Who is Paul Ricard?

After a 28 year absence, F1 has made its return to the Paul Ricard circuit. But who is Paul Ricard and why does he have the track named after him? He was a pioneer of the alcoholic beverage pastis. He brought the drink back into the public domain after both World Wars. 

Born in July 1909, the Frenchman always had family links in the wine business. He was introduced to pastis at a young age. It was prohibited at the time because it hindered France’s efforts in the First World War. 

In his own bedroom, Ricard made a slightly different version of the drink, his own recipe. A recipe which remains a secret today.  

He was prepared for the prohibition lift and managed to buy out established companies to give his drink a platform. In just one year, he sold more than 2.4 million litres of pastis.

During the Second World War, the drink was banned once more putting a holt to his sales. These resumed in 1952. 

By making a company merge along the way, Ricard’s drink became the most widely spread French alcoholic drink and the third largest spirits company in the world. 

Ricard always noticed that sport was a good way of showing off his brand. His drink became the first commercial sponsor of the Tour De France. And through this interest in sport, he had the Paul Ricard circuit built in 1970. 

He died in November 1997.