Is there a French Grand Prix on the streets of Nice anytime soon? Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali brought this variant into play and revealed that the southern French city has a “fantastic project” and would like to have a Formula 1 race.
This puts two other current routes under pressure, which are already in danger of falling off the Formula 1 calendar: Le Castellet, where the premier class has been hosting the French Grand Prix again since 2018, and Monaco, which is less than 20 kilometers away from Nice as the crow flies.
“We will look at the applications and check them carefully,” Domenicali told the French newspaper “L’Équipe”, describing France as an “important nation in motorsport”. A decision has not yet been made, but the Italian announces that the future of the French Grand Prix should be clarified by the end of July.
Las Vegas and Qatar confirmed in Formula 1
It is possible that a possible race in France could be held on a rotating basis in the future – for example alternating with Belgium, whose contract is also expiring. Because more and more routes are pushing into the calendar, so that there is simply no space for many old venues.
Las Vegas and Qatar have already been confirmed as new races for 2023, and China is also expected to return after a three-year break. And Kyalami in South Africa should possibly host a race again next year.
“30 races wouldn’t be reasonable,” says Domenicali, putting the preferred number of races at “23 or 24” per season. “But to achieve that, we have to work with the principle of rotation – not only in Europe, but also in other countries,” said the Formula 1 boss.