France: The Latest Paddock Gossip
Formula 1 marks its presence at the Circuit Paul Ricard for the first time in 28 years. The DRS zones are announced but could change during the weekend, Bottas and Mercedes do not consider themselves favorites, and the region's officials inaugurate the circuit's facilities on this not-so-quiet Thursday in the F1 world.
The small world of Formula 1 takes place on the Circuit Paul Ricard and sets up its tent under the sun of southern France. The organizers have pulled out all the stops after 28 years of drought on the Var track.
The South Village inaugurated by Christian Estrosi, Renaud Muselier, and Stéphane Clair
Not far from the paddock and next to the Fan Zone, the Circuit Paul Ricard offers its visitors a chance to explore the “Village Sud,” which brings together a good number of crafts, businesses, and symbols of Provence and southern France.
It was inaugurated this morning by Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and member of the GIP organizing the Grand Prix, Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur Region, and Stéphane Clair, Director of the Circuit Paul Ricard, while the Patrouille de France tested its maneuvers in the sky for its planned flyover before the race on Sunday.
📸🇫🇷 Inauguration officielle du « Village Sud » vitrine de la région et passage obligatoire lors du #GPFranceF1 pour découvrir la culture locale 😉#FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/sZUcCNkRbJ
— Grand Prix de France F1 (@GPFranceF1) 21 juin 2018
Two DRS zones for the Circuit Paul Ricard
The FIA has decided to equip the Circuit Paul Ricard with two DRS zones. Unsurprisingly, the first is located on the start/finish straight and the second at the beginning of the Mistral straight, just before the chicane.
The FIA nevertheless reserves the right to modify these two zones during the weekend after the first laps of the cars this Friday.
Resurfacing to Mercedes’ advantage?
The asphalt of the Castellet circuit was resurfaced this winter to optimize the track quality, just like in Barcelona (and also in Silverstone).
Beyond the impact on performance, it was the manufacturer Pirelli that had to adapt its tires by offering ones with a tread that is 0.4mm thinner to prevent the risk of blistering, which could prove dangerous.
An inequality in the tests conducted with these watches remains nevertheless present.
Indeed, following the few complaints recorded in Barcelona, Mercedes had tested these thinner tires this winter, potentially giving them an advantage.
It remains to be seen whether this aspect will affect performance and if the competing Top Teams will once again indulge in these comments.
However, Valtteri Bottas does not consider his Mercedes as the favorite for this race weekend.
« It’s a different Grand Prix, a different type of tires and it’s positive that we have the new engine, which would have been necessary [in Canada] to win the race. Hopefully, we will have other developments on the car as well, because each team now develops from one race to the next and the competition is getting tougher. »
We came to Canada knowing that in theory it was a good track for us. We came, even with the old engine, thinking there would be a good opportunity to fight for victory. But that wasn’t the case, and it shows how challenging the development race is and that we must continue to progress. We are clearly not the favorites for the French Grand Prix, that’s a fact.
With a track heated to a scorching level and summer temperatures, will Ferrari continue to be advantaged by the heat? The Renault engine of the Red Bull, with a power deficit compared to its direct rivals, could well handicap the Austrian cars on a very fast track.
Just waiting for a lift! ☀️😅
It’s hot. It might be too hot.#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 @GPFranceF1 pic.twitter.com/DsxKvLDaB5
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 21 juin 2018
From our special correspondents in Le Castellet
