Race and classic pictures

When Alesi owned the day in Montreal

It had taken him 91 Grands Prix but Jean Alesi finally broke his duck on this day in 1995, the Frenchman enjoying in Canada his first and only F1 triumph, and he did it on the very day of his 31st birthday!

Alesi inherited the lead with 12 laps to go after Michael Schumacher's Benetton was forced to pit with a gearbox problem.

When all was said and done, the #27 Ferrari - a number close to the heart of the local crowd as it was forever associated with the great Gilles Villeneuve - ran out of fuel on the slow-down lap, but Schumacher was on hand to provide his rival with a lift back to the pits.

Up until that happy day, Alesi's time at Ferrari had been marked by hope and despair, with good and bad moments. But the latter quickly vanished from his memory as his stood tall on the highest step of the podium in Montreal.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.