ONE PHOTOGH, DECADES OF FORMULA 1 HISTORY

Last weekend’s Historic French Grand Prix became far more than a celebration of classic machinery — it felt like a reunion of the sport’s soul.

Legends from multiple generations gathered together in a moment dripping with nostalgia, from Alain Prost, Mika Häkkinen and Jacques Villeneuve to David Coulthard, Jean Alesi and Mark Webber, among others.

There was emotion everywhere at Circuit Paul Ricard. Pierre Gasly climbed into Jean-Pierre Jabouille’s iconic 1979 Renault RS10, reliving a landmark chapter of French motorsport history with Jabouille’s son, Victor, watching on.

©X/pierregasly

At 82 years old, Jacques Laffite also rolled back the years aboard the Ligier JS11/15 that carried him to victory at Hockenheim nearly five decades ago.

And perhaps most touching of all, the sons of Niki Lauda and Patrick Depailler took to the track in the very cars raced by their fathers – a reminder that Formula 1’s greatest stories never truly fade.

©GP de France Historique/Morgan Mathurin

- Fi.com

FORMULA 1 FATHERS & SONS | WITH A GRAND PRIX PODIUM

 

JACQUES VILLENEUVE GIVES CLEAR VERDICT ON LEWIS HAMILTON DUTCH GP CRASH

Jacques Villeneuve has come to Lewis Hamilton's defence after he slid and crashed in the rain at Zandvoort

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Andrea Diodato / NurPhoto via Getty Images

1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has come to the defence of Lewis Hamilton following a disastrous Dutch Grand Prix, which saw the seven-time world champion crash at Turn 3. Blaming the conditions instead of driver error, the former driver discussed his thoughts on the Sky Sports F1 broadcast.

Hamilton's race came to a premature end as the Ferrari driver lost control of his machinery on the wet, painted surface of Zandvoort's banked corner. With the driver running in seventh at the time, light rain swept over the track.

Villeneuve was sympathetic to the former Mercedes ace who has had a difficult season so far.

"Drizzles - you just never know when it will be that drop too much. And we've all been caught like this," the 1997 champion explained. "You drive in the dry, you drive as you would normally drive in the dry, and suddenly you slide."

Slowly catching his former team-mate George Russell, Hamilton was making progress on his medium compounds. But lap 23 saw him sustain major damage to the front of the car after he hit the barriers, ending his race immediately. 

"And the way he slid," Villeneuve  continued, "you could tell it was just a sudden lack of grip, a little bit of wet on the paint, and he really got caught out and not by much because he just glanced the tyre barrier and that was it."

This was Hamilton's first retirement of his season with Ferrari, adding to a difficult campaign where the driver has been openly critical of his performances. But despite the DNF, Hamilton was notably happier with his machinery. 

"It took me by complete surprise what happened, I lost the rear up the bank, and that was it. Apart from that, it's been a really solid weekend. I feel like I made progress, just overall, and my approach and everything.

"To come away with nothing is definitely painful. I feel fine mentally, I’ve felt lots of positives. I felt I was making progress, I was catching the car ahead. It’s tough to have a result like that for sure.

“But I’ve been racing for so long, I’ve had God knows how many races. You can probably count on one hand that sort of incident.” 

- Alex Harrington

HAMILTON MENTALITY QUESTIONED AHEAD OF FERRARI SWANSONG

© XPBimages

Lewis Hamilton is embarking on a new career challenge this year as he links up with Ferrari following a lengthy stint at Mercedes.

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has suggested Lewis Hamilton's mentality could stop him from sticking around the sport in the near future.

Hamilton has signed with Ferrari, joining the Italian squad following a highly successful 12-year stint with Mercedes.

At 40 years of age, Hamilton is the second-oldest driver on the grid after former team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Villeneuve was questioned about Hamilton's longevity in F1 and asserted his physicality is not a concern for the seven-time champion.

“It depends if Lewis Hamilton has the same hunger as Fernando Alonso or not,” Villeneuve told Action Network.

“He still wants one championship, and he wants it with Ferrari. So that should be enough to give him the hunger. 

“But if the going gets tough, will he just think, will I be [a fighter and warrior like Alonso or will he think it’s time do something else with my life?

“But physically there's no issue. He’s super fit, he's super strong, he can go on another 10 years, there's no problem there. But it's all in the head and his desire.

“It’s always like that with sports. Age is not the issue.”

Villeneuve outlines out Hamilton mentality importance

Hamilton endured a difficult final three seasons at Mercedes as the Brackley-based outfit slipped back in the pecking order.

It led to Hamilton being left dejected on several occasions and declaring he was “not fast anymore” after qualifying in Qatar.

Villeneuve stated Hamilton's mental approach and his love for F1 will be the only determining factor for his future.

 “It's how [mentally] are you ready to give it all, to do all the training necessary, to go to bed, wake up in the morning and think only about that and focus,” he said. 

“At some point in your life, maybe it loses its importance or its priority. And that's when you go down. Not because there's a physical direct effect.

“It is draining but at the same time, it's what keeps you alive. It's what drives you. And you realise when you stop it, you realise two months into it, ‘Gosh, this is boring.’

“You need that lifestyle. You need that adrenaline rush that you keep going. If you're passionate, if it's something you really love, it's a drug.

“Take Nico Rosberg, he was happier not racing. That's just not the same level of passion.”

- Fergal Walsh

MOST POINTS FINISHED IN ROOKIE YEAR | FORMULA 1

 

JACQUES VILLENEUVE | VIA INSTANT CASINO

 

1997 EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX WAS THE LAST TIME P1 & P2 HAD THE SAME TIME 😲

 The last time P1 and P2 had the exact same time was the 1997 European Grand Prix... where P3 also had the same time 🤯

DANIEL RICCIARDO FIRES BACK AT JACQUES VILLENEUVE'S CRITICISM

Fifth is Daniel Ricciardo's best qualifying position so far this year. Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

 MONTREAL, Canada -- After securing fifth on the grid for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, RB driver Daniel Ricciardo hit back at criticism levelled by 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve earlier this weekend.

Speaking on Sky Sports' TV, Villeneuve questioned why Ricciardo was still on the Formula One grid, he said: "I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his actual results."

The Australian's qualifying result in Canada -- just one day after Villeneuve's comments -- was his best of the year for a grand prix and his second best overall behind his fourth place grid slot for the sprint race in Miami.

Asked if he had sent a message to Villeneuve with his performance, he said: "I still don't know what he said. But I heard he's been talking s---. But he always does.

"I think he's hit his head a few too many times, I don't know if he plays ice hockey or something. But yeah. Anyway. I won't give him the time of day, but... all those people can suck it!

"I want to say more, but it's alright. We'll leave him behind."

Ricciardo's qualifying performance followed news earlier on Saturday that his teammate Yuki Tsunoda would remain at RB in 2025.

The Australian's own future is not yet clear, but he said being in Montreal, where he secured his first F1 victory in 2014, had helped him rediscover his form.

"I've obviously been highly motivated to do more than I have been this year," Ricciardo said.

"Obviously Miami was a bit of a one-off. I know how good those results feel, and that's why I do it, to feel those highs.

"I think just coming into the week, I don't know, everything felt right, I was really happy just to come back to this circuit and drive here, because I love it.

"Today is 10 years to the day of my first win, and that day changed my life. So there's a lot of nice emotions coming into it, and I felt like I was ready to do some good s---."

- Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor

TOP 10 MOMENTS OF JACQUES VILLENEUVE BRILLIANCE