The Williams Martini team moves to the south of France to the famous Paul Ricard circuit for the 2018 French GP. After quite a long break from the circuit F1 returns. For the Williams team it is a circuit that has seen the team achieve success. In 2018 the Williams team is hoping to start to turn around their season. For team drivers Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin it is a circuit where both have had experience but in other classes. Again the team is hoping to come away with a good result hopefully a points soring result.
It’s round eight and it’s
the return of the French Grand Prix! Located near Le Castellet in the
south of France, Paul Ricard hosted the first French Grand Prix in 1971
up until 1990 when the track became outdated. Williams has enjoyed much
success at Paul Ricard with a number of race wins, podiums and pole
positions during the seventies and eighties. In 1986, Nigel Mansell and
Nelson Piquet qualified first and third. The pair went one better the
following season with a one-two finish at the 1987 French Grand Prix.
The Circuit Paul Ricard has since been updated to create a challenging
and thrilling race for the return of the French Grand Prix in 2018.
PADDY LOWE:
This weekend sees the return of the French GP to the Formula One
calendar. France has a great history of racing so it will be fantastic
to make our first return to the country since the last race was held in
2008 in Magny-Cours. This weekend however, Formula One returns to Paul
Ricard for the first race since 1990. It is a place we know very well
with the team having spent many long winters there between 1989-1992.
There are many memories from our previous visits to Paul Ricard, but one
that stands out personally was when Williams first tested traction
control here with the FW14B during the winter of 1991. Damon Hill was
behind the wheel and he thought it was holding him back, but he was
actually a second a lap faster! Situated at Le Castellet, near
Marseille, the circuit is well-known for its long Mistral straight and
elongated track design. The track is also quite unique as it is built on
a plateau, and so is very flat. It is a good challenge and we look
forward to putting on a good show for the French fans.
SERGEY SIROTKIN:
Paul Ricard is quite a well-known track for me. I did thousands of
kilometres there last year. Although I know the track quite well, there are
a lot of things that change over a race weekend that you never know. It’s a
new track for everyone so it will be nice to see where we end up.
LANCE STROLL:
I know the Paul Ricard track from when I drove in Formula 3. I had a
good time there and won a race, but I have to be honest because I can’t say
I like it. It is just run offs everywhere and I am not a big fan. However,
it is always interesting to go back to somewhere I have raced before and see
what it is like in a Formula One car.
Race Data Friday:
Practice 1: 12:00 - 13:30
Practice 2: 16:00 - 17:30 Saturday:
Practice 3: 13:00 - 14:00
Qualifying: 16:00 – 17:00 Sunday: Race: 16:10
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