• The Formula French Grand Prix takes place this weekend on the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, in the Var. 

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    was able to walk on the Grand Prix to tell you behind the scenes of this spectacular universe. 

Noise, noise and speed.

Formula 1 put down its wheels this weekend at Castellet, in the Var, for the French Grand Prix on the Paul Ricard circuit.

The opportunity to go and let your eyes and ears hang out in this rather incredible universe which mobilizes 3,000 people, from the surgeon to the caterer through the mechanics, just for the organization of this event which brings together 15,000 spectators per day .

Hardly a foot on the Paul Ricard circuit, and it is the ears that are called upon.

If you sometimes get frustrated with the sound of single-seaters on television, there's nothing like hearing the V6 purring a few meters from your eardrum.

Impressive.

Then the eyes, with cars spinning in all directions, under the gaze of the verdant Sainte-Beaume.

Difficult to get accreditation for such an event, 180 journalists of 15 nationalities are on deck in a gigantic, and pretty, press room.

"And we had to refuse for reasons of capacity", explains Pierre Guyonnet, communication director of the GP of France.

But once accredited, all the doors of F1 are open to you.

Or almost.

Motor home

Like strolling in the paddocks, in the middle of the “motor homes” of the ten teams competing in the F1 World Championship.

And they are all bigger than the next, with a special mention for the Mercedes one which has its own private terrace.

Even if the Alpine F1 Team's, completely renovated in 2019, does not have much to envy it.

Jean-Pierre Raymond is responsible for part of the logistics at Alpine F1 Team, the only French team on the plateau.

“This motor home is made up of eight containers, without counting the central part, and that requires a total of seven semi-trailers.

Since we are in Austria next week, a team will take them apart on Sunday night, they will be in Austria on Monday evening and reassembled by another team the same evening to be ready Tuesday morning, ”he explains.

Alpine logistics

In total, 100 people make up the Alpine F1 team "with 60 people for the technical part, on the car, and 40 people for the rest which includes communication, marketing, logistics, etc.", continues Jean-Pierre. Raymond, for 21 years with Alpine F1, previously Renault F1.

In a non-covid period, this number is even higher.

Among the 40 people outside the technical parts, there are also the cooks.

And Alpine can boast of having the best reputation of the entire paddock in this area.

“You are well informed, laughs Jean-Pierre Raymond.

It takes time to set up but we have a very good team, with very good chefs.

Good food produces results ”.

To the point of having edited a cookbook with Alpine recipes.

The risks are the worst enemies of Jean-Pierre who always has "a plan A, B, C and D" in the pocket.

“And sometimes I mix the A with the B,” he smiles.

This logistics becomes even more complicated during the Grand Prix outside Europe, with the obligation to send the equipment by plane or by boat, without being able to rely on its own motor homes.

Music and hums

But the stands remain the strongest moment, without a doubt.

They are accessible to journalists up to five minutes before the start of qualifying.

What to see some nuggets.

Like the Alpine mechanics checking the tilt angle of the front wing down to the degree, while listening to loud music for the final preparations.

The opportunity also to see Max Verstappen, leader of the championship, discuss with his engineers the final adjustments of the car a few minutes before getting into his seat. The countless control screens in the paddocks, on which all the technical data are visible in real time, are also very impressive.

But let's get back to the track, which has been completely re-paved in 2020. No doubt, there's nothing like a Grand Prix on television to not miss a thing of the race.

On the spot, apart from the starting straight, and turns 8 and 9, on the other side of the circuit, it's hard to see what's going on.

But the only pleasure of hearing the F1 cars reaching 300 km / h in the starting line is already a treat.

And what about the stopped departures of the pilots during the test sessions?

They are placed at the exit of the pits, just below the media center, to simulate a departure.

This is where we realize the power developed by these machines, and the speeds reached in a few seconds.

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