Race and classic pictures

The last all-French team to race in Formula 1

©EricBernardArchive/RainerSchlegelmilch

Formula 1 has once again within its ranks an all-French team – including its drivers – for the first time in 29 years!

Alpine's unveiling on Thursday of its 2023 challenger that will be entrusted to Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly begged the question: when was the last time an all-French outfit graced the grid in F1?

Well, one has to travel all the way back to the 1994 season to find a full red, white and blue effort.

The team was Ligier, and the drivers were Oliver Panis and Eric Bernard. Together, the pair scored only four top-ten finishes that year, but there was however one remarkable collective result for 'les bleus'.

At the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, Panis and Bernard surrounded Ferrari driver and race winner Gerhard Berger on the podium. Sacré bleu!

Michael Delaney

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