Paul Ricard is a test track. Flat, smooth, wide, with painted run off instead of gravel. That makes the setup simple: you can run the car low and you do not have to think about bumps.
What you do have to think about is the front left tyre and the long corners. This setup runs wings 3 and 6 with an open differential. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2019 France setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 3 | 6 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.00 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 3 | 3 |
| Anti-roll bar | 4 | 9 |
| Ride height | 2 | 2 |
| Tyre pressure | 22.2 psi | 22.3 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 50% |
| Differential off throttle | 70% |
| Brake pressure | 80% |
| Front brake bias | 54% |
In F1 2019 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2019 setups. Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down.
Why this setup works at Paul Ricard
The lap is 5.842 km with 15 corners. A slow and technical first part, then the Mistral straight with a chicane in the middle, then Signes and Beausset, two long and fast right handers. The lap ends with a few slow corners.
The wings. 3 and 6. The Mistral is long on both sides of the chicane, so drag costs you twice. But Signes comes at the end of it at very high speed, and you want the rear to stay with you there. Three clicks more at the rear than at the front gives a car that is stable in the fast part and a little lazy in the slow part.
The differential. 50% on throttle is fully open. That is the fix for the lazy front. In Beausset, in turn 6 and in the last corner you are on the throttle with the steering still turned. An open differential lets the rear wheels turn at different speeds, so the car keeps rotating while you feed in the power. Off throttle it is 70%, which keeps the rear calm when you brake for the chicanes.
The brakes. 80% pressure with 54% front bias. That is at the low end of my F1 2019 setups. Only Spa runs less. There are not many big stops here, and with a low front wing the front tyres lock easily in the ones you have.
The geometry and tyres. Camber -2.50 and -1.00, toe 0.05 and 0.20, the least angle the menu allows. Pressures are 22.2 at the front and 22.3 at the rear, almost the same at both ends.
A low car with a soft front bar
Ride height 2 and 2. Only Russia and Japan run the rear this low in my list, and they both have the front at 1. A low car has less drag and more downforce from the floor. On a track with no bumps and flat kerbs there is no reason to give that away.
Springs are 3 and 3. Soft, but not at the bottom of the scale. The car needs some support in Signes and Beausset, where it is loaded for a long time.
The anti-roll bars are 4 at the front and 9 at the rear. A soft front bar lets the front tyres bite when you turn in. A stiff rear bar helps the car rotate. With the open differential, it is the second thing in this setup that fights understeer.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Understeer in Beausset | Front wing 3 to 4 | More front load in the long corner |
| Understeer in the slow corners of the first part | Front anti-roll bar 4 to 3 | A softer front bar gives more bite on turn in |
| The rear steps out in Signes | Rear wing 6 to 7 | More rear downforce at high speed |
| The rear is nervous over the chicane kerbs | Rear anti-roll bar 9 to 7 | A softer rear bar lets the rear follow the kerb |
| Front tyres lock into the Mistral chicane | Brake pressure 80% to 77% | Less peak pressure, easier to hold at the limit |
| Wheelspin out of the last corner | Rear tyre pressure 22.3 to 21.5 psi | A softer tyre has a bigger contact patch |
| The car touches the ground on the kerbs | Ride height 2 and 2 to 3 and 3 | More clearance |
For a race
The front left tyre does most of the work at Paul Ricard. Signes and Beausset are both long right handers, and they come one after the other. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- Front wing 3 to 4. More front wing means less sliding, and less sliding means less wear on the front left.
- Rear wing 6 to 7. To keep the balance with the extra front wing.
- Front tyre pressure 22.2 to 21.8 psi. A little cooler over a stint.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would go to brake pressure around 76% and the rear anti-roll bar at 7, so the rear is calmer when you turn in quickly.
F1 2019 has manual ERS modes. Save in the slow first part and in the last corners. Spend it on both halves of the Mistral. The chicane in the middle is the best place to pass, and you need the battery to get alongside before it.
Where the lap time is at Paul Ricard
- Turn 1 and turn 2. A fast left and a tighter right. The entry is quicker than it looks. Give up a little in turn 2 so the car is straight for the next braking zone.
- Turn 3, 4 and 5. A slow chicane and then a right hander. Use the flat kerb on the inside and stay off the big one behind it.
- Turn 6. A long right that opens onto the Mistral. Late apex, throttle early. This exit is worth more than the rest of the first part together.
- The Mistral chicane, turn 8 and turn 9. Brake in a straight line and do not cut too much. The game is strict with track limits here.
- Signes, turn 10. A very fast right at the end of the straight. Turn in once and keep the steering still. If the rear moves, add rear wing before you lift.
- Beausset, turn 11. A long double apex right. Go in slower than you want, hold the inside and wait for the second apex before full throttle.
- Turn 12 to turn 15. Slow by the standards of this track. The last corner leads onto the pit straight, so again the exit is what counts.
If you take one thing from this page: be patient in the long corners. In Beausset and turn 6 the lap time comes from the exit, and a car that slides on the way in will not turn on the way out.
France in 2019
The 2019 French Grand Prix was round 8 of 21, on 23 June, over 53 laps. Lewis Hamilton took pole position in 1:28.319 and won the race from the front. Valtteri Bottas was second and Charles Leclerc third.
Sebastian Vettel made a late stop for soft tyres and set the fastest lap, a 1:32.740 on the last lap. Romain Grosjean was the only retirement. Daniel Ricciardo got two five second penalties after the race and dropped to 11th.
More F1 2019 setups
All the tracks are on the F1 2019 setups page. France is round 8. The round before it is the F1 2019 Canada setup and the next one is the F1 2019 Austria setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2018 France setup, my F1 2020 France setup and my F1 22 France setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2019 setup for France?
Front wing 3, rear wing 6, differential 50% on throttle and 70% off, suspension 3 and 3, anti-roll bars 4 and 9, ride height 2 and 2, brake pressure 80% with 54% front bias, and tyres at 22.2 and 22.3 psi.
What wing levels should I run at Paul Ricard in F1 2019?
3 at the front and 6 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would run 4 and 7 to protect the front left tyre.
Can I use this France setup in a race?
Yes, with small changes. Add one click of wing at both ends and lower the front tyre pressure a little.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. I would lower the brake pressure to around 76% and soften the rear anti-roll bar to 7.
Why is the ride height so low in this setup?
Because Paul Ricard is flat and smooth. There are no bumps to hit, so the car can run close to the ground for less drag.
Where can I overtake at Paul Ricard in F1 2019?
Into the Mistral chicane with DRS. Turn 1 is the second option.
How long is Circuit Paul Ricard in F1 2019?
5.842 km with 15 corners, with the chicane on the Mistral straight. The real race is 53 laps.