together if we are going out for a meal.
Jonathan Cecotto: Except in Italy, where I would choose the restaurant!
Who is the most chaotic of the two of you?
Dennis Fetzer: That is not an easy question to answer…
David Schumacher from the background: I don’t know Jonathan as well as Dennis, but whenever I have seen them both together, he has been far calmer than Dennis.
Which of you is most likely to have a heated discussion with your engineer or team principal?
Jonathan Cecotto: There have been moments, in which I have made my feelings clear, whereby I keep quiet for a long time until I have finally had enough.
Dennis Fetzer: Generally speaking, we are the same in that regard. I would just send him, because he can choose his words more wisely and stay calm for longer (laughs). If we were going to say something, we would definitely discuss it beforehand. We ask each other for permission before we do anything. After all, it doesn’t get you anywhere if one of you says something and the other stays silent.
Which of you is most addicted to using your mobile phone?
Dennis Fetzer: 100 percent Jonathan!
Jonathan Cecotto: Yes, definitely me. But I never play games, I just work all the time.
Which of the classic apps do you have open?
Jonathan Cecotto: E-mails, WhatsApp and Telegram.
Which of your partner’s attributes would you gladly adopt?
Jonathan Cecotto: How well he speaks German, particularly his grasp of grammar.
Dennis Fetzer: I would like to have his charming manner.
Jonathan Cecotto: I can teach you that, if you like (laughs).
