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After a 10-year absence from Formula One, the French Grand Prix makes its return to the pinnacle of motorsport, returning to the revived Circuit Paul Ricard which takes over from Magny-Cours. Join The Roar for a live blog of the race, starting from 12:10am AEST.
For the first time, the Le Castellet based track will lend its full layout to the grand prix, with the 5.8km layout boasting a complex spread of high and low speed corners.
Much of Circuit Paul Ricard though promotes power, with its straights and perhaps will be crucial come the 53-lap grand prix for overtaking opportunities.
Though, being a new circuit there is plenty of uncertainty given that the drivers have only had the practice sessions and qualifying to get a gauge of how well their cars are suited to the place.
One thing that has been certain so far, is that Mercedes AMG have been quite strong, courtesy of their power-unit upgrades this weekend. This has seen Lewis Hamilton claim his 75th career pole position, ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas.
1-point ahead of Hamilton in the championship, Sebastian Vettel ended qualifying only 0.3 of a second off the Briton’s best lap and will start the race from third for Ferrari.
Red Bull have both their cars fourth and fifth led by Max Verstappen and while they may not have the immediate pace on their side in comparison to the Silver Arrows, their decision to set their fastest Q2 laps on supersoft tyres could prove of strategic benefit in the race.
Strategically, the trend this season has been one-stop races and France appears no different with the soft, supersoft and ultrasoft tyres on hand. This is the second race too, that Pirelli have brought tyres with reduced tread depth by 0.6mm – which featured in Spain, where Mercedes AMG dominated.
Charles Leclerc was the star of Saturday, earning his first top ten berth in Formula One for Sauber. Starting eighth, the Ferrari junior driver can capitalise for big points.
The Renault of Carlos Sainz will start from seventh too, with the two Haas cars making up the rest of the top ten. A host of big names missed out on Q3, in the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and the Force Indias – whilst both McLarens failed to get out of Q1.
Saturday saw wet weather affect practice and qualifying, and there is the chance that it could rain during the race.
Tune into The Roar from 12:10am AEST for live blog coverage, as Formula One prepares for lights out in France.
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