F1, which is now exported to Saudi Arabia, in Miami and next year in Las Vegas, seeks to “balance” its races between continents, between newcomers and “historic” Grand Prix.
Le Monde with AFP
Formula 1 will not go through France in 2023. This dreaded news on the Castellet side (Var) was confirmed on Thursday, August 25, on the sidelines of the Belgian Grand Prix, another historic test also threatened with disappearance in the season Next.
France, just like Belgium and Monaco, had not yet renewed its partnership with the World Championship for 2023. If the other two Grands Prix Cités still have a hope of appearing on the calendar, there will therefore have no race in France next year, said Formula 1 Thursday, confirming a declaration by its president, Stefano Domenicali, published in L ‘Team .
To hear it, it is not necessarily a farewell, rather a goodbye. Wednesday, the Italian leader had said at a press conference that “the discussions [were] very, very open for a big future and a possibility, not next year, but in the future” by “a kind of rotation which would allow everyone to be part of the calendar “.
“There are sites that are chatting with each other to submit a proposal to us in the coming months. This will not be part of the calendar 2023. We are talking about 2024 or 2025 to start with this approach “Added the president of F1.
The Grand Prix de France “takes note of the recent statements by Stefano Domenicali (…) on his absence on the calendar of the 2023 season”, said in a press release the organizer of the Grand Prix.
“Balance” between continents
The two parties “continue to work together on the presence of this event in the calendar in the coming years, and in particular on an alternation system”, confirmed the French promoter.
Even if the warning signs left France little chance of keeping its place, the blow is tough for fans in a country with very strong motorsport tradition with two more pilots out of twenty, one Stable (Alpine) out of ten and one engine manufacturer (Renault) out of four. So here is France in the closet after sixty-two editions, like Germany (sixty-four editions) which has not been in a great prize since 2019.
“It is difficult to swallow, reacted Esteban Ocon, the French pilot of Alpine. But it is not an end in itself, there will be opportunities, we have a lot of beautiful circuits, cities which would be delighted to be able to accommodate a Grand Prix. “
“Of course I am very sad, I really hope that it will come back as soon as possible, added the other tricolor pilot, Pierre Gasly (Alphanauri). Monaco and Spa are also in danger, they are Traced that I really appreciate. As pilots, we tell them our opinions, but of course there are issues behind our control. “
Given the growing interest in F1 and the new financial standards represented by the new Grands Prix, “history is not enough”, explained Stefano Domenicali, according to which the presence of so -called historical prices “does not Can’t be considered acquired “.
more garnished contracts
F1, which is now exported to Saudi Arabia, in Miami and next year in Las Vegas, seeks to “balance” its races between continents, between newcomers and “historic” Grand Prix.
This new generation F1, promoted by the American group Liberty Media, holder of commercial rights since 2017, has experienced new momentum thanks to the Netflix Formula 1 series: Drive to Survive and wants to globalize with, to the key, contracts more garnished.
“Of course, we are talking about a sector where investments and financial contribution are very important, but we have always said that traditional races, which we know can not bring money than others Bring, have all our respect, “said Stefano Domenicali.
Monaco and Belgium are in favorable tank. Especially since the return to South Africa, desired by F1 which has not been present on the continent since 1993, should not be effective before at least 2024.