Smooth surface suits Jenson’s smooth style

Magny-Cours is located in Burgundy, the geographic heartland of France, and has been home to the French Grand Prix since 1991. The 12-turn circuit is blessed with a smooth surface and boasts generous run-off areas, although its twisty layout means that overtaking possibilities in dry conditions are usually limited to the slow Adelaide hairpin.

The race organisers tried to answer that criticism in 2004 by replacing the final chicane and increasing the run off area at the final turn, but the alterations have met with limited success.

Lap times vary noticeably at Magny-Cours depending on the ambient temperature. In common with other tight circuits, Formula One cars are set up to race with high levels of downforce, without completely compromising straight-line speed.

“I really enjoy racing at Magny-Cours,” commented Jenson Button. “It’s a smooth circuit and very flowing, which is the type of track I prefer as it is more suited to my driving style. I’ve had decent finishes there in the last two years so hopefully we can repeat that form next weekend with a strong points finish. It was disappointing to retire from the race at Indianapolis so early last weekend but looking on the positive side, the car worked much better all weekend than in Montreal.”