The momentum is growing as France aims to return to the Formula 1 calendar.
The momentum is growing as France aims to return to the Formula 1 calendar.
Paul Ricard lost his place on the schedule amid mounting losses at the now-disbanded promoter – but behind the scenes of Monaco last weekend there were plenty of signs of life.
RMC reports that the president of F1 Stefano Domenicali met not only with the head of the French motorsport federation Nicolas Deschaux, but also with the new president Paul Ricard and the F1 legend Jan Alesi.
Eric Boulliera former F1 team boss who was responsible for the disbanded public interest group of the French GP was also present at the meetings.
“I have a pretty strong friendship with Stefano Domenicali,” said former F1 driver Alesi.
“I asked him if we could talk again about doing the French GP or not and he said ‘of course’. No problem for him,” the 58-year-old former Ferrari said the driver.
Alesi said it was now up to French political institutions to create the necessary “national will” for the next Formula 1 race.
“Stefano’s desire is to speak with the main French institutions, that is, with the President of the Republic,” he revealed.
Monaco podium winner and Frenchman Esteban Ocon hopes that the meetings will result in France returning to the calendar.
“It’s not normal that we don’t have a French GP at the moment,” said the Alpine driver.
“I hope we can find a solution together to get this back on the calendar. Discussions are ongoing and we’ll see where they take us.
“But the greater the weight behind it, the more we will be able to bring the grand prix back.
“Stefano talks a lot about it in the press, and I talk to him about it from time to time,” added Ocon. “It’s already in the papers.
“We have to find a way to do that.
