Gwladys Laffitte, edited by Solène Leroux 11:43 a.m., July 22, 2022

The French Grand Prix returns this weekend, and its future is on everyone's mind.

Does this year mark the last meeting of the drivers at Le Castellet?

The legendary Paul-Ricard circuit may not see F1 again anytime soon, since the contract has not yet been renewed.

In the paddock, we only talk about that.

If you are on vacation in the Var, near Le Castellet, it is not the cicadas that you will hear this weekend, but the noise of the engines.

The Grand Prix de France returns and promises a lot.

First, the sporting stakes of this legendary Formula 1 race with the expected duel between Red Bull and Ferrari.

But there is also the future of the Grand Prix itself, which is on everyone's mind.

This year, it may be the last meeting of the drivers at Le Castellet.

The legendary Paul-Ricard circuit may not see F1 again anytime soon.

In the paddock, we only talk about that.

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At the end of the season, the contract between the International Automobile Federation, the FIA, and the Paul-Ricard circuit is over.

For the moment, it is not renewed.

On the circuit, we are worried that this mythical mid-season race will simply disappear.

And in the first place, the two French drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, necessarily delighted to race at home. 

"I am a patriot and I will always defend the Grand Prix as much as possible," said Pierre Gasly of the Alpha Tauri team.

"Personally, it's a Grand Prix that brings emotions like nowhere else. So, I will always do my best on my side to keep it", he assures.

200,000 spectators expected

This year, for the first time, the stands will be full, and 200,000 spectators are expected over the weekend.

Éric Boullier, the general manager of the Grand Prix de France, will do everything to ensure that it is maintained.

"We want to keep the Grand Prix de France. It's 100 million live spectators, it's tens of millions of economic benefits," he says.

“Now we are discussing all the possible scenarios to be able to fit into their calendar strategy in the future. It is an economic equation, an ecosystem that must be put in place.”

Rumors of a French Grand Prix every other year are rife, a race in Nice is also under consideration.

What is certain at present is that the FIA ​​has not yet decided.