The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix this year was more than just a memorable motorsport event for Bahrain-raised Alienor Mariot – it was a moment to honour the memory of her late father.
The 28-year-old French expatriate lost her father Christophe Mariot, the managing director, GCC at BNP Paribas last month after he died, aged 58.
“After we moved to Bahrain in 1998 and he found out a few years later that the circuit was being built, he was absolutely ecstatic,” she told the GDN.
“My dad had been an F1 fan since he was a little boy, and knowing that his favourite island was going to have the licence to open up a circuit was just insane.
“There were a number of times when he even managed to get onto the construction site before the circuit officially opened.”
For Ms Mariot, the race weekend is a living memorial to her father’s boundless passion for Formula 1.
Since the circuit’s inaugural race in 2004, the racing weekend became a cherished family tradition, instilling in her a love for the sport that transcended mere spectatorship.
“My father was absolutely ecstatic when Bahrain got the licence to open a circuit,” she recalled.
From her earliest memories, the Bahrain Grand Prix was a father-daughter bonding ritual.
“The circuit literally means Christophe Mariot to me – there’s nothing like it,” she added.
As a young girl, she would accompany him to the paddock, armed with an autograph book and wearing his T-shirt.
Her father would encourage her to approach drivers, embodying his life philosophy: “If you never ask, it’s always going to be a no.”
These encounters became legendary stories for his family including wife Alexandra and daughters Alienor, Aurore and Auriane.
She remembers meeting now seven-time and four-time World Champions Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, with her father prophetically telling her about Mr Vettel’s future world championships.
“In 2007, we met Hamilton together and he signed my autograph book,” she added.
“And from afar, we saw Sebastian Vettel, who was in BMW Sauber back then. Personally, I was so young, and I had no idea who that was, but my father almost forced me to get a photo.
“He was like, ‘Alienor, we’re getting a photo,’ and when I protested, he said, ‘I promise you he’s going to be World Champion one day.’
“And little did I know, he indeed was!
“My father was great at predictions and knew who was going to go from F2 to F1 as well.”
Ms Mariot remembered her father’s ‘legendary’ encyclopedic knowledge of drivers – not just their names, but their entire racing histories, and how his passion extended far beyond watching races.
He was a racer himself, having driven Chevrolet and Porsche cars, even racing alongside seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher’s son Mick in Formula 3.
But, for Ms Mariot, her core memory of him will always be him as a connector, joyfully introducing people to the sport.
“When I was studying at the French International School, the director had asked him if one of the F1 teams could host our class,” she remembered.
“My father was able to get it done and the F1 Renault team hosted all 24 of us, and he even accompanied us, taking time off from work to be there. It’s a core memory I will never forget.”
But that also made this year an especially difficult one, since it was the first one since he had passed away.
“I almost couldn’t do it,” she admitted tearfully, when asked if she considered not going.
“I was bawling my eyes out. Every corner, every garage, every walk through the pedestrian tunnel reminded me of him.”
For the family, the BIC has become synonymous with her father’s memory, but she’s grateful she went, finding her father’s presence in every moment – from the pass-clicking sound to the Ferrari team’s presence.
She plans to continue attending the Bahrain Grand Prix annually, carrying forward their shared tradition, and encourages others to find that mutual passion with their parents.
“Share something with your parent,” she advised.
“It could be a sport, arts, travelling, anything. There’s nothing like it. It forms a deeper connection and can be a way to reconnect during challenging times.”
To preserve his memory, after Mr Mariot lost his battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorder, the family created a website where people can share tributes and memories, transforming grief into a celebration of a life lived with extraordinary passion.
For Ms Mariot, the Bahrain Grand Prix is a testament to the power of shared traditions, and as the engines roar around the track in the years to come, she plans to continue his legacy – one lap at a time.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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