When France thrilled Formula 1: A journey in the footsteps of seven French circuits

It all began in 1950, on the eve of the World Championship of F1From that inaugural year, France vibrated to the rhythm of the engines. It was on the Reims-Gueux circuit that the story began. This Marne track, with its atypical triangular layout, hosted the premier category eleven times until 1966.

Once famous for its high-speed straights slicing through the Champagne region, the circuit is now silent. Its deserted grandstands, frozen in time, now melancholically overlook the track where Juan Manuel Fangio triumphed three times (for Alfa Romeo twice, then Maserati).

At the same time, the world's best drivers were slicing through the air in Seine-Maritime. In Rouen-les-Essarts, Formula 1 set up shop five times, from 1957 to 1968. Enthusiasts of the era or those eager for history will particularly remember the spectacular hairpin bend of Nouveau Monde, the highlight of a vertiginous descent.

However, the tragic fate of Jo Schlesser (Honda) in 1968 sealed the fate of this hilly track. At the wheel of a Honda RA302 with a magnesium chassis deemed too dangerous, the French driver lost control in the Six Brothers corner. The immediate blaze of the car brought a premature end to the driver's life and to the appearances of this track on the F1 calendar.

Jo Schlesser's accident in Rouen in 1968 © DPPI

The jewels of France

It was also in the volcanic foothills, near Clermont-Ferrand, that F1 wrote its history. On the Charade circuit, which hosted the premier category four times between 1965 and 1972, drivers tackled one of the most technical tracks in the world, overlooking the Auvergne capital. When he raced there for the first time, Stirling Moss was thrilled: I don't know of a more wonderful circuit than Charade. "But its volcanic topography caused its downfall: frequently littered with gravel, the Auvergne circuit was abandoned after the fatal incident to Helmut Marko's career, who lost his left eye there, marking the end of his racing career.

The 1970 French Grand Prix at the Charade circuit © DPPI

In 1967, the Bugatti circuit was the ephemeral setting for a single Grand Prix, won by Jack Brabham. Although the track is legendary, it is used every year by the 24 Hours of Le MansHe failed to win over either the F1 drivers – Denny Hulme nicknamed him "Mickey Mouse" because of his shape – or the public. Three weeks after the 20-hour race, only 000 spectators had turned out for the Le Mans event.

Jim Clark's Lotus during the only ACF Grand Prix held on the Bugatti circuit in 1967 © DPPI

Conversely, the Dijon-Prenois circuit made a lasting impression with its blind corners and natural dips. It echoed with the roar of single-seaters between 1974 and 1984, witnessing Jean-Pierre Jabouille (Renault) and Alain Prost (Renault) to prevail on their home turf. A notable anomaly: in 1982, the Grand Prix was exceptionally named the Swiss Grand Prix. It was also the scene of one of the greatest battles in Formula 1 history during the 1979 edition between Gilles Villeneuve (Classic Ferrari for sale) and Rene Arnoux (Renault). The two men engaged in a fierce battle lap after lap, ultimately both finishing on the podium – the Canadian in 2nd place ahead of the Frenchman by just 0.24 seconds! Their legendary duel almost overshadowed Jean-Pierre Jabouille's victory, Renault's first in Formula 1 and also the first for a turbocharged engine.

Alain Prost wins the 1981 French Grand Prix at the Dijon-Prenois circuit © DPPI

The last French strongholds in F1

Inaugurated in 1970, Paul Ricard shares with Magny-Cours the distinction of being the French circuit most frequently used by Formula 1 (18 editions each). However, the Castellet circuit has not been immune to tragedy, notably the accident of Italian driver Elio de Angelis in 1986. That year, the Brabham driver burned in his BT55, which burst into flames after rolling over. He died 29 hours later from smoke inhalation. Despite this tragedy, F1 drivers continued to race on the Var circuit, which had been subsequently redesigned, until 1990.

Returning to the calendar in 2018 after a 28-year absence, the circuit was criticized for its lack of spectacle before disappearing from the calendar in 2022 amid deep disagreements between public authorities. Max Verstappen was the last driver to secure a victory there. Finally, on the edge of Burgundy, the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit shares the record for longevity with Le Castellet, but is also the one on which Michael Schumacher He has won there more times than any other circuit in his career. With eight victories, the Red Baron has a better record than at Imola or Montreal (seven wins). The circuit is symbolic for the seven-time world champion in other respects as well: he secured his 50th victory there in 2021, then his fifth title the following year in July. It was also in the Nièvre region that Schumacher achieved his 68th and final Formula 1 pole position on July 15, 2006, before, the next day, climbing onto his 150th podium by winning the race.

Alain Prost wins the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in 1993 © DPPI

Now, while plans for a French Grand Prix have stalled, the country's passion for motorsport continues to thrive through its pool of talented drivers. Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly And with the rise of Isack Hadjar, France continues to make its colors resonate at the pinnacle of motorsport. And history continues to live on in the hearts of enthusiasts, who will relive a piece of it from May 8th to 10th at the Paul Ricard circuit during the Kennol Historic French Grand Prix.

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