France set for 2018 F1 calendar return - media

After a decade’s absence, France will return to the F1 calendar in 2018.

That is the claim of several authoritative French-language media sources, including the L’Equipe daily, RMC and Europe 1 radio, and the Auto Hebdo magazine.

They say that although the last French grand prix was held at Magny Cours in 2008, the event will now return in 2018 at the Paul Ricard track with an late August or early September date and a five-year contract.

The news will reportedly be made official on Monday, through an announcement in Paris by the Automobile Club de France.

L’Equipe said French F1 legend Alain Prost and McLaren team boss Eric Boullier were involved with the negotiations, while Paul Ricard is owned by Bernie Ecclestone.

The news follows hot on the heels of the controversial dropping from the 2017 calendar of the similarly historic German grand prix.

Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn told Deutschlandfunk radio: "It’s time for us to get better races rather than just the most money."