After the eventful Spielberg race, the French Grand Prix in Le Castellet follows after a short break.
In Formula 1, after a race with many discussions about track limits, a similar course is on the schedule.
The track is not exactly known for action due to generous run-off zones – although top speeds and some overtaking manoeuvres are to be expected.
The 2022 French GP kicks off at 15:00 on Sunday 24 July
Here is all the info on the France GP at Le Castellet – the schedule with qualifying and race, the TV broadcast on Sky, the course with the most important passages as well as the favourites with betting odds.
Formula 1 GP France: Broadcast & Schedule
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Date, time, broadcast – when is the France Formula 1 GP?
The twelfth Formula 1 race of the season will take place at the Circuit Paul Ricard. The France Formula 1 GP will start on 24 July 2022.
The first race in France took place in 1948, then at Reims-Gueux. After motorsport’s premier class raced at Magny-Cours from 1991 to 2008, the French Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar.
Since 2018, France has been part of the racing calendar again with the Circuit Paul Ricard, making this the fourth edition since the break.
The start time for the Le Castellet race is Sunday (24.7.) at 15:00 German time.
However, the Formula 1 drivers will already start on Friday, 22 July. The first two free practice sessions are scheduled in the France 2022 timetable at 14:00 and 17:00.
On Saturday, it continues with the third free practice session from 13:00, before Verstappen & Co. determine the starting grid for the French GP from 16:00.
France GP 2022: Dates & Schedule
Who will broadcast the Formula 1 France GP in Germany?
In Germany, the Formula 1 French GP will be broadcast on TV exclusively by Sky Sport F1.
The pay-TV channel will show the free practice sessions as well as qualifying and the race live.
Apart from that, Sky offers extensive preliminary reports, analyses and interviews as well as the press conferences.
With WOW – formerly Sky Ticket – and Sky Go, it is also possible to watch all the sessions via Formula 1 Livestream, just like on TV.
A Formula 1 France broadcast on RTL, meanwhile, is not planned.
Who is Sky F1 commentator in Le Castellet?
Sky is relying on its tried and tested team for the Formula 1 broadcast from Le Castellet.
This means: Sascha Roos will commentate on the action, while Ralf Schumacher will accompany the Formula 1 France broadcast as an expert.
They will be joined by presenter Peter Hardenacke and reporter Sandra Baumgartner, who will be conducting interviews and reporting from the mixed zone throughout the race weekend.
The F1 France GP circuit
The Formula 1 French GP is run at the Circuit Paul Ricard. In 1971, the first Formula 1 World Championship race was held there.
The Circuit Paul Ricard is located near the southern French town of Le Castellet, about 20 kilometres from Bandol on the Cote d’Azur, and was built in 1970.
Officially, the track has been called Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track since February 2001. The track is not considered to be very action-packed and is known above all for its colour scheme.
The braking zones are painted in blue and red tungsten mixture. The former stands for easy braking, while the red-striped areas are particularly brake-intensive.
The track is 5.842 km long, consists of 15 corners and at the same time features some long straights.
The criticism of the track is not unjustified, but there is definitely no question of a lack of action.
The opposite is much more the case, and the start in particular has often been a real challenge in the past.
The reason: due to the extensive run-off zones, the drivers take more risks, which is why the risk of an accident in turn 1 is correspondingly high.
At the same time, the track is considered tyre-intensive, because the best laps can only be achieved with optimum grip.
Due to the many run-off zones, there are likely to be many track limit penalties again – as in Spielberg.
The record winner of the French Grand Prix is Alain Prost, who won four times. Last year, Max Verstappen won the world championship race.
The last 5 France GP races
Who is favourite for the 2022 French Formula 1 GP
Who will win the 2022 Le Castellet Grand Prix?
Given the past races, Max Verstappen is the big favourite to win.
The reigning world champion remains comfortably ahead in the drivers’ standings with 38 points and is clearly on course for a second world championship title.
But: After the victory of Ferrari star Charles Leclerc in Spielberg – where the Ferrari showed strong speed – a closely contested race is to be expected.
This is backed up by the fact that Scuderio has won the last two races and made it clear that he is still a force to be reckoned with.
Are there any other contenders to win the Grand Prix at Le Castellet this weekend?
According to Formula 1 France betting and odds, the recently resurgent Lewis Hamilton is a force to be reckoned with.
The Briton won the race in 2018 and 2019, finishing second last year – ahead of Sergio Perez, who the bookmakers list as at least an extended favourite.
What are the chances of the Germans? Mick Schumacher, who has been driving strongly of late, is a candidate to finish in the points this year.
For Sebastian Vettel, it remains to be seen how the car will perform in Le Castellet.
