This weekend F1 returns to Circuit Paul Ricard for the second French Grand Prix in the venue’s five year deal to host it. Located in the South of France, not far from Monaco, and built on a plateau Circuit Paul Ricard is known for its fair weather. Notable features of the track include the long Mistral Straight & Chicane leading into high-speed right-hander Signes as well as runoff areas coated with high friction paint in place of gravel. Out of the past 15 Grands Prix the circuit has played host to, 7 of the race winners have gone on to win the Driver’s Championship that year.
Calculated risk is the name of the game for both Red Bull teams as they continue to take power unit elements as Honda develops them, knowing that by the end of the season there will be grid penalties for number of components used. This weekend 3/4 cars will be running new engines and a new turbocharger co-developed with their HondaJet subsidiary and turbo supplier IHI . This upgrade is said to produce a slight increase in power (but still short of the top teams). On the Red Bull side a podium for one car is possible. On the Toro Rosso side a double points finish is not out of the question.
Elsewhere on the grid, despite Ferrari’s strong Canadian Grand Prix we must assume that Mercedes still holds an advantage that will likely hand them victory. We shouldn’t expect Ferrari to be far off the pace with a podium certainly in the cards. For best-of-the-rest all eyes should be on the home team, Renault, as their 2019 program has been coming together nicely and with a significant chassis upgrade due this weekend. Haas could also occupy this space on raw pace but their failure to execute has been has been a problem this season. Paul Ricard could be a circuit that suits Racing Point’s package so look for them to be in a position to take a points-paying position. Expect a McLaren to be battling an Alfa Romeo for the last couple of points on offer with the former probably having an edge on the latter. Both Williams cars will be bringing up the rear with no shot at points.
US TV SCHEDULE
Practice 1 – Friday, June 21, 4:55 AM – ESPN2
Practice 2 – Friday, June 21, 8:55 AM –
ESPNU
Practice 3 – Saturday, June 22, 5:55 AM – ESPN2
Qualifying – Saturday, June 22, 8:55 AM – ESPN2
Pit Lane Live – Sunday, June 23, 7:30 AM – ESPN3
On The Grid – Sunday, June 23, 8:30 AM –
ESPN
Race – Sunday, June 23, 9:05 AM –
ESPN
Race (re-air) – Sunday, June 23, 7:00 PM –
ESPNEWS
Race (re-air) – Sunday, June 23, 10:00 PM – 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.)
Lap record*: 1:34.225 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight and back straight
Car performance
Downforce level: Medium
Strategy
2019 tyre choices: Hard, C2; Medium, C3; Soft, C4 (2018:Soft, Supersoft, Ultrasoft)
*lap set during a Grand Prix
2018 RESULTS
Laps: 53
Pole: 1:30.209, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Fast race lap: 1:34.225. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3. Kimi Raikonnen, Ferrari
CURRENT STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 162
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 133
3. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 100
4. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 88
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 72
6. Pierre Gasly, Red Bull, 36
7. Carlos Sainz, McLaren, 18
8. Daniel Ricciardo, Renault, 16
9. Kevin Magnussen, Haas, 14
10. Sergio Perez, Racing Point, 13
Constructors
1. Mercedes, 295
2. Ferrari, 172
3. Red Bull, 124
4. McLaren, 30
5. Renault, 28
6. Racing Point, 19
7. Toro Rosso, 17
8. Haas, 16
9. Alfa Romeo Racing, 13
10. Williams, 0
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