French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated he wants Formula 1 to return to his country – with a Nice road race as a possible candidate.
The French Grand Prix returned to Circuit Paul Ricard in 2018 after a long absence, but the contract was not renewed after the 2022 event, so it was dropped from the program that year.
Even before Paul Ricard’s end was confirmed, a Nice road race had emerged as a possible replacement, although some observers thought Formula One’s interest was also linked to ongoing negotiations with Monaco over a new contract, a situation that has now been resolved became.
Macron gives the green light for organizers
According to the Nice-Matin newspaper, the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, recently wrote to Macron asking for his support and emphasizing the importance of the French Grand Prix.
Macron responded positively, instructing Estrosi and FFSA President Nicolas Deschaux to negotiate with Liberty Media and draw up a feasibility study for the race’s return, but without committing to a specific venue. Both men were previously involved in moving the race to Paul Ricard.
Macron writes: “Be assured that I fully share your ambitions. Indeed, as you point out, our country must be able, like the other major international sporting events that it organizes every year, to take Formula 1 to the everyone’s enjoyment again. It is a question of the attractiveness of our country, the impact of our automotive industry and the innovation to support the decarbonization of this sector.”
He adds: “With that in mind, you can see the different possible location options [in Frankreich] analyze and identify for each their economic model, their compatibility with our environmental commitments and their potential contribution to regional and national development. In this context, you will focus on holding discussions with the Formula 1 rights holders.”
Paul Ricard boss Alesi recently with harsh criticism of politics
Estrosi’s connections to Nice make this city an obvious candidate, and it remains to be seen which other cities will be seriously considered.
Macron’s support is important as Paul Ricard’s current boss Jean Alesi believes the track’s disappearance from the calendar was hastened by a lack of political support.
“The problem with Formula 1 in France is not the track, but the politics,” said Alesi recently. “It is probably the only Formula 1 Grand Prix that has never been attended by a President – with the exception of Magny-Cours, when [Francois] Mitterrand was present as part of his political desire for the race to take place there.”
“It hasn’t happened since. The problem isn’t with the track, it’s with the country’s desire. My other job is that of a Formula 1 ambassador, so my connection to Formula 1 is direct and they are very aware of that .”
Formula 1 apparently open to talks
A Formula 1 source said the organization is open to talks with Macron’s team to stage the race at an “iconic French location”.
In this context, the authorities of the city of Nice on the Côte d’Azur on Wednesday agreed to pay five million euros to help the public interest group of the French Grand Prix organization to pay off a debt of 27 million euros , which were accumulated in connection with the events in Paul Ricard.
The move was not without controversy, especially as it came before the organization’s activities are due to be reviewed later this month. “It’s not about paying an advance of five million if there are possible irregularities,” EELV MP Fabrice Decoupigny told Nice-Matin.
“You don’t vote without knowing something. They put the knife to our throats, while Christian Estrosi increased the tram ticket by 70 percent and stopped subsidies for electromobility.”
One mayor said: “I asked for the list of creditors and got nothing. And then, an advance means we can give more than five million. That’s huge considering the effort we’re asking our fellow citizens to pay their taxes already have been increased.”
The dispute is unlikely to help efforts to secure public funds for a Nice street race.