Before the French Grand Prix, many drivers, including the French, have a hunch that this may be the last race on the track at Le Castellet.
“It’s possible it won’t be on the calendar next year, so it’s important to enjoy every moment of this weekend,” said Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri pilot.
Eric Bouillet, chief executive of the French Grand Prix, does not share such sentiments, however, as negotiations over the future of the race continue.
“We are still alive and this weekend we expect 200,000 spectators, this is a record,” he said in an interview with Agence France-Presse. – But what is the probability that the race will continue, I am not ready to say. Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 president, has made it clear that France deserves a place on the championship calendar.
The FOM is also expanding the calendar in the sense that the number of Grand Prix will increase, so that decisions may be taken differently. Although the race alternating with another circuit is not an ideal scenario. At the same time, we are discussing all possible options with FOM: their strategic approach is to hold more races, and some of them could alternate.
At the moment, both sides have a desire to keep the French Grand Prix, but whether it will be held every two years or three, or five, or every year – this has yet to be decided. But we have to reserve such an opportunity for ourselves for the future, when there are 25 dates on the calendar, although the number of Grand Prix can reach thirty.
So we are still alive and negotiations are continuing at all levels.”
Circuit Paul Ricard’s Formula 1 contract expires in 2022.
Source: F1 News
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