As claimed by sections of the French media last week, at a press conference this afternoon it was confirmed that France will return to the Formula One calendar in 2018.

Having hosted the first Grand Prix in 1906, France was one of the regulars on the F1 calendar from the inception of the World Championship in 1950.

However, due to various reasons, mostly financial it slipped from the calendar in 2008 and despite numerous false starts failed to return.

All that changed today when Christian Estrosi, head of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region (PACA), confirmed that the race will take place at the Paul Ricard circuit from 2018.

"Today I can announce clearly, firmly, and finally, the return of the French Grand Prix for the summer in 2018 in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, at the circuit Paul Ricard," Estrosi told the media. "We are proud of this great return after ten years.

"In 2018 it will be ten years since the Grand Prix left the country," he continued, referring to the event at Magny Cours and won by Felipe Massa, "this is a huge victory for the men who worked for its success."

Among those who have worked for the event's return are McLaren's Eric Boullier and Renault's Cyril Abiteboul.

"We know motorsport is popular in our country and we are ambassadors and bearers of innovation, creation, research and development, it was for our country a real scar to lose the grand prix," he admitted. "Since then there have been several efforts, and I want to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and FFSA president Nicolas Deschaux and many others who worked hard for the return of the race."

A year after Renault returned to the grid, and at a time Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon seek to follow in the tradition of the legendary Alain Prost, Estrosi dedicated the event's return to a French driver who was never allowed to fulfil his true potential, Jules Bianchi.

"I have a thought for our Nice driver Jules Bianchi, who has passed away," he said. "I want to dedicate this comeback to him. My thoughts are with his family, his father.

"I also want to think others I have not known but who contributed to the success of French motorsport, such as Jean Behra, who remains for us a great figure of motorsport."