4 reasons why it’s great to have the French Grand Prix back in F1
Off the F1 calendar for ten years, but now the French Grand Prix is back…
For a country that hosted the first ever Grand Prix, back in 1906, and since then has held 86 of them, it has been a bit of a travesty that for ten years we have not had a race at what many see as the spiritual home of Grand Prix racing.
Of course, Silverstone and Monza would probably lay claim to that title too but when you think of all the far-flung dumps, who have dipped in and out of F1 over the years, you have to say it is a good thing to have it back.
Here are a few reasons why - plus some things to look out for this weekend…
1. IT IS IN FRANCE!
Ooh La La!
Location, Location, Location.
How many times, have you seen tweets from F1 folk travelling the world, who have pitched up in Ulaanbaatar or some such place, only to find the track is in the middle of nowhere (looking at you, Yeongam) or maybe in a great place but with food choices seemingly limited to the genitals of sea creatures?
Yes Japan: great racing, shame about the whale scrotum sandwiches.
Now I know, we really don’t have much sympathy for the whinging of those travelling the world for F1, but if you are going to go abroad for a race, then pick somewhere where it isn’t just about the racing.
How about the south of France in late June?
Climate, food, drink, beautiful countryside - all boxes well and truly ticked.
2. IT'S (USUALLY) GREAT IF YOU ARE A FERRARI FAN
Très bon stomping ground pour Ferrari
OK, before you tell me, yes, I know we have not been to Magny Cours (above) for ten years and Circuit Paul Ricard for nearly thirty, so we can read nothing into previous results, but if there is a place that brings good fortune to the Scuderia, then it is France.
In terms of wins, Ferrari own the French Grand Prix.
They are currently on seventeen victories, an unbelievable six of those won by Michael Schumacher, who also had another two here for Benetton.
This is more than double the tally of the next team on the list, Williams, and one more than Renault, Mercedes and McLaren, combined together, have managed.
Magnifique!
3. YET MORE RECORDS FOR LEWIS THIS WEEKEND?
Encore du champers this weekend?
Lewis Hamilton is yet to win the French Grand Prix but to be fair to him, he’s only been there twice, which makes winning it tricky, even for him.
So, having it back means there is finally the chance for him to put that right and add yet another record to his collection.
If he wins on Sunday, it will be the 26th different venue where he has ended up on the top step, meaning he will have won at every Grand Prix on the 2018 calendar.
He may even stretch his pole record to 75.
It could also be his 65th win, another one notched on the way towards Michael Schumacher’s total of 91.
Impressive non?
4. GOOD FOR FRANCE AND GOOD FOR F1
Three French drivers and a Le Mans winner. Sacré bleu!
When F1 left France in 2008, due to a combination of money (quelle surprise) and the fact that nobody really liked Magny Cours (it being a go-kart track, miles and miles away from civilisation), F1 lost a big audience as French interest in F1 dwindled.
Other venues were mooted as replacements, Disneyland Paris was one, but none could strike a deal and, in any case, at that time F1 was looking at new markets in destinations outside of Europe, so it was ironic that in not going with the Disneyland option, we ended up with years of trying out Mickey Mouse tracks, none of which stayed around for long.
Thankfully, current F1 owners Liberty see value in sticking to F1’s European heartland and so we have France back and a new deal too for Belgium.
Quite how this will fit in with their desire for more new venues, while not extending the length of the F1 season, is anybody’s guess - and is quite probably why this weekend is the first ever triple header (Austria and Silverstone are up over the next couple of weekends), just to see if it works.
With three French F1 pedallers on the grid (the most since 1995) in Romain Grosjean, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly plus Renault back as a full works outfit, the future looks a lot healthier than it did the last time we had a French Grand Prix.
Welcome back France - we’ve missed you…
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Comments (5)
At point 1 you state that other races are in the middle of nowhere..... Where is this track then, next to a trainstation and a highway? Some people missed free practice 1 because it took them 3 hours 2 complete the last 5 miles.
Maybe magny cours or la sarthe would be the better option
France has a gp. It's called Monaco 😂
Merveilleux travail! I wondered why the F1 Grand Prix wasn't in France until I read your article.
Très chic! Posted to the D_TRB USA facebook page!
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