Always a story of big money.

Asked about the return of a French Grand Prix, removed from the calendar from next season, the CEO of Formula 1 Stefano Domenicali made it clear that it depended less on his own will than on that of Liberty Media, holder commercial rights of the discipline since 2017. And that it will be necessary to be very persuasive in terms of potential market to make its voice heard.

Because under the impetus of the American group, F1 has been more attached in recent years to exporting itself to new countries - Saudi Arabia, Miami and next year Las Vegas and Qatar - to globalize the discipline, with key to more extensive contracts.

On which, obviously, some old appointments have trouble aligning themselves.


This is therefore the case of France.

Returning to the calendar in 2018, ten years after the last edition in Magny-Cours (Nièvre), the national GP took place on the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet (Var) until this season.

But the contract with F1 was not renewed, and the sixth most disputed Grand Prix in the history of F1 since 1950 (62 editions) thus sees its future threatened.

A bit like Germany, 64 editions on the clock but which has not had a GP since 2019.

“We can continue the discussions, but it does not depend on me, we are waiting for proposals, explains Stefano Domenicali.

In life, there are people who speak, others who act.

Some say it's important to have Formula 1. Others understand the importance of having an investment with Formula 1.” The financial underpinning couldn't be clearer.

"In Nice, there is a project" -

While the Italian leader had raised great hopes among French fans by raising the possibility of a new Grand Prix in Nice this summer, this track was dismissed by the mayor of the city, Christian Estrosi.

However, it is not completely buried according to Domenicali.

“In Nice, there is a project, he assures.

We have to see, check the feasibility, the business plan, a lot of things and I hope to be able to talk about that very soon.

»

The competition is tough, apparently.

But France still benefits from a certain weight which could help it in the negotiations.

“There are other countries that push a lot to organize a Grand Prix, confirms Domenicali.

I hope that the France of motorsport will have the same attitude in the future because it is very important.

One possibility is that in the future, France will re-enter the calendar in a rotation system with other countries.

But this system will not be put in place before "2024 or 2025", said the boss of F1.

Sport

Formula 1: What future for the French Grand Prix?

Sport

Formula 1: Netflix, celebrities and entertainment, F1's recipe for (finally) winning in the United States

  • Sport

  • Formula 1 (F1)

  • F1 Grand Prix

  • Nice

  • Paca