At Circuit Paul Ricard, the French Historic Grand Prix brought together an extraordinary mix of generations. In a festival atmosphere, legendary names including Alain Prost, Jacques Villeneuve, Jean Alesi, Olivier Panis and Esteban Ocon shared the circuit with current Formula One racers such as Isack Hadjar, creating a rare collision of eras.

Fast and Famous: When Time Stands Still

Beyond the historic single-seater races that shape the weekend’s programme, it is the emotion surrounding the event that truly makes it special. The “Fast and Famous” parade — the highlight of both Saturday and Sunday — seemed to freeze time, as drivers from different generations and racing philosophies shared the circuit in non-competitive demonstrations. The symbolic on-track battles and spectacular runs kept the crowd captivated throughout.

Hadjar and the RB7: A Lesson in Contrast

Within this unique setting, Isack Hadjar experienced a memorable moment behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB7, the car that carried Sebastian Vettel to the 2011 world championship. For the young French driver, the experience was striking. “It’s completely different,” he admitted after his first laps in a car that may be only fifteen years old, yet already belongs to another era. With its narrow rear wing, absence of screens and minimalist gear display, the RB7 stands in sharp contrast to today’s Formula One machinery. “It’s so light, you can brake so late. There’s much less downforce compared to today’s cars, but it’s a V8 — the sound, the sensations, the vibrations. I really enjoyed it, especially since the car isn’t set up for me at all.”

The event often feels like a living museum, fuelled by spontaneous exchanges between drivers. Hadjar spent time alongside Jacques Villeneuve, seated in a Ferrari 312 T5, and Alain Prost in his McLaren MP4/3. Esteban Ocon discovered the Ferrari 412 T2, while René Arnoux and Philippe Alliot revisited the sensations of their own era.

Panis, Ligier and a 50-Year Milestone

For Olivier Panis, the weekend also carried a strong sense of nostalgia. Unable to drive his iconic Ligier JS43 — currently abroad — he instead took to the track in a Ligier JS33B. A mechanical issue interrupted his first outing, but the true significance lay elsewhere: celebrating Ligier’s 50 years in Formula One, and the 30th anniversary of the marque’s famous Monaco victory. Jacques Laffite, now 82 years old, attended on Sunday, while his son Pierre had driven the JS13 the previous day. The crowd also witnessed moving moments as Loïc Depailler, Mathias Lauda and Jacques Villeneuve each drove the legendary cars once raced by their fathers.

A Crowd That Spans Generations

Beyond the machinery itself, it is the crowd that gives the event its full dimension. With packed grandstands and 25,000 spectators each day, the passion for motorsport clearly crosses generational lines. “At the beginning, it was only people my age,” noted Philippe Alliot. “Whereas now, you truly see every generation represented.”

Behind the scenes, several leading figures from today’s Formula One paddock were also present, including Stefano Domenicali, Frédéric Vasseur and Laurent Mekies, further underlining the prestige of the occasion.

Combining close fan interaction with an exceptionally varied grid, the French Historic Grand Prix stands as a unique celebration of motorsport heritage. As Jean Alesi summed it up perfectly: “What’s magical about events like this is sharing.”

Relive the atmosphere of the French Historic Grand Prix through our photo gallery, capturing the emotion, legends and unforgettable moments that brought generations of motorsport together.

Photos by Erwan Séité