After more than a decade in the wilderness, the French Grand Prix officially returned to the Formula 1 schedule last season and we are now set for another thrilling contest at the Paul Ricard Circuit. The French GP was scrapped following the 2008 race because of ongoing financial issues and before 2018 the Paul Ricard Circuit itself has not been utilised by the category since Alain Prost saluted for the home fans in 1990, while at the same time handing Ferrari their 100th win.
10 French drivers have won the French Grand Prix; 7 before World War I and II and 3 during the Formula One championship. French driver Alain Prost won the race 6 times at 3 different circuits; however German driver Michael Schumacher has won 8 times – the most anybody has ever won any Grand Prix. Monegasque driver Louis Chiron won it 5 times, and the Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio and British driver Nigel Mansell both won 4 times.
Ferrari’s record at the French Grand Prix was fearsome when it was last run at Magny-Cours before 2018 and the Maranello team will be hoping to maintain that form at Paul Ricard.
Scuderia Ferrari has enjoyed a lot of success in France, with 17 victories throughout history, far ahead of Williams (8) and Lotus (7). The Maranello team has also won three of the last fours races in France, with Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa winning in 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively.
List of Ferrari victories in France:
1952 | ASCARI | 500 F2 |
1953 | HAWTHORN | 500 F2 |
1956 | COLLINS | D50 |
1958 | HAWTHORN | 246 F1 |
1959 | BROOKS | 246 F1 |
1961 | BAGHETTI | 156 F1 |
1968 | ICKX | 312 F1 |
1975 | LAUDA | 312 T |
1990 | PROST | F1-90 |
1997 | SCHUMACHER | F310B |
1998 | SCHUMACHER | F300 |
2001 | SCHUMACHER | F2001 |
2002 | SCHUMACHER | F2002 |
2004 | SCHUMACHER | F2004 |
2006 | SCHUMACHER | 248 F1 |
2008 | MASSA | F2008 |
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