The French revival

Even as the future of Formula one seems bleak in countries like Germany and Malaysia, the circus is set to return to France after almost a decade. The Paul Ricard circuit will host the race in 2018. The French Grand Prix is one of the oldest motor races in the world. It was on the roster for the very first Formual One season, which featured only seven races

-Paul Ricard hosted 14 grands prix between 1971 and 1990 with France's own Alain Prost winning the final race for Ferrari.

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- France hosted the first recognised grand prix near Le Mans in 1906, and was also part of the first world championship season in 1950 with a race at Reims.

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- The location of the grand prix changed frequently with 16 different venues having been used over the years.

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- The five-year deal for the return of the French Grand Prix to the circuit was agreed with the Provence-alpescote d'azur (PACA) region in association with the city of Toulon, department of Var and FFSA

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- France currently has two drivers on the starting grid, Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon, while French manufacturer Renault has its own team and provides engines to former champions Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

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Paul Ricard, which is situated in the south of France near Marseilles, last hosted a grand prix in 1990 with the French GP subsequently switching to Magny-cours before being axed eight years ago due to financial compulsions.

-Germany has been omitted from the 2017 calendar for financial reasons - despite the country boasting of recent world champions such as Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg - but the Hockenheim circuit still has a contract to host the loss-making race in 2018.

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Schumacher found the French Grand Prix much to his liking, winning it on no less than eight occasions between 1994 and 2006.

Home favourite Prost emerged triumphant six times between 1981 and 1993

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Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio, the first ever Formula One world champion, won the race four times as did Briton Nigel Mansell

– Aussie Jack Brabham and Jackie Stewart of Britain were victorious three times each

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Prost's victory in 1981 was the first of 51 Grand Prix wins for the fourtime world champion.

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The 2002 French Grand Prix, held at Magny-cours saw Schumacher clinching the world title after merely 11 races in the calendar.

An aerial view of the Paul Ricard circuit.