Circuit Paul Ricard

Capelli and Leyton House found an unexpected opportunity at Paul Ricard in 1990. A car struggling elsewhere became competitive enough to make Prost chase in his Ferrari. Prost ultimately won, but Capelli’s resistance defined the race. It illustrates how performance depends on the meeting between a car and a specific surface and circuit, not only general competitiveness.

Verstappen lost the lead at the first corner of the 2021 French Grand Prix but recovered it with an undercut during the first stops. Red Bull then stopped him again, surrendering track position for fresher tyres. He had to pass Bottas and close the gap to Hamilton, who remained on a one-stop strategy. Verstappen caught him with two laps remaining and completed the pass on the straight. Paul Ricard hosted a race decided in two stages: gaining an advantage in the pits, then deliberately giving it up to build a larger opportunity at the finish. Strategy succeeded because driver and car converted tyre difference into pace, recovery and the final attack.