France: the highs and lows of the editorial team

The Tops

Organization of the French Grand Prix

The organizers of the French Grand Prix completely failed their mobility plan last year. They had to react, and it must be acknowledged that all the measures taken to avoid the chaos of the previous edition have been effective.

Certainly, attendance during the weekend was lower (around 30,000 fewer spectators), but the shuttle systems (quickly reaching full capacity) and the new traffic directions significantly contributed to the smooth flow of traffic around the circuit. Challenge successfully met by the organization!

The journey into @GPFranceF1 is simply 😍😯#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/R4pTBY8Spe

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) 22 juin 2019

Lewis Hamilton, inevitably

How can we blame a driver at the top of his game? The race was soporific for the audience, the British champion willingly acknowledged in a press conference. But he also requested that drivers not be blamed for the lack of excitement and instead suggested looking at those who write the regulations, both technical and sporting.

In the meantime, Lewis was imperial on Saturday and Sunday, managing to discourage Valtteri Bottas, who had thought he could compete with his teammate after convincing free practice sessions.

Hamilton is at the peak of his craft and it will be very difficult to challenge him for the title this year.

Say ‘Fromage’ everyone! 😃 🧀 #FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/ax1zaa5N7H

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 23 juin 2019

The McLaren team rises from its ashes

Customer team Renault, McLaren nevertheless finished its weekend ahead of the factory team. The orange cars regained strength in the Var heat, and Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris made no mistakes in bringing back significant points for their team by placing in the best of the rest positions, even allowing themselves the luxury of outrunning a Red Bull.

The only downside to this near-perfect weekend was Lando Norris’s hydraulic failure at the end of the race, which deprived the Woking team of an even better result. However, the young British driver was still voted Driver of the Day by the spectators, something that hadn’t happened for a McLaren driver since Fernando Alonso at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although more as a tribute to his final Formula 1 race than for his on-track performance.

A great weekend but disappointing in the end for the F1 rookie 😬#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/zLcefNY3MZ

— Formula 1 (@F1) 24 juin 2019

The flops

North chicane of the Circuit Paul Ricard

The Mistral straight is one of the most iconic places on the Var circuit. With the return of Formula 1 last year, the FIA and race direction decided to interrupt this long straight with a chicane to slow down the cars for safety reasons, before the very fast Beausset corner.

But why slow down single-seaters that, during the race, are not even reaching their full potential, too restricted by tire and fuel management.

Some will argue, however, that this change allows for a new overtaking zone, but the late-race battle between Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris proved the limits of this reasoning.

The Team Principal of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, would rather agree with this opinion: « The level of entertainment in races largely depends on what the circuits provide. Perhaps it would be worth removing the chicane in the middle of the straight. I really think it would help. »

#Charles16 and #Seb5 both improved their times: 1:31.118 and 1:31.452 #FP3 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/b9nBNTtZ7a

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) 22 juin 2019

Pierre Gasly still can’t manage it

The Frenchman would have liked to take advantage of his home Grand Prix to finally close the gap with his teammate Max Verstappen. Unfortunately, everything went from bad to worse for the Rouen native. A softer tire compound than the Dutchman’s on Saturday did not allow him to get ahead and mainly put him at a disadvantage for the race.

The Red Bull driver seemed lost with his settings to the point that he made significant changes to his setup before qualifying, even though he was performing quite well in free practice.

The Austrian team is trying to determine if a wolf is hiding in the Frenchman’s single-seater. If that is the case, it could reignite his season, otherwise… watch out!

🗣 “It was a long, difficult day.” @PierreGASLY on the #FrenchGP 🇫🇷👉 https://t.co/1XXG8j2T2A #F1 pic.twitter.com/yYJcAblk69

— Aston Martin Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) 23 juin 2019

The sense of spectacle in Formula 1

Formula 1 experienced a dismal weekend in terms of entertainment. Overwhelming domination by a single team, then by a single driver during the race, a procession of the 20 cars on Sunday, and strict adherence to regulations penalizing, in the eyes of the public, the only drivers capable of providing excitement… it seems that this weekend at Paul Ricard encapsulated all the criticisms that Formula 1 can endure.

Official spokesperson for the French Grand Prix, Philippe Vandel summarized the public’s expectations in a few words: « The regulations must be understood by the public. The regulations can be strict, but they need to be visible.

Now, in the case of Daniel Ricciardo’s penalty, it was the public who felt they were being punished. And it is not in the sport’s interest to alienate its audience.

I am a threat of a twitter rant. But I’ll save it. Hope everyone was entertained. https://t.co/ENMyBr3HdH

— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) 23 juin 2019

From our special correspondent in Le Castellet