Located 39 km northeast of Marseille, the Paul Ricard route is legendary. Inaugurated in 1970, the route was remodeled after the death of Elio De Angelis in 1986, and part of the circuit was no longer used. In 1991, the French Grand Prix left Castellet for Magny-Cours.
In 1999, the circuit was bought by Bernie Ecclestone who transformed it into a test track which offered a host of technologies aimed at making the track as safe as possible. The red and blue color stripes feature abrasive surfaces that slow vehicles when going off the track.
In 2018, F1 is back at Paul Ricard but for 2023 the circuit is no longer on the calendar. A decision fueled above all by financial issues and the desire to favor other, more profitable Grands Prix.