The 7 Best French Karting Champions Who Reached Formula 1

From world champions to cult heroes and tragic talents, these racers all climbed from France's karting circuits to the Formula 1 grid. Who's the greatest? Cast your vote!

1. 1
   Jules Bianchi

   Highly rated karting and junior champion who raced for Marussia before his fatal 2014 crash.
   912pts
2. 2
   Alain Prost

   Four-time Formula 1 world champion who began in karting and is nicknamed The Professor.
   912pts
3. 3
   Romain Grosjean

   French ICA karting champion in 2001 who took ten Formula 1 podiums with Lotus and scored Haas's first points on the team's 2016 debut.
   789pts
4. 4
   Esteban Ocon

   French karting standout who won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix for Alpine.
   0pts
5. 5
   Pierre Gasly

   Karting product who won the 2020 Italian Grand Prix with AlphaTauri.
   0pts
6. 6
   Sebastien Bourdais

   Le Mans native who won the Cadet France karting title in 1993, later took four straight Champ Car titles and raced for Toro Rosso in Formula 1.
7. 7
   Franck Montagny

   French cadet karting champion in 1992 who reached Formula 1 with Super Aguri in 2006 and became a long-serving Le Mans and endurance racer.

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