It’s time to rev up your excitement — the Canadian Grand Prix is this weekend and behind six of their former trophies, including last year’s, is a Quebecer.
Meet Jean-Phillippe Caron, founder of Protocole Trophies of Exception in Saint-Lambert — just south of Montreal.
“I get to create stuff for the best in all industries,” said Caron. “This trophy I designed it in 2015.”
“It’s the (Gilles Villeneuve) racetrack eight times on the trophy and this one was won by Lewis Hamilton.”
Did you know F1 trophies are fueled up…with regulations.
Like not exceeding 12 pounds.
“This one, which is in carbon fiber and in Kevlar, it’s super light,” explained Caron, about the 2017 F1 trophy he designed. “It’s five pounds so you feel the weight of the carbon fiber that is like super light.”
“This is the 2017 trophy that represents the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Grand Prix,” added Caron. “Big surprise, it was won by Lewis Hamilton.”
The first place trophy can’t exceed 65 cm in height –- 45 max for second place — and 35 cm for third place.
Caron explained that now the main sponsor of the race is who supplies the trophy.
This year, for the Canadian Grand Prix, it’s Amazon Web Services developing one from the United States.
And it’s set to be the first F1 trophy inspired by generative artificial intelligence –- it’ll be unveiled on June 9, race day.
In 2004, Caron’s career took a sharp turn to creating stellar trophies.
He sold art for a living until one early morning conversation changed everything.
His then 4-year-old son was playing at a park with other children –- and Caron was chatting with a dad there.
“That guy asked me if I would do medals,” he explained. “I said yes but it was not true, I didn’t do medals.”
“But I knew that we could like produce medals.”
And did he ever –- creating his own work of art: the FINA World Swimming Championships medals in 2005.
For nearly 20 years now, he’s developed a multitude of prestigious awards.
In 2010 –- his first Canadian Grand Prix Trophy –- and again in 2015, 16, 18, 19, and 2023 –- with a twist.
“(The 2023 trophy) is the only trophy that I didn’t design,” said Caron. “It was designed by my daughter her name is Lili-April.”
“She’s studying at the University of Montreal in Industrial Design.”
Most of Caron’s trophies were won by Hamilton –- and last year, the drivers ordered their own duplicates of the 2023 trophy to keep in their homes.
The ones won on the track, are mostly kept in the team’s offices.
“Max Verstappen ordered his,” said Caron. “Fernando Alonso ended up second, he ordered one.”
“And Lewis Hamilton, who ended up third, ordered one too.”
“Instead of shipping them,” he added. “I took the plane and I went to deliver those trophies personally to them.”
“It was like an out of this world experience.”
Out of this world –- like his creations.
