Europe 1 with AFP 4:37 p.m., May 27, 2022

As the end of the current contract approaches, the Formula 1 French Grand Prix has said it is in favor of alternating with another race.

The alternation, which should take place every other year, should allow the circuit to "rise in level compared to other Grands Prix", explained Christian Estrosi, the president of the Grand Prix de France.

The Formula 1 Grand Prix de France, whose current contract expires at the end of the year, is in favor of alternating with another race every other year, its president Christian Estrosi announced on Friday.

"I'm quite won over by the idea that doing an edition every two years really makes sense to move up in rank, up in level compared to other Grands Prix on the planet", defended Christian Estrosi.

"Yes in principle"

Following his meeting with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali on the sidelines of the Monaco GP, Christian Estrosi said he "confirmed that at the end of the 2022 edition on July 24, Mr Domenicali said yes in principle to this that we have a next edition".

"He said that in the F1 calendar, France is there on a model which must evolve since they themselves are discussing with several other appointments in the calendar - on the fact that not everyone would necessarily have a Grand Prix every year", continued the one who is also mayor of Nice.

Like the GP of Belgium or the GP of Monaco, the French round is not yet guaranteed to be on the calendar next year, threatened to disappear in favor of new races.

matter of survival

Competing with newcomers from America, Asia and the Middle East - who are paying a high price for their arrival ($55 million a year for Saudi Arabia against only $15 for Monaco, according to the specialized press) - these circuits see emerge the idea of ​​a work-study program, every other year, so as not to disappear completely.

F1 returned to France in 2018 on the Paul-Ricard circuit in Castellet (Var), after ten years of absence on French land.

Christian Estrosi is counting on September for an official response concerning the future of the race, which also benefits from the support of the French government.