F1 drivers have directed criticism at the layout of the French Grand Prix course and have made a formal request to the FIA.

Autosport reports that several drivers used Friday's briefing to criticise the placement of the chicane claiming that it would not make for great racing on Sunday.

Changes will not be able to be made before this weekend's racing begins because safety simulations will have been run with the lower speeds caused by the chicanes placement before turn 10.

However, the general opinion among drivers is that future races at the course should feature an improved layout to improve viewing for fans. 

Autosport claims that Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley, who tested Porsche's LMP1 car at the circuit without the chicane, said: "A long straight line will potentially create more overtakes.

Chicane complaints

"I don't think it will happen for tomorrow, but I've tested and raced without the chicane.

"It makes things interesting because it's less downforce with the long straight line, Turn 10 becomes more of a corner, and so does the last sector with less downforce.

"Maybe it's a discussion point for next year. The good news is here there are plenty of options."

Friday's pacesetter Lewis Hamilton has suggested that the track is difficult to navigate from a drivers point of view:"There's a lot of different lines you can take and it's tricky to find reference points out on the track.

"It's difficult to tell where you are. There's a couple of places, for example on the back straight where you're trying to find out where the corner is."

Ricciardo and Hulkenburg speak out

Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg agreed but have also suggested that within a few laps the problem tends to dissipate.  

Hulkenberg said: "A lot of the corners are kind of blind.

"You have so many different track layouts and all these colours alongside the track.

"But after a couple of laps you are getting it."

Ricciardo added: "It's kind of open, you can get lost with all those blue and red lines, but the layout was more fun than I thought."

Sergio Perez is among the leading critical voices suggesting that the FIA need to think more about the races from a fan's point of view: "We asked Charlie [Whiting, FIA race director] about this, to improve the overtaking, to improve the show, and make it more interesting.

"The best race we've had up to now this year has been in Baku, and all the tracks should be taking some direction from that."

Do you think the chicane should be removed? Have your say in the comments section below.