'Petoulet' - France's trailblazing first F1 winner

France spawned fourteen Grand Prix winners in the history of Formula 1, but the very first driver to blaze the trail for his compatriots was Maurice Trintignant, born on this day in 1917.

Nicknamed 'Petoulet', Trintignant's career in F1 spanned a lengthy 14 years, a period during which he raced for 14 different teams.

A popular figure on the Grand Prix trail, Trintignant's memorable 'jour de gloire' came twice in F1, and at the same venue.

In 1955, at the age of 38, he won the Monaco Grand Prix for Ferrari - he is pictured here above.

And he repeated that feat in the Principality three years later in 1958 at the wheel of a Rob Walker-run Cooper.

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.