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The Filipino-Swiss junior F1 driver is in Manila to promote his roadshow this August.
Lifestyle press were invited to the event, to help reveal the other side of the young race car driver. Marlon gamely answered all questions thrown his way, whether they be about racing or his personal life.
When was your first date?
I think I was 13.
When was your first kiss?
My first would have been a bit earlier [than my first date]. I think I was nine. I was really a child and she was [nine] too. It was more a playful thing.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Foreign, I think Jessica Alba’s really nice. Here, I see billboards of Anne [Curtis] and she’s really pretty.
What’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for a girl?
I think it’s more about being yourself with another person. When they get to see you being just who you are, spending time, giving time.
When was your last heartbreak?
About two years ago
What is your dream destination?
The Philippines. It’s always nice to come home. I’m never home that often so, for sure, it’s the Philippines.
Where would you like to get married?
On a beach where there’s some nice sand and a blue ocean. Maybe if there’s really like a special spot here…
At what age do you see yourself settling down?
I don’t think about it much, but my parents got married just before they turned 30. I think in my late 20s.
How many kids would you like to have?
I have two siblings and I always like being in a big family. My mom also has a lot of sisters and brothers. So, for me, maybe three or four kids.
What part of a girl’s body do you admire the most?
I think every woman has her own special feature. If I were to pick out something specific, I think the first thing I would notice would be their eyes.
What’s your typical day like?
When I get the chance to just be myself, I’ll just be with friends or I’ll just chill at home. I just enjoy being at home. In a way, I spend so much time being away from it. So when I get the chance [to be home], I make the most out of it.
What’s it like to be a professional race car driver?
Racing cars is the best thing on earth. When I started, it gave me that sense of independence because up until a certain age, of course — and I was 9 when I started — you’re always around your parents. You have your guardians, your aunts and uncles, looking after you. The first time I got into a go-kart, it gave me a real sense of my own independence and responsibility. My mom nor dad weren’t the ones telling me to break, accelerate, turn left, turn right — do any of those things. As a kid, that was really the first time I really felt free. No one was telling me what to do. That gave me a lot because I was able to find out a lot about myself.
How does it feel to be the first Filipino to be in the F1 league?
It was fun to have done the roadshow [in 2013] here in Luneta, Quirino Grandstand and Mall of Asia. This year, I did a roadshow in London, around the streets. Hopefully, I’ll be doing less of those and more stuff on the actual race track. It’s really a great feeling because it’s very prestigious. Not many people can say that they’ve done that.
What motivates you in every race you encounter?
What motivates me is the fact that I get to do what I love; not many people can say that. I think that’s just enough in itself. I guess that motivates me in the sense that I never wanna lose that. So every time I’m out there, I try and give it my best. Every day that I get the chance to work on it, I will.
What’s the best thing about your career?
The best thing is just actually getting to see the world. I’m 23, and I have to say I’ve seen quite a lot. Racing, in a way, has let me experience a lot of different cultures. I’ve been able to travel all over Europe, all over the world. I feel really blessed to be able to see things at such a young age. Racing has given me a lot in that sense.
Marlon will be back in Manila on August 30 for an event called “Slipstream” in Bonifacio Global City. He will be driving his Lotus-Gravity Charouz Formula Renault 3.5 car, to the delight of fans. The whole-day event to be organized by Globe will also feature Lotus F1 simulators, booths, freebies and games. The evening will feature a concert and party.