2018 French Grand Prix

The race returned to the calendar for the first time since {{F1|2008}}, with Circuit Paul Ricard chosen as the venue. The circuit last hosted the French Grand Prix in {{F1|1990}} before the event moved to the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in {{F1|1991}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/38210811|title=French Grand Prix returns for 2018 after 10-year absence|last=Benson|first=Andrew|date=5 December 2016|website=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901075256/http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/38210811|archive-date=1 September 2017|url-status=dead}} The race used the {{convert|5.842|km|mi|abbr=on}} layout of the Circuit Paul Ricard for the first time. The layout includes a chicane on the Mistral straight as opposed to the {{convert|5.809|km|mi|abbr=on}} circuit that was used nine times between {{F1|1971}} and {{F1|1985}}.{{refn|name=short circuit|group=note|The French Grand Prix used the short {{convert|3.812|km|mi|abbr=on}} configuration of the Circuit Paul Ricard between {{F1|1986}} and {{F1|1990}}.}}

The race was run in June, filling a vacancy left by the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The race in Azerbaijan was moved to an April date to avoid clashing with celebrations for the centenary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.{{cite news|title=Ариф Рагимов: В 2018-м россиянам будет проще посетить гонки в Баку и Сочи|url=http://autosport.com.ru/f1/47922-ragimov-v-2018-m-rossiyanam-budet-proshche-posetit-gp-v-baku-i-sochi|access-date=26 May 2018|work=autosport.com.ru|publisher=Manuscript|date=30 November 2017|language=ru|trans-title=Arif Ragimov: In 2018 it will be easier for Russians to visit races in Baku and Sochi.}}

The circuit featured two drag reduction system (DRS) zones. The first was located along the main straight, while the second was on the Mistral Straight on the approach to the chicane.{{cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/136871/french-gp-circuit-to-feature-two-drs-zones|title=Paul Ricard circuit to feature two DRS zones for F1 French GP|first=Jonathon|last=Noble|work=autosport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=20 June 2018|access-date=20 June 2018}}

Tyre supplier Pirelli provided teams with the soft, supersoft and ultrasoft compounds of tyres. They reverted to their narrow tread compound following feedback from the teams in the wake of mid-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap in the first free practice session, which was cut short by an accident involving Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson. Ericsson lost control of his Sauber C37 on the approach to Turn 11 and spun into the barrier on the outside of the corner. The car hit the tyre wall at an angle and subsequently caught fire. Ericsson was unharmed, but with two minutes remaining the session was abandoned and the damage to his car so extensive that he was unable to take part in the second free practice session. Several drivers experienced spins during the session, most notably at Turn 6 where an intermittent and gusty local wind caught the drivers unaware as they accelerated away from the apex of the corner. Unlike Ericsson, all of the drivers avoided contact with the wall courtesy of the circuit's unique, abrasive tarmac run-off areas designed to slow down cars that left the circuit.

Hamilton was fastest again in the second free practice session despite having his flying lap interrupted by another red flag. Sergio Pérez lost a wheel as he turned onto the Mistral Straight, prompting race officials to mount an investigation as to whether Force India had released Pérez from the pit lane with his car in an unsafe condition. The session was restarted once Pérez's car was cleared away.{{cite web|title=Lewis Hamilton tops French GP practice as Sergio Perez loses wheel|work=BBC Sport|date=22 June 2018|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/44580941}}

;Notes

• {{note|1|1}} – Brendon Hartley received a 35-place grid penalty for exceeding his quota of power unit components.

At the start Sebastian Vettel ran into the back of Valtteri Bottas, with both sustaining damage and having to pit for repairs, also there was a separate collision between Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon leaving both cars stranded out on the track, this brought out a brief safety car period lasting till the end of lap 5. Vettel would later receive a penalty for his collision with Bottas which meant he would only manage to finish 5th. Lance Stroll suffered a tyre puncture near the end of the race causing a virtual safety car, which ended with only half a lap left of the race. Lewis Hamilton comfortably won ahead of Max Verstappen, while Kimi Räikkönen completed the podium.{{Cite news|last=Benson|first=Andrew|date=24 June 2018|title=Hamilton wins as Vettel penalised|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/44595085|access-date=2021-02-18}}

;Notes

• {{note|2|1}} – Sergey Sirotkin had 5 seconds added to his race time for driving unnecessarily slowly behind the safety car.
• {{note|3|2}} – Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll retired from the race, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.

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;Drivers' Championship standings

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;Constructors' Championship standings

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• Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

• 2018 Le Castellet Formula 2 round
• 2018 Le Castellet GP3 Series round

{{reflist|group=note}}

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{{Commons category}}

{{F1 race report

| Name_of_race = French Grand Prix

| Year_of_race = 2018

| Previous_race_in_season = 2018 Canadian Grand Prix

| Next_race_in_season = 2018 Austrian Grand Prix

| Previous_year's_race = 2008 French Grand Prix
Next race at Paul Ricard: 1990 French Grand Prix

| Next_year's_race = 2019 French Grand Prix

}}

{{F1GP 10-19}}

Category:French Grand Prix

French

Grand Prix

French Grand Prix