Gwladys Laffitte 5:15 p.m., July 23, 2022

While the contract between the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet, which has hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France since 2018, and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ends at the end of this season and is not yet not renewed, rumors are rife about the future (or not!) of this stage of the competition.

The mayor of Nice and President of the Grand Prix de France, Christian Estrosi, assures that it will in any case not take place in Nice in the future.

While Le Castellet may be hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix for the last time, the rumor was insistent on the possible holding of a French Grand Prix in Nice in the future... Christian Estrosi has today cut it off short.

The Mayor of Nice assures him at the microphone of Europe 1: there will be no urban grand prix in his city.

The politician, who is also President of the Grand Prix de France, will fight for the competition to be maintained at Le Castellet, in the Var, which brings in between "50 and 70 million euros in economic benefits each year", says -he.

Improvement of mobility problems, more "green" stage... "Today we have perfect control of the organization at the Paul Ricard circuit", assures Christian Estrosi.

>> READ ALSO - At Le Castellet, the public is there for the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France

No Grand Prix in Nice

The future of the French Grand Prix?

"There is no question of it being in Nice of course (…) organizing a Grand Prix in town, France hasn't done it for a long time, I don't see under what conditions we could organize it in Nice “, he concludes.

On the other hand, he is not opposed to the GP being held every other year if necessary "it is an option that should not be ruled out, which also divides the costs by two", notes Christian Estrosi.

Call to Emmanuel Macron

The city councilor appeals to the President of the Republic to help him maintain this competition with strong influence for the country, by proposing that he meet the boss of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, and calls on the bosses of the CAC 40 to also mobilize.

If the discussions continued in the direction of maintaining the Grand Prix at Le Castellet, Christian Estrosi would be in favor of it taking place in September instead, to help "fill the back season" in the region.