What to watch for in Le Castellet

The FIA Formula 2 campaign returns for Round 5 in Southeastern France, but what should you be watching out for this weekend?

How will Nicholas Latifi bounce back?

The cool Canadian suffered a torrid time of it in Monaco last time out, when he scored just two points – for the Sprint Race fastest lap – and surrendered much of his Championship lead. Nyck De Vries is now within a point of Latifi, who will need a powerful weekend in order to remain at the top of the standings.

Having spent the majority of the season on the podium, the DAMS driver will not have been pleased with 12th and 10th placed finishes in Race 1 and 2 and knows that his title challenge needs more meat if it is to be sustained.

With the previous round taking place nearly a month ago, the 23-year-old has found a way to keep his hand in and will have been buoyed by his return to F1 machinery. Latifi played a role in his home Grand Prix in Canada, when he took part in FP1 for Williams.

Home event for three

This week’s round will be home to three drivers this year, with Anthoine Hubert, Giuliano Alesi and Dorian Boccolacci all hailing from the country. Boccolacci enjoyed success last time out in Monaco, with 4th and 5th place finishes in the Feature and Sprint Races, made all the more impressive given his struggles in qualifying.

However, it was BWT Arden rookie Anthoine Hubert who most impressed out of the three, as the continually consistent Frenchman won his first ever race in FIA Formula 2, beating Louis Delétraz to first in the Sprint. This continued the trend of GP3 champions always going on to win an F2 race in the following season.

On top of that, the 22-year-old will be hoping to start a new trend, by becoming the first French F2 driver to win their home race. The Renault Junior also eluded to a “surprise” helmet design that he has in store for the race, so keep an eye out for that. ­

Jordan King returns

The experienced Brit was replaced by Artem Markelov in Monaco when he made his debut in the historic Indy500, jumping into the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing #42 machine. He has since followed this up and also raced in 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Jackie Chan DC Racing.

After his brief absence from F2, the 25-year-old will return to the more familiar MP Motorsport machine in France and will be using the experienced gained in Indy500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans to put him in good stead.

King will be hoping to add to his sole podium appearance so far and will be desperate to show the kind of pace and power that he did in the Baku Feature Race.

Overtaking opportunities

There has been overtaking aplenty in the FIA Formula 2 Championship this season with no position safe, and France will be no different. Le Castellet famously has two key overtaking spots: the first begins down the pit straight and goes into Turn 1 and 2, with plenty of room for both defence and attack. This can lead to some intense and enthralling battles right through the field.

The second main point is on the famous mistral straight, when drivers are able to hit top speeds ahead of Turn 7. Similarly to Turn 1 and 2, there is plenty of room to attack and defend with a left-hander, followed by a right-hander and then another straight. As well as these two, there will plenty more room for overtaking at Le Castellet.