The French GP is usually not very spectacular. The Paul Ricard circuit has huge escape areas, so mistakes often go unpunished. France must fear for its place on the Formula 1 calendar in the future, but possibly the top motor racing category will move to Nice.
The French GP is usually not very spectacular. The Paul Ricard circuit has huge escape areas, so mistakes often go unpunished. France must fear for its place on the Formula 1 calendar in the future, but possibly the top motor racing category will move to Nice.
The contract with Paul Ricard expires after this season and there is not much chance that a new commitment will be made. Next season we have Las Vegas, probably China and possibly South Africa among others, and that means the calendar for 2023 is already overcrowded. So there will have to be cuts by Liberty Media.
France is said to be listed to leave next year, as is the Belgian circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. Previously, there were rumors that Paul Ricard and Spa would alternate and host a GP every other year.
However, perhaps a new opportunity for F1 is now presenting itself. But according to L'Equipe newspaper, discussions are underway between Stefano Domenicali and the promoters of a possible French GP in the coastal city of Nice, whose mayor is none other than Christian Estrosi. He is one of the current promoters of the GP at Paul Ricard.
Journalist Frédéric Ferret spoke with Stefano Domenicali in Canada. The Liberty Media CEO said he would rather see France kept on the F1 calendar than not. Domenicali is "open to new ideas. So possibly we will have a weekend in Nice in the future. The mayor of Nice would neither confirm nor deny the news.