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Formula 1
F1: French Revolution Coming To 2012 Grid
Formula One will go from zero French race drivers in 2011 to three in 2012...
Youngster Charles Pic is among a trio of Frenchmen set to join the F1 ranks in 2012. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
There was a time in Grand Prix racing when France played a major role. In fact, France was, arguably, the inventor of the modern Grand Prix race. I say “arguably” because I suspect the first man with a wheel raced another man with a wheel to see whose wheel was faster. Little has changed since 1894 when the French raced from one town to the other. Owners, drivers, teams all still fight for supremacy on the circuit, and while corporations have joined the fray, the spirit of competition is still alive today. Tragically, a French Grand Prix is not.
The series hasn’t had a French Grand Prix since 2007 when it was last hosted at the Magny-Cours circuit. Several discussions have taken place in France as to a new location and possible investors to make it work, but nothing has materialized thus far. There’s some speculation that perhaps France could alternate with the Belgian circuit Spa-Francorchamps as economic challenges are rumored to be threatening that track’s ability to host a race annually. The Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille is another track that continually features in rumors as it is an innovative high technology circuit owned by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone’s Excelis company, and is often referred to as one of the safest racing circuits in the world.
From 1991 to 2006, Formula One was dominated by one man — Michael Schumacher. The German inspired a phalanx of young karting drivers in Germany, and consequently, Formula One has a grid overflowing with Teutonic protege. One young German, who was inspired by Schumacher, has taken his dream to the top. Sebastian Vettel is now breaking records and winning like a card-counting Vegas gambler. Timo Glock, Vettel, Adrian Sutil, Nick Heidfeld, Nico Hulkenberg, Nico Rosberg and even Schumacher himself were on track in 2011. The nation of Germany has much to be proud of but perhaps France has grown weary of the German domination, because 2012 will be different.
There is a French revolution of sorts in Formula One for 2012. While the calendar shows no returning race in France, F1 will go from zero to three French drivers in 2012. The announcements that Romain Grosjean would be driving for Lotus Renault GP, Jean-Eric Vergne for Scuderia Toro Rosso and Charles Pic for Marussia Virgin Racing were big news for France and Formula One.
Grosjean is no stranger to Formula One. He briefly drove for Renault in 2009 and, while he holds dual-nationality for France and Switzerland, he competes under a French racing license. He was born in 1986 and will join Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus Renault GP.
Pic is a new face to Formula One. He drove in Formula Renault, Formula Renault 3.5 and the GP2 series. He was born in 1990 and will join Glock at Marussia Virgin Racing.
Vergne is the third French driver who has a history in Formula Renault 1.6 & 2.0, Formula three and the GP3 series. He is the same age as Pic and will join Daniel Ricciardo at Scuderia Toro Rosso.
This is big news for French racing fans. They not only have a reason to get excited about Formula One again; they have three reasons to cheer. Fielding a French driver is a good move toward building interest in France again and possibly hosting a future Grand Prix. It is a shame this historic nation has no GP with a history as steeped in motor sport as it possesses but perhaps things are starting to turn. Formula One’s recent exodus from Europe has left many fans cold on the series and yet economic challenges make it highly unlikely that Europe will retain the eight races it currently has. Time will tell if Europe can retain at least five Grands Prix and if France will be one of them.
Fielding a French driver is one thing but getting a French driver to the top step of the podium is a completely different story. The last French driver to win an official Grand Prix was Olivier Panis in 1996 at Monaco driving a Ligier car. French team boss Eric Boullier has a strong passion for Grand Prix racing and jettisoned the Russian Vitaly Petrov in favor of Grosjean. If there was a possibility of a French driver winning in 2012, one would place their bets there as Boullier’s team is the most competitive between Toro Rosso and Marussia Virgin. In Grosjean, it has a GP2 champion and a young driver who is no stranger to Formula One.
With three of its own on the 2012 grid, French enthusiasts' passion and love of motor sport could be rekindled.
The series hasn’t had a French Grand Prix since 2007 when it was last hosted at the Magny-Cours circuit. Several discussions have taken place in France as to a new location and possible investors to make it work, but nothing has materialized thus far. There’s some speculation that perhaps France could alternate with the Belgian circuit Spa-Francorchamps as economic challenges are rumored to be threatening that track’s ability to host a race annually. The Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille is another track that continually features in rumors as it is an innovative high technology circuit owned by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone’s Excelis company, and is often referred to as one of the safest racing circuits in the world.
From 1991 to 2006, Formula One was dominated by one man — Michael Schumacher. The German inspired a phalanx of young karting drivers in Germany, and consequently, Formula One has a grid overflowing with Teutonic protege. One young German, who was inspired by Schumacher, has taken his dream to the top. Sebastian Vettel is now breaking records and winning like a card-counting Vegas gambler. Timo Glock, Vettel, Adrian Sutil, Nick Heidfeld, Nico Hulkenberg, Nico Rosberg and even Schumacher himself were on track in 2011. The nation of Germany has much to be proud of but perhaps France has grown weary of the German domination, because 2012 will be different.
There is a French revolution of sorts in Formula One for 2012. While the calendar shows no returning race in France, F1 will go from zero to three French drivers in 2012. The announcements that Romain Grosjean would be driving for Lotus Renault GP, Jean-Eric Vergne for Scuderia Toro Rosso and Charles Pic for Marussia Virgin Racing were big news for France and Formula One.
Grosjean is no stranger to Formula One. He briefly drove for Renault in 2009 and, while he holds dual-nationality for France and Switzerland, he competes under a French racing license. He was born in 1986 and will join Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus Renault GP.
Pic is a new face to Formula One. He drove in Formula Renault, Formula Renault 3.5 and the GP2 series. He was born in 1990 and will join Glock at Marussia Virgin Racing.
Vergne is the third French driver who has a history in Formula Renault 1.6 & 2.0, Formula three and the GP3 series. He is the same age as Pic and will join Daniel Ricciardo at Scuderia Toro Rosso.
This is big news for French racing fans. They not only have a reason to get excited about Formula One again; they have three reasons to cheer. Fielding a French driver is a good move toward building interest in France again and possibly hosting a future Grand Prix. It is a shame this historic nation has no GP with a history as steeped in motor sport as it possesses but perhaps things are starting to turn. Formula One’s recent exodus from Europe has left many fans cold on the series and yet economic challenges make it highly unlikely that Europe will retain the eight races it currently has. Time will tell if Europe can retain at least five Grands Prix and if France will be one of them.
Fielding a French driver is one thing but getting a French driver to the top step of the podium is a completely different story. The last French driver to win an official Grand Prix was Olivier Panis in 1996 at Monaco driving a Ligier car. French team boss Eric Boullier has a strong passion for Grand Prix racing and jettisoned the Russian Vitaly Petrov in favor of Grosjean. If there was a possibility of a French driver winning in 2012, one would place their bets there as Boullier’s team is the most competitive between Toro Rosso and Marussia Virgin. In Grosjean, it has a GP2 champion and a young driver who is no stranger to Formula One.
With three of its own on the 2012 grid, French enthusiasts' passion and love of motor sport could be rekindled.
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