Treats, speed of 300km/hr make Circuit Paul Ricard an amazing F1 track
It is one of the most used test circuits in the world.
By Rajarshi Bhattacharjee, ET Bureau |
Agencies
As the Grand Prix reaches south of France, here’s what you can expect from the oldest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar.
FORMULA 1 French Grand Prix
Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet
Circuit length: 5.842 km
Race distance: 309.69 km
Debut: 1971, Jackie Stewart won the inaugural race in a Tyrrell 003
1. Home to the world’s oldest Grand Prix — first held in 1906 — France was dropped from the F1 calendar in 2008 because of a financial crisis. After 10 years away from Formula 1, the French Grand Prix returned to the south of France in 2018.
2. With the forecast suggesting good weather, it’s going to be a sunny weekend at the circuit with stunning coastline, lovely towns and villages within easy reach of the track. This area of France is known for its excellent food and even better beverages.
3. The Circuit Paul Ricard is one of the most used test circuits in the world because of its even distribution of high-, medium- and low-speed corners. F1 cars are pushed to their performance limits here, where drivers will hit a top speed exceeding 300 kmph. It’s going to be interesting when drivers won’t apply the brake for the fast right-hander (at Signes) and the 5G joyride of the following (Beausset) bend.
4. The contest between Britain’s Lewis Hamilton and Germany’s Sebastian Vettel is going to be intense this weekend after Vettel missed the pole position, despite finishing first at the Canadian Grand Prix. Vettel was hit with a five-second penalty for making what was deemed to be a dangerous re-entry onto the track on Lap 48.
5. Vettel was red with rage at being stripped of the win at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Montreal crowd watched in amazement as Vettel got out of his car, marched to the post-race grid, theatrically grabbed the big No 1 sign parked in front of race winner Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes car and moved it to where his Ferrari should have been in the empty No 2 slot. He then hauled the No 2 sign and plonked it in front of Hamilton’s car.
6. Daniel Ricciardo also hopes to put on a show at Renault’s home French Grand Prix this weekend after the team doubled its season’s points tally in the Canadian Grand Prix. Renault has fixed an engine problem that slowed both Ricciardo and Hulkenberg this season and they are now back to full power.
FORMULA 1 French Grand Prix
Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet
Circuit length: 5.842 km
Race distance: 309.69 km
Debut: 1971, Jackie Stewart won the inaugural race in a Tyrrell 003
1. Home to the world’s oldest Grand Prix — first held in 1906 — France was dropped from the F1 calendar in 2008 because of a financial crisis. After 10 years away from Formula 1, the French Grand Prix returned to the south of France in 2018.
2. With the forecast suggesting good weather, it’s going to be a sunny weekend at the circuit with stunning coastline, lovely towns and villages within easy reach of the track. This area of France is known for its excellent food and even better beverages.
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3. The Circuit Paul Ricard is one of the most used test circuits in the world because of its even distribution of high-, medium- and low-speed corners. F1 cars are pushed to their performance limits here, where drivers will hit a top speed exceeding 300 kmph. It’s going to be interesting when drivers won’t apply the brake for the fast right-hander (at Signes) and the 5G joyride of the following (Beausset) bend.
Aged 44, Dr Giuseppe Farina won the inaugural F1 season in an Alfa Romeo car. Incidentally, Farina, who held a doctorate in political science, died in a car crash in 1966.
4. The contest between Britain’s Lewis Hamilton and Germany’s Sebastian Vettel is going to be intense this weekend after Vettel missed the pole position, despite finishing first at the Canadian Grand Prix. Vettel was hit with a five-second penalty for making what was deemed to be a dangerous re-entry onto the track on Lap 48.
5. Vettel was red with rage at being stripped of the win at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Montreal crowd watched in amazement as Vettel got out of his car, marched to the post-race grid, theatrically grabbed the big No 1 sign parked in front of race winner Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes car and moved it to where his Ferrari should have been in the empty No 2 slot. He then hauled the No 2 sign and plonked it in front of Hamilton’s car.
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6. Daniel Ricciardo also hopes to put on a show at Renault’s home French Grand Prix this weekend after the team doubled its season’s points tally in the Canadian Grand Prix. Renault has fixed an engine problem that slowed both Ricciardo and Hulkenberg this season and they are now back to full power.
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