Track and air temperatures will be very hot this weekend in Le Castellet at the Circuit Paul Ricard for the 2022 French GP. France and other parts of western Europe have been experiencing a tremendous heat wave, one that breaks all records. The drivers and their teams will need to take extra precautions this weekend to avoid heat-related injuries. They also need to manage their car’s temperatures to the end of the race.
Pressure Cooker Conditions
This weekend will be super hot, with highs of 92 degrees Fahrenheit, and track temperatures of over 110 degrees. F1 racing is already an intense physical experience in perfect weather, but the heat adds another layer to the physical demands of a race.
#F1 drivers in the cockpit this weekend with the #Heatwave in Europe at the #FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/00WjOyoJT1
— The Hot Lap – F1 (@TheHotLapF1) July 21, 2022
The drivers must wear their full racing suits. No layers can be removed because every part of the suit is necessary for fire protection. They do not have AC, instead, they can use cooling pads in their suit, or simply rely on the outside air that flows over their helmets… which will be hot. Hopefully, the drivers did some heat training in preparation for the grueling 53-lap race.
They do have water that they can access through a tube in their helmet, but sometimes that doesn’t always go to plan. Not a big deal for the Iceman:
I refer to their cockpit as a pressure cooker because the heat is difficult enough to manage, especially in terms of hydration, but they also endure the G-forces through the corners and braking zones. It will be extremely physically demanding out there.
The intakes on the cars will be taking in the hot air from the track, which is somewhat cooled by the speed of the cars. However, teams who have struggled with overheating at other races this season could have issues at the French GP.
Circuit Paul Ricard
This weekend will be the 90th running of the French GP over a number of different race tracks in France. It’s the 16th French GP to be held at Circuit Paul Ricard. Last season, Max Verstappen won the French GP with pole position and the fastest lap. His teammate Sergio Perez secured the one-two for Red Bull. The way these two drivers are performing this season, they could do it again.
The circuit is well known for its five FIA-graded track layouts, which look pretty confusing from above and on the track. It was built by liquor manufacturer Paul Ricard, the founder of “Ricard,” Pastis from Marseille.
F1 legend Michael Schumacher has the record for French GP victories. That is likely due to his tenacity as a driver, as well as his incredible fitness.
“Jurgen Dilk also played a crucial role in making the young Schumacher realise the value of fitness. He hired an ex-professional footballer to train with him and from this point onwards, Schumacher would be obsessive about his fitness.”#KeepFightingMichael@Jamesallenonf1 pic.twitter.com/PT3lTWsGjG
— Michael Schumacher (@_MSchumacher) November 21, 2021
The track will be very hot, more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so the tires will degrade quicker. Teams will have to choose the most durable tire for the hot day, without sacrificing pace. Most importantly, they will have to react appropriately to the strategic moves of their rivals.
I think that the race will appear to be a two-stop strategy, but then actually become a three-stop because of the degradation. Perhaps the teams who manage the best can pull off a two-stop. I do not envision the one-stop strategy to be optimal for the race on Sunday.
Le Castellet
Located 20 minutes inland, in the Var region, Le Castellet is a small village on a hill in the south of France. This region is beautiful and proximal to Toulon, right on the Mediterranean Sea.
During the recent heatwave in Europe, residents of this area enjoy some cooler air from the sea, but overall it will still be hot. In France and the UK, there have been reports of asphalt melting and deforming due to the record high heat.
“In the Gironde region of southwestern France, ferocious wildfires continued to spread through tinder-dry pines forests, frustrating firefighting efforts by more than 2,000 firefighters and water-bombing planes.
– BOB EDME and JOHN LEICESTER: AP
These fires are not near the race track, but it makes me worry about the possibility of future races being canceled due to natural disasters that are exacerbated by climate change.
Which Drivers Can Get the Job Done in the Heat?
I feel that Red Bull will have a strong chance this weekend considering both of their drivers have excellent tire management abilities. Verstappen and Perez are at the top of the championship, and the pair are not drivers that will easily succumb to the difficult conditions during the race.
As they charged to a double podium at Circuit Paul Ricard last year, Sergio Perez let loose a flying Max Verstappen ?#FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Sn7kFw6wLA
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 19, 2022
Alpine has been performing really well so far this season, they are currently tied with McLaren for the “best of the rest” spot in the Constructors’ Championship. The French team will be looking to perform well in front of their home crowd.
Alpine also do much of their testing in Le Castellet. Thus, their A522 should be more calibrated than others, and the race engineers might have more data.
Spanish F1 veteran, Fernando Alonso, has proved this season that he’s up for the task at the age of 40. In wet weather drives and hotter races, Alonso has been in the mix.
Esteban Ocon, the Frenchman and one of the crowd favorites this weekend, also looks strong going into the French GP. I do believe that Ocon and fellow countryman on the grid, Pierre Gasly, will harness the French support for a strong result.
Not much to choose between Esteban and Pierre! ?
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 19, 2022
Who will finish higher in their home race? ?#FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/KAV9UHLDGw
Those cars have Ferrari power units, so Haas, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari could suffer more technical issues due to overheating. Their engines have poor reliability this season. Furthermore, Ferrari tends to struggle with tire degradation at a faster rate than Red Bull and Mercedes. This was only two weeks ago:
SAINZ’S CAR IS ON FIRE WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AS SAINZ COMES OUT OF THE CAR #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/JfrH2Z9XJH
— sᴉɹnſ (@Orbiting_44) July 10, 2022
Hopefully, Ferrari and Red Bull can race wheel to wheel for multiple laps as we saw in Austria when Leclerc got the better of Verstappen. I just want to see more great racing.
My name is Morgan Raynal, and I am a writer for Belly Up Racing and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Substack, Twitter, and Instagram.
