Signes curve at Paul Ricard won't be for the faint of heart

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French GP organisers will be adding a chicane on the Circuit Paul Ricard's Mistral straight but the Signes curve will still remain a daunting proposition.

After a 10-year absence from the Grand Prix calendar, the French GP will return next year at the Paul Ricard venue.

The track's configuration will use the full 5.8km layout but organisers will add a chicane half-way down the long Mistral straight.

"The FIA did some research and the speed before the chicane will be 343km/h, so the chicane is useful," the French Grand Prix's managing director Gilles Dufeigneux told Motorsport.com.

"The chicane has been added to prevent the engines from running at full speed on a straight uphill line of 1.8km. We also wanted to facilitate the creation of an additional overtaking area.

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"It will provide three straight lines where the cars can go at full speed before two massive decelerations - Turn 1 and Turn 8 and a flat out turn - Signes.

"According to the FIA, cars will reach 343km/h before the chicane and 343km/h at the apex of Signes.

"The drivers have told us the chicane will probably be an opportunity for non-DRS overtakes during the race.

"We presented the new configuration of the circuit during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend to several drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.," added Dufeigneux.

"They liked it and said the 5.8km configuration was a nice option."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.