France – Presentation: Just a Sign Will Suffice!
Whether you're a pop child or a rock child, a gesture from the Provence Alpes Côtes d'Azur region was enough to rekindle the spark in our eyes, with the return of the French Grand Prix at the Circuit Paul Ricard. Here, the drivers do not arrive on conquered ground, so Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are tasked with taming the Var giant to reclaim or retain the lead in the championship.
« It has been a dream for years to race in front of my home crowd, and I will finally experience this incredible feeling of a home Grand Prix. I am very proud of the work done by everyone involved in this return of the French Grand Prix, and I hope the event will be successful.
I have already raced at Paul Ricard – it was my first win in single-seaters in 2013, so I have very fond memories of this track. Having already been here in the promotion formulas makes it easier to get accustomed to this new circuit in a Formula 1. I think I will find my rhythm quite quickly.
It’s going to be a busy week for me, but once I’m in the car, it’ll be just like another race weekend and the focus will be on the track.
Some novelty but not that much… The Paul Ricard is a familiar venue in Formula 1, and the most seasoned spectators have already witnessed races there. Some drivers have even raced on it during private testing or in promotional formula events. Esteban Ocon talks to us about his feeling of having a Grand Prix at home, while Stoffel Vandoorne, Lewis Hamilton, and Valtteri Bottas have already found their stride on the track.
For others, adaptation will take longer. Mastering technical segments such as the T3-T4-T5 sequence after the Esses de la Verrerie, the Beausset double-right turn, and other long supporting bends that follow it up to the 110° T15 leading onto the pit straight will require more practice.
A tour of the premises
Get ready for the grand revival of the #FrenchGP!
The biggest thing on our #Fit4F1 to do list at Paul Ricard is to set a whole new Lap Record! Any guesses on just how we’ll be? https://t.co/4shMdSrrNj pic.twitter.com/2K8nkNCF4S— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 18 juin 2018
For posterity
How can one talk about the return of Formula 1 in France without mentioning the battle between Gilles Villeneuve and René Arnoux during the 1979 edition at the Dijon-Prenois circuit? In the last five laps, the two opponents were fully committed to this fight for second place, with risky overtakes and side-by-side entries in several corners.
However, Formula 1 in France is not limited to this event alone. Every Grand Prix offers a series of actions that onboard cameras allow us to see and review. Here is a small compilation of five heated moments that occurred during the 1989 French Grand Prix.
Let’s talk about the DRS
Indispensable artifice for providing overtaking opportunities, the Drag Reduction System has not been forgotten at Paul Ricard. The FIA has therefore decided to set up two DRS zones. The first is placed on the start-finish line, with a detection point located at the entrance of turn 14 (La Tour), and the second has been decided for the first part of the Mistral straight with a detection point positioned before turn 7.
Tarmac and mistral
After a decade absence it’s time to revitalize the #FrenchGP.
Step 1: Give the circuit some #Fit4F1 colour. https://t.co/ywQMd6JuRQ pic.twitter.com/L1ncGOTXgd— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 12 juin 2018
No major strategic surprise for the return of the French Grand Prix at Le Castellet, as teams have largely trusted the softest compound. Pirelli has brought the ultra-soft, super-soft, and soft tires to the Var, and we can prepare for another one-stop race. The race lap count has not yet been set by the FIA, but some have suggested that the race would have 53 laps to exceed the 300km race distance and even reach 309.626km. The trickiest part of the circuit will be the double right of Beausset, which will challenge the front-left suspension with its load and deceleration.
The climate typical of the South of France will protect the circuit well this week. Rain is not expected for this big return of Formula 1, and the sun will be present for all the driving sessions. Friday will take place under a partially cloudy sky, with summer temperatures of 23-24°C for the first practice session and 26-27°C for the second.
Saturday will be cooler, with 2 to 3 degrees less on the thermometer. Weather conditions will be the same as the previous day in terms of the sky. For Sunday, expect continuity, the sky will remain partially cloudy and temperatures will hover around 23-25°C.
The TV program!
