Terry Gengerge: Jamie, it's been quite hard to tie you down since your announcement before the Brazilian V-Prix, but here we are finally. It's very unlike you to have shied away from the media, so my first question is - what's going on? Jamie Franklin: Like I said in my statement...I'm just not in a good place at the moment. I feel this year in particular has lead me to a very toxic place. I am an incredibly competitive person at heart, and it's been so tough for me to take a back seat and let things unfold as they have. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of the team and the achievements and progress we've made this year, but I always want to be pushing. The time and energy I've spent poring over the data after each race, looking for any signs of ways I can push us forward has become so draining. It's just become difficult to enjoy the progress we've made when I want to be doing so much more, when I know I should be capable of so much more. TG: In the press conference in Brazil, Felicia Quinn alluded to the fact that some of the aggression you've shown in the latter stages of this year have come from that desire to be able to do more. Would you be able to comment on that? JF: She hit the nail on the head. I'm not sure what more I can say on that matter. The frustration spills over and I just...I don't know. Maybe it's my way of trying to tap into something, to try and restore what we once had. I don't feel the fans or the other teams look at us with the same awe anymore, and it eats away at me. We've still achieved so much, more than most teams will ever achieve in their FV careers, and yet I don't feel that respect. Maybe it's the comments I've made over the years, maybe the frustrations boiling over have caused that, who knows. TG: You mentioned that you may be done with Formula Virtual. Has the little break away from the circus alleviated some of those feelings, or do you still feel as though you may step down permanently? JF: Honestly...yes, I still feel like that might be the right path for me. Maybe the team doesn't need me anymore, maybe I'm the one holding them back now. The resolve and resilience they've shown across the last two years and the progress they've made is something that should be seriously applauded, and I don't feel like the team are getting the plaudits they deserve, and maybe that's on me. I just have to wonder if I even have "it" anymore. In the past I've seen this team take on multiple series and win multiple Championships across each of those series, but perhaps the way I operate just doesn't go hand in hand with this generation of Motorsport...maybe I've become the relic that needs to be moved aside to allow the team to move on to bigger and better things. TG: So to be clear, unlike in 2019, you're not talking about the team leaving, but about yourself stepping down, and presumably Felicia Quinn taking the reigns? JF: That's right. I think Felicia has demonstrated time and again her leadership abilities. She's eloquent, she's talented and maybe she's the right person to move into the next era for Franklin. TG: Do you have other plans of what you'd do if you did decide that this was the right move for you? JF: Erm...I don't know. I don't think the paddock is the right place for me anymore. I still train the drivers, so I'll likely stick with that, I know that's something that I am more than capable of doing, and doing well, so I'll probably just put a lot of focus into that. TG: Speaking of drivers - Will Hoskins returns to the team for the first time since 2014, and of course it's well known that your team was very keen on having Nathaniel Powers return to the team as well, with some extraordinary numbers being thrown around. Do you believe Hoskins can take you a step further next year, and are you still disappointed about Powers, especially given the recent news that he'll be joining Lucas for next year? JF: Firstly, it'll be great to have Will back. I don't know if I'll have the same hands on role next year, but I'll definitely be helping him get into the best shape possible for his return. He's got a wealth of experience so I have no doubt he'll be an asset. As for Nathaniel...yeah, it's a great shame he's headed over there. I don't think it's the right move for him, but that's all I'll say. TG: Do you think Powers will continue to be on the team's radar for the coming years? JF: It's not something I'm think about right now. TG: Before we wrap this up, as I know you're short on time, I have to ask, how likely is this to happen? We've seen you change your mind over the winter before. Do you think the break will enable you to get back on track? JF: It's different. When I considered leaving before, I can't explain it, it felt like it was the right time...but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't. This time...I don't feel welcome in the paddock anymore. I don't feel like I'm a benefit to the team. That's a feeling that isn't easy to shake. The way I feel now, I can't see me being in the paddock or the factory next year. TG: Jamie, thank you for your time.
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