The 2013 French Grand Prix project is progressing well
Since 2008, France has not had a Formula 1 Grand Prix, but things could change with the return of F1 to Le Castellet starting in 2013.
France has been trying for several months to organize a Formula 1 Grand Prix to return to the forefront. Le Castellet seems to be the best-placed circuit to host the return of F1 in France. An alternation with Spa-Francorchamps has been mentioned but for the moment, although not yet confirmed, the project of an F1 Grand Prix at Paul-Ricard is progressing well according to Gilles Dufeigneux, the inter-ministerial delegate for major sporting events.
Things are progressing in a very concrete way. Currently, all indicators are green… or on the verge of being so. My current mindset can be summed up in three words: optimism, caution, humility. We have entered the finalization phase and it can be said that the decision-makers will decide very soon, either in January or early February, Gilles Dufeigneux told Var Matin.
After the presence of three French representatives in F1 in 2012 – Romain Grosjean with Lotus, Jean-Eric Vergne with Toro Rosso, and Charles Pic with Marussia – France could soon see the return of its Grand Prix. However, there must not be too much delay because Jean Todt, the FIA President, had told Nice Matin that for inclusion in the 2013 calendar, the project had to be validated by the end of 2011, which thus may not be the case.
Hopefully, this will not pose any problems for seeing France host a Formula 1 Grand Prix by 2013. The first version of the 2013 season calendar is not expected to be published before mid-2012, which should allow the French project to be established and discuss the fees for hosting the F1 with the FOM, which is led by Bernie Ecclestone.
