“I met Pierre Fillon (president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest) to talk about Le Mans but there are too many complications to bring F1 there. » In the columns of The Team this Friday, June 28, Stefano Domenicali took stock of the chances of seeing a French Grand Prix regain a place in the Formula 1 world championship calendar. The F1 president closed the door on Sarthe, without this being a surprise, and believes that the Paul-Ricard du Castellet remains the only option.
“F1 and France make sense”
Pour Stefano Domenicali, au Paul-Ricard “There are logistical and traffic problems but if the commercial opportunity with enough spectators presents itself, why not. The circuit is undoubtedly the best and only possibility in your country. » F1 has not set wheels on French soil since 2022. “I respect France, I understand the importance of your country in the history of motorsport and I know the passion of your fellow citizens for F1, but I can’t do more than say: my door will always be open to you for discussion because F1 and France make sense.”
The French Grand Prix has been replaced by the Las Vegas Grand Prix and its new street circuit. In July 2023, Nice Matin revealed that President Emmanuel Macron was in favor of a return of F1 to Castellet. “Rest assured that I fully share your ambition. Indeed, as you point out, our country must be able, like the other major international sporting events that it organizes each year, to reconnect with Formula 1, for the pleasure of all. It is a challenge of attractiveness for our country, of influence of our automobile industry and of innovation to support the decarbonization of this sector.” It remains to convince economic partners.
In April, the daily The world revealed that an investigation had been opened concerning the accounts of the French Grand Prix. The debt of the Public Interest Group (GIP) GPF-Le Castellet, responsible for the organization and chaired by the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, would amount to 32 million euros.
