Even before the French GP has seen a kick-off, questions are being raised if the grand prix could turn out to be a procession like in Monaco and Canada because of its layout.
The returning French GP at Paul Ricard, which primarily has been a testing track for years since last staging a Formula 1 race in 1990, is already under scrutiny because of the circuit’s layout for this year’s grand prix.
The circuit comprises of two technical sections with 15 corners, but the long straights are accompanied with slow corners. Even with two DRS zones, the issue of following cars this year will make it difficult for drivers to have enough pace to overtake.
To add to it, the FIA decided to add a chicane on its long Mistral Straight cutting it into two halves as a result, which could pose a tough challenge. “There have been some changes compared to the past,” started Force India’s Esteban Ocon.
“First of all, the track has been resurfaced, compared to the previous year so we will see how it performs with those tyres [only] in practice. Second thing is the shape of the corners have been redesigned in Turns one and two and five and 15, to help overtaking and also, I think, it can only help.
“It’s a wider entry to the corner, it’s a slower entry to turn one but quicker exit. All those things can only help overtaking. We will see if it helps in practice; already we will have a better idea.”
Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly also has question marks due the on-going issues of car following – which could be aggravated at Paul Ricard too. “There is a question mark about the chicane, if it’s good or if they should have left the straight,” he said of the Mistral Straight.
“I think in the end we don’t have much experience from it so we need to see how it goes this year. But there are a couple of overtaking spots. The only problem is still the same: it’s really close to follow other cars so I think it’s a bit difficult to predict.
“But if degradation is pretty high, for sure we know it’s pretty hard on the tyres, we need to see how it behaves with the Pirellis and it will make it quite exciting. I don’t want to be pessimistic, I’m usually really optimistic about things so I think we should wait and see on Sunday but hopefully it’s going to be an exciting one.”
While Ocon and Gasly more or less had similar opinions, McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Haas’ Romain Grosjean had more of the positive approach. For Alonso, he is hoping that the returning French GP factor play a bigger card for the weekend.
Whereas Grosjean reckons that people are too eager to jump on conclusions, taking an example of the 2018 season which started on a slow note in Australia. “I think we always like to think ahead of things and not let time tell us what’s going on,” he said.
“First race of the season was very boring but the next few were amazing and there was a big crisis after Australia and actually the races afterwards were quite fun so here we will see.
“On paper, it’s clearly not the easiest track in the world on which to overtake but there are long DRS sections. If the tyre energy is high, so the tyres could go off and if that’s the case overtaking is going to become an option.
“I think recently the one stop races have been a bit boring for everyone, so hopefully we will get a bit more stops and then the race is always going to be a bit more exciting.”