F1 French Grand Prix: practice, qualifying, race start time, betting odds and TV details

Formula 1 returns to the Circuit Paul
Ricard for the first time since 1990

One-Minute Read

F1 returns to the Circuit Paul Ricard for its first race since
1990 with Ferrari ace Sebastian Vettel leading the drivers’ standings ahead of Mercedes duo Lewis
Hamilton and Bottas.

Vettel’s victory in Canada was his third of the season and
Bottas, who finished second in Montreal, says Mercedes need to keep
on improving in France.

Mercedes will have a brand-new, upgraded engine for the
power-dependent circuit and Bottas told Sky Sports: “It’s a different grand prix,
different kind of tyres and it’s positive we’re going to have the
new engine, which we would have needed [in Canada] to win the
race.

“Hopefully we can have some other upgrades as well on the
car because every team is developing now race by race and the
competition is getting tougher. We came [to Canada] knowing that in
theory it would be a good track for us. We came with the old engine
thinking there’s a very good chance we were going to be fighting
for the win.

“But it wasn’t the case and it shows how tough the
development race is now and we need to keep improving.

“We are definitely not the favourites for the French Grand
Prix, that’s a fact.”

2018 F1 French Grand Prix

• When: Sunday 24 June  
• Race start time: 3.10pm 
• Where: Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet 
• Circuit distance: 5.842km (3.630 miles) 
• Circuit guide: f1.com

French GP schedule: practice, qualifying and
race

When are the French GP practice
sessions?

Practice one takes place on Friday at 11am (UK time) and
practice two is at 3pm. Saturday’s practice three session starts at
midday.

When is qualifying?

Qualifying for the French GP starts at 3pm on
Saturday.

When does the French GP start?

Sunday’s race starts at 3.10pm.

How to watch the F1 French GP

Sky Sports F1 will bring live coverage from the
practice sessions, qualifying and the race at Circuit Paul
Ricard. Channel 4 will show highlights from qualifying and the
race.

French GP on Sky Sports

Thursday 21 June

• 2pm: French GP drivers’ press conference featuring Fernando
  Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon 
• 8.45pm: French GP Paddock Uncut

Friday 22 June 

• 10.30am: French GP practice one build-up 
• 11am: French GP practice one live 
• 2.45pm: French GP practice two build-up 
• 3pm: French GP practice two live

Saturday 23 June 

• 11.45am: French GP practice three build-up 
• 12pm: French GP practice three live 
• 2pm: French GP qualifying build-up 
• 3pm: French GP qualifying live 
• 6.15pm: The F1 Show

Sunday 24 June 

• 1.30pm: French GP pit lane 
• 2.30pm: French GP On The Grid 
• 3.10pm: F1 French Grand Prix live 
• 5.30pm: French GP paddock

French GP betting odds

Latest prices according to Oddschecker (as of 20 June).

To win the French GP:

• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 13/8
• Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 9/5
• Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes): 7/1
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 8/1
• Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull): 13/1
• Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): 14/1
• Nico Hulkenberg (Renault): 750/1
• Carlos Sainz (Renault): 1,000/1
• Esteban Ocon (Force India): 1,000/1
• Fernando Alonso (McLaren): 1,000/1