This weekend F1 will hold the first French Grand Prix since 2008 and the venue is even more of a blast from the past: Circuit Paul Ricard. Located in the South of France, not that far from Monaco, and built on a plateau the circuit is known for its fair weather. Notable features include the Mistral Straight & Chicane leading into high-speed right-hander Signes. The circuit has played host to 14 Grands Prix from 1971 to 1990; of the race winners, 6 have gone on to win the Driver’s Championship that year.
Toro Rosso Honda enters the weekend buoyed by the progress its long-anticipated engine upgrade showed in Canada. So good was this engine upgrade that it caused sister team, Red Bull Racing, to formally announce its switch to Honda power beginning in 2019. Without knowing how the cars behave on this circuit, we can assume that with the new Honda Power Unit points are possible for both cars as Honda continues to optimize the software mapping (it has been rumored that the new Power Unit was even run de-tuned in Canada). With that said, unless he has a stellar result in France, it appears more likely that Brendon Hartley will be replaced before the end of the season.
Elsewhere on the grid, based on recent form one has to assume Ferrari holds a slight advantage; however there is not much daylight between them, Mercedes, and Red Bull. We should not be surprised if we see another podium with all three of these teams represented. We can expect Renault to slot in as the best of the rest. From there, we are more likely to see team cars split up from each other. Haas will look to return to the promising form it showed earlier in the season. Fighting with Haas will be McLaren but they are unlikely to put both cars in the points. Force India will also be a factor when it comes to deciding the lower points-paying positions. Expect one of the Saubers to be in contention for points. Williams will be bringing up the rear along with any drivers from further up the grid who may fall on bad luck.
US TV SCHEDULE
Practice 1 – Friday, June 22 6:00 AM – ESPN3
Practice 2 – Friday, June 22 10:00 AM – ESPN3
Practice 3 – Saturday, June 23 7:00 AM –
ESPNEWS
Qualifying – Saturday, June 23 10:00 AM –
ESPNEWS
Race – Sunday, June 24 10:00 AM – ESPN2
CIRCUIT
INFORMATION
Lap data
Lap length: 5.842km (3.630 miles)
Race laps: 53
Race distance: 309.6km (192.3 miles)
Pole position: Left-hand side of the track
Maximum speed: 342kph (Pirelli est.)
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight and back straight
Car performance
Downforce level: Medium
Strategy
2018 tyre choices: Soft, Supersoft, Ultrasoft
2017 RESULTS
N/A
CURRENT
STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari, 121
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 120
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 86
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 84
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari, 68
6. Max Verstappen, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 50
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1, 32
8. Fernando Alonso, McLaren Renault, 32
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Renault Sport F1, 24
10. Kevin Magnussen, Haas, 19
Constructors
1. Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 206
2. Scuderia Ferrari, 189
3. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 134
4. Renault Sport F1, 56
5. McLaren Renault, 40
6. Force India, 28
7. Toro Rosso, 19
8. Haas, 19
9. Alfa Romeo Sauber, 12
10. Williams Martini Racing, 4
The video below is not an F1 car; however, it shows the track layout F1 will use.
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