The French Grand Prix – too much to talk about.
- Richard Baxter
- Jun 27, 2018
- 3 min read
Between the news of a Red Bull Honda partnership, the accident packed race, rumours on the futures of Alonso and Ricciardo, there really is a lot to talk about over the French Grand Prix weekend.
I’d still be writing this if I tried to fit everything in, so here are just a few things I observed.
The return of the French Grand Prix to the calendar this season had everyone licking their lips not only as it was the first time Formula 1 had returned to race in France in ten years but also because it meant we had a ‘triple header’. Three grand prix on three consecutive weekends. Dreams really do come true!
The Paul Ricard circuit is what I consider a classic circuit and this is just the latest one to return to the calendar. The previous being Austria back in 2014. And over the French Grand Prix weekend we had the great news of the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps renewing their contract to remain on the calendar for years to come. This is personally my favourite race track in the world – ever since Damon Hill’s epic win in 1998 – and I am simply delighted it has a new contract.
Now all we need is for Silverstone to have a new contract. Spa and Silverstone are some of the most loved circuits by fans and drivers alike, and the races at these classic circuits never usually disappoint.
Liberty Media has spoken about taking Formula 1 to new places. But why not revive some of the other classic races? With the strong Dutch support Verstappen takes with him to every race surely it can’t be long until we race in The Netherlands again. Could Zandvoort be the next one to return?
After the French Grand Prix, Formula 1 released on their twitter page quite an interesting clip of Hamilton and Verstappen together discussing the race.
Take a look at the video below.
After watching this video there seems to be a clear respect between the two drivers. And with all the driver market rumours we’ve heard I could actually see these two working together as team mates. Whilst I don’t think it is likely to ever happen it is something I’d love to see. Both drivers are considered amongst the best racers on the grid and would be a powerful force for any team – it would however have the potential of all blowing up between them and the team if anything was to go wrong.
Both drivers also discussed the Vettel penalty for colliding with Bottas at the start of the race. Max was particularly vocal about this in the post race interview, and I can see why. With the criticism he came in to earlier this season for some of the incidents he was involved in he is raising the point as to why Vettel isn’t getting the same treatment. To me it isn’t surprising though, with Verstappen still being so young it makes him an easier target than a four time world champion.
The discussion between the drivers also raised further questions of the Pirelli tyres. They are simply too hard. In a previous race this season the ultra soft tyres, originally introduced as a qualifying tyre lasted for 50 laps in a race! And there are just too many different compounds. Please can we just have this simplified? Let’s just have the basics of soft, medium and hard compounds. It’s easier for the drivers, easier for the teams and definitely easier for the fans. It doesn’t need to be complicated.
Formula 1 is getting in to my favourite part of the season now. With summer now here and the imminent arrival of the British Grand Prix I am sure plenty more action is to come our way.
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