Paul Ricard may use a different version of the chicane on its longest straight for this year’s French Grand Prix.
The race promoters are already considering changes to the first sector of the track in order to encourage teams to run lower downforce levels, which they hope will make overtaking easier.Several drivers and F1 figures have suggested removing the Mistral chicane to aid overtaking. Although restoring the Mistral straight to its full, uninterrupted length would further encourage teams to run less downforce on the cars, the promoters are believed to be unwilling to remove the chicane as a grandstand overlooks it.
However Jarno Zaffelli, owner of Dromo Circuit Design who have developed the track revisions, said possible changes to the layout of the chicane are among the alterations which have been submitted to the FIA for consideration.
The overall philosophy behind the changes is to ease some of the corners, said Zaffelli. “The current working group led by Craig Wilson at FOM is pushing very hard and with the same principle that we took it on board and we made a proposal to FIA. So it is definitely making quicker but there are different options that we are evaluating and they are evaluating now.
“They need to evaluate on the chicane because the chicane is going to stay, but not necessarily in the current configuration. There are a lot of possible configurations there and they are evaluating what would be more feasible and do-able according to their needs. That’s why I’m not sure yet which kind of configuration will be approved.”
The circuit including the start/finish area can already be run in 160 different corner combinations because of the large number of alternative routes at several corners. However the changes being considered could include building further new corners, said Zaffelli.
“There is the potential of doing some other configurations,” he said. “It’s something that we will know in the next few weeks because the works will be done in advance of the Formula 1 event. We are targeting March and to complete in April.”
However he confirmed there will be no changes to the circuit’s distinctive all-asphalt, blue and red-coloured run-off areas.
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Paul Ricard Mistral chicane variations
The current Paul Ricard track allows for eight different track configurations of the Mistral chicane. Version C has been used for the two races since the track returned to the calendar in 2018. However Version A, which bypasses the chicane entirely, will not be used this year.
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KaIIe (@kaiie)
3rd February 2020, 8:40
If there must be a chicane, I would like to see two criteria fulfilled: 1) it enables overtaking (well, most of the overtaking in the previous years was already done way before the chicane, but let’s hope the DRS zone might be reduced or the wind blows from the right direction to stop the highway passes), 2) it is somehow challenging to drive or unique, like the pre-2000 first chicane at Monza. Configurations like B, D, or F do not seem very good, so I would maybe go with the simplest opinion that is G.
Jere (@jerejj)
3rd February 2020, 9:10
I wish they’d ty version A for at least a single season, but if never, preferably E or G then.
Jere (@jerejj)
3rd February 2020, 9:11
‘try’
MEGATRON M12 (@megatron)
3rd February 2020, 14:51
G is the best option for F1, version A the worst. @jerejj
Jere (@jerejj)
3rd February 2020, 16:38
@megatron Yes, you replied to me before that using the full-length of the Mistral straight wouldn’t make a difference to the top-end speeds towards Signes compared to the C-version used thus far since the circuit’s F1-return. However, I still wish that’d happen at least once so that there’d be another massively long full-throttle stretch to rival Baku’s longest flat out-section. But I’d be okay with either E or G as well since there’d be less turning with those options than with C, i.e., the closest alternatives to driving the straight at its full-length.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
3rd February 2020, 9:20
Sometimes you are spoilt for choice, but here all options genuinely seem poor. At best E or G remind me of the old bus stop at spa.
Surely in this massive expanse of open tarmac its got to be possible to design a chicane that allows for overtaking, ideally with the potential for a switch back.
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
3rd February 2020, 9:23
Does anybody know when we’re going to get rid of this atrocity?
Lee1
3rd February 2020, 19:21
Given that the owner is the poison dwarf, I imagine he has tied it into a nice lucrative long term contract.
Charles
3rd February 2020, 10:25
The cars have never been safer on a track with some of the largest run offs and they still insist on a chicane?…
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
3rd February 2020, 10:32
It’s due to the economic reasons, there are granstands overseeing this part of the track. Still a terrible circuit.
regs (@regs)
3rd February 2020, 18:26
There are tonnes of fans who would prefer a stand in a place of very high speeds.
AR
4th February 2020, 7:02
seeing the braking from high speeds is what I think most fans prefer.
fabrizzio
3rd February 2020, 10:57
all considering, maybe it would be easier to just change the race track, since the current one simply doesn’t fit modern Formula 1 racing, not to mention a highly poor access to the Paul Ricard venue…
vjanik (@vjanik)
3rd February 2020, 11:02
Option A. And make it an oval :-)
Yellow vests could block the track at a random point in the GP to spice up the racing.
bosyber (@bosyber)
3rd February 2020, 11:48
H looks like quite an unusual bit of corners! But, hope they go for that simple G (indeed reminding me of the Spa bus-stop, which often provided some interesting moments)
m archer
3rd February 2020, 12:44
G would be cool. Reasonably high speed.
MacLeod (@macleod)
3rd February 2020, 13:30
This track is great for testing wet tyres just open the sprinkel system and flood the track.
MEGATRON M12 (@megatron)
3rd February 2020, 14:52
That would actually be the best thing for excitement at this track.
Harrison Werner (@asharpegret)
3rd February 2020, 14:21
What if every lap the drivers had to do a different configuration (yes I realize that’s logistically impossible but it would make it more interesting)
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
4th February 2020, 9:46
I actually had a very outlandish idea a year or so ago which involved one section of a track splitting in to a ‘super special stage’ style head-to-head battle, to ensure a close battle without aero becoming effected. It would be absolute brilliant mayhem at the start of a race, watching the 2 fleets of cars emerge back on to the straight battling for positions.
Werner von Rode (@wernervonrode)
3rd February 2020, 14:41
Option A: never go back there
Option B: D since it offers two corners where you might outbreak the other guy, or one overtake and switch back
Phylyp (@phylyp)
3rd February 2020, 14:53
Seeing as many people here favour option G, I can be quite confident in stating that is not the option that F1 will choose.
Ram
3rd February 2020, 18:47
Ouch! :)
Sven (@crammond)
3rd February 2020, 16:51
A major problem with that chicane isn’t within the track-layout, but rather the run-off. A defending driver tricked into the outside lane under braking can just easily brake very late or slightly too late, and if he doesn’t make the chicane just retain the position by going wide and immediately shouting into the radio: “He pushed me off the track!”.
With gras, gravel or a barrier that same situation is a yield, a significant time loss or a DNF.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
3rd February 2020, 17:24
How do the drivers know which track option to choose? There doesn’t seem to be any arrows on the track or signs telling them which way to go.
Neil (@neilosjames)
3rd February 2020, 18:11
They could just use smart road technology and change the layout every time there’s a 20-second gap between a car exiting the chicane and the one behind.
Chicane watching to see which layout was next would probably be more interesting than the race.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd February 2020, 20:46
@neilosjames You should copyright that concept and charge Formula E a licensing fee when they starting doing the same…
Ger
7th April 2020, 19:55
The worst track on the calendar by far. Abu Dhabi is number 2. Pity we can’t have races on decent tracks instead of places where money talks.
DonSmee (@david-beau)
3rd February 2020, 20:19
G and H wpud provide the best chance for the lead car to make a mistake and the follower to take advantage so those two get my vote.
StefMeister (@stefmeister)
3rd February 2020, 21:05
They could always just use no chicane.
I know the counter will be ‘oh but we need the overtaking opportunity’ but most of the overtakes that we have seen take place there would likely have still happened without it & with a longer run for slip-streaming we’d likely get more side by side racing on the run to Signes.
But if they want to alter the layout I say use this one.
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
4th February 2020, 9:43
It’s because they’ve invested money in a grandstand at the chicane.