GridpediaCircuit Paul Ricard
- Location
- Le Castellet, France
- Races held
- 18 (1971 to 2022)
- Most wins, drivers
- Alain Prost (4), Lewis Hamilton (2), Nigel Mansell (2), Max Verstappen (2), Nelson Piquet (1)
- Most wins, teams
- McLaren (3), Williams (3), Renault (2), Ferrari (2), Red Bull (2)
- Most poles
- Alain Prost (3), Lewis Hamilton (2), Nigel Mansell (2), Jackie Stewart (2), Ayrton Senna (1)
- Fastest race lap
- 1:08.012, Nigel Mansell, 1990 (race laps since 1982; layouts change over time)
- Map
- OpenStreetMap
What is a lap of Circuit Paul Ricard like?
Opened in 1970 with finance from pastis maker Paul Ricard, the circuit is known for its blue and red abrasive run-off areas used instead of gravel traps, and for the long Mistral straight, named after the local wind. For the Grand Prix layout used from 2018, a chicane splits the Mistral straight; after it come Signes (Turn 10), a right-hander taken at about 290 km/h, and the long double right-hander of Beausset (Turn 11), which formula1.com describes as a 5g load. Most overtaking happens under braking at the end of the two DRS zones, into Turn 1 and into the Mistral chicane at Turn 8, the heaviest braking point of the lap. The French Grand Prix returned here in 2018 after a ten-year absence and was held in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022; the 2022 race is the last Formula 1 race at the circuit to date.
- Lap length
- 5.842 km
- Turns
- 15
- Direction
- clockwise
- Downforce
- Medium
- Longest straight
- about 1,000 m
- Elevation change
- 33 m
- DRS zones (to 2025)
- 2
- Character
- Balanced (about 39% of the lap is cornering)
- Layout described
- Grand Prix layout with the Mistral chicane (circuit designation 1C-V2), 5.842 km and 15 turns, used for the French Grand Prix from 2018 to 2022
| Turn | Name | Side | Type | Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | S de la Verrerie (first part) | Left | fast | 90° |
| 2 | S de la Verrerie (second part) | Right | fast | 80° |
| 3 | Virage de l'Hôtel (first part) | Right | medium | 69° |
| 4 | Virage de l'Hôtel (second part) | Left | slow | 102° |
| 5 | Virage du Camp | Right | slow | 118° |
| 6 | Virage de la Sainte-Baume | Right | medium | 127° |
| 7 | Left | medium | 47° | |
| 8 | Mistral chicane (entry) | Left | chicane | 64° |
| 9 | Mistral chicane (exit) | Right | chicane | 100° |
| 10 | Signes | Right | fast | 69° |
| 11 | Double Droite du Beausset | Right | medium | 216° |
| 12 | Virage de Bendor | Left | medium | 158° |
| 13 | Courbe du Garlaban | Right | fast | 59° |
| 14 | Virage du Lac | Left | medium | 134° |
| 15 | Virage du Pont | Right | slow | 126° |
Sources for the checked facts (16)
- formula1.com/en/racing/2022/france
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_Paul_Ricard
- formula1.com/en/latest/article/trackside-performance-analysis-a-closer-look-at-frances-dem
- formula1.com/en/latest/article/tech-tuesday-why-paul-ricard-provides-the-ultimate-test-for
- racefans.net/2020/01/27/new-first-sector-at-paul-ricard-will-create-big-opportunity-for-ov
- us.motorsport.com/f1/news/best-seats-french-grand-prix/4388568/
- racingcircuits.info/europe/france/paul-ricard.html
- lemansultimate.wiki.gg/wiki/Track_Guide:_Paul_Ricard
- news.racecontrol.gg/?p=1449
- ferrari.com/en-EN/formula1/articles/french-grand-prix-2022-preview
- racefans.net/2019/06/24/remove-mistral-chicane-to-improve-races-at-paul-ricard-wolff/
- racefans.net/f1-information/going-to-a-race/paul-ricard/
- lightsoutblog.com/french-grand-prix-weekend-information
- formula1.com/en/information/france-circuit-paul-ricard-le-castellet.2puNt6JNpM6cVBD7YpbTZt
- eurosport.co.uk/formula-1/french-gp-organisers-explain-chicane-addition_sto6282732/story.s
- astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/races/2022-french-gp
Map, character and grey values are approximate (measured from a GPS trace). Report a correction.
Does pole position win at Circuit Paul Ricard?
The pole sitter has won 11 of 18 races here (61%). Across all circuits since 1950 the pole sitter wins 44% of races. The winner started from the front row (P1 or P2) in 14 of 18 races (78%) and from the top three in 14 (78%). Lowest grid position to win: 5th, Ronnie Peterson in 1973.
| Winner started from | Wins | Share |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | 11 | 61% |
| P2 | 3 | 17% |
| P4 | 2 | 11% |
| P5 | 2 | 11% |
Where the winner started, every race at this circuit. Pole sitter means the driver who set the fastest qualifying time (first on the grid where no qualifying data exists); a grid penalty can move the pole sitter back, and that race still counts for them. Compare every circuit.
How are races at Circuit Paul Ricard won?
- Since 2010
- 4 races; winners made 1 stop in 3, 2 stops in 1; first stop at a median lap 21 (40% of the race)
| Race | Winner | Stops | Stop laps | Tyre compounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | 1 | 16 of 53 | C2 hard C3 medium C4 soft |
| 2021 | Max Verstappen | 2 | 18, 32 of 53 | C2 hard C3 medium C4 soft |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton | 1 | 24 of 53 | C2 hard C3 medium C4 soft |
| 2018 | Lewis Hamilton | 1 | 33 of 53 |