/https%3A%2F%2Ffanf1.obox.media%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F02%2F01_2204210899_fad783d8dd31-4-scaled.jpg)
In this series, listen to different personalities discuss Formula 1 and discover what attracts them to the sport.
When a 3×3 basketball world champion takes an interest in the roar of Formula 1 engines, the conversation shifts from half-court tactics to the subtleties of pit stop strategy. Marie-Eve Paget, the French five-a-side basketball star who won gold at the 2022 3×3 Basketball World Cup, is now juggling her Olympic ambitions with a growing fascination for the pinnacle of motor racing.
Employed by the French federation to prepare the national 3×3 team for the Paris 2024 Games, Marie-Eve Paget admits that she only discovered F1 two years ago, thanks to Netflix's “Drive to Survive” series. “That series opened a door for me,” she explains. “It introduced me to a sport where endurance, split-second concentration, and daring risk-taking are as essential as they are on a basketball court.” What attracts her, she explains, is the collective effort behind each lap of the track. Unlike basketball, where the outcome depends largely on the players, performance in F1 depends on a symphony of engineers, strategists, weather analysts, and, of course, the car itself. “It's a different way of looking at performance, and I find that incredibly interesting,” she notes.
Although she has never set foot in a Grand Prix stadium, Paget dreams of attending the Monaco Grand Prix in person. However, the race that made the biggest impression on her was the 2022 Silverstone Grand Prix, where a spectacular crash involving Zhou reminded her of the fine line between triumph and tragedy in the sport.
If she had the chance to get behind the wheel of an F1 car, Paget would choose an Alpine, “the French touch,” she smiles. Her admiration for the teams is just as eclectic: she respects Mercedes for its strategic mastery, Ferrari for its legendary heritage, Red Bull for its pure aggression, Williams for its resilience, and Alpine for representing her native country. Even Haas has caught her attention, thanks to driver Guenther.
When asked to name her favorite driver, Paget refuses to choose, instead highlighting the unique qualities of Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris. She acknowledges that Max Verstappen's talent is “exceptional,” even if she doesn't name him as her favorite.
Off the track, Paget's garage houses a red Peugeot 308 Allure, an essential detail in her eyes, while her dream car remains a red Porsche Panamera. She has yet to experience a race track behind the wheel, but hopes to do so one day.
Looking ahead, Paget hopes that the 2024 F1 season will be more exciting than the previous one, and she is already counting down the days until the next season of “Drive to Survive” to stay connected to the sport she has grown to love.
