Four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted he would rather see Formula 1 return to Magny-Cours for next year’s French Grand Prix rather than its new venue at Paul Ricard.
Two races will be re-joining the calendar in 2018 with Hockenheim continuing the host the German Grand Prix on a biannual basis but the wait has been a little longer for France with the last event held at Magny-Cours in 2008.
Though Hamilton never really had any success at the circuit, with a best of third in his two F1 visits, he simply isn’t a fan of the well-known test circuit at Paul Ricard, which hasn’t seen an F1 race since 1990.
“Honestly I don’t like it, just to be straight with you,” the British driver told French broadcaster Canal +. “I loved it when we used to have the Grand Prix in Magny-Cours. [Paul Ricard] is in a beautiful place but the track, when I say I don’t like it, it’s not as great as Magny-Cours.”
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The 32-year-old is pleased France is back on the F1 schedule, however, with the country seeing a burst of new talent in recent years including Romain Grosjean, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, with Jules Bianchi of course never to be forgotten.
“The most important thing is that we do have a Grand Prix back in France because it’s an important part of Europe, it’s an important part of the European tour,” Hamilton said.
But if the Mercedes driver was to name his absolute prefered host for the race…
“France has so many beautiful, beautiful circuits – Le Mans, for example – and for some reason, we don’t have it at the most beautiful track.”