Grand Prix of France: Jean Alesi regrets a lack of support from the State

The Grand Prix de France was on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar from 1950 to 2008 before disappearing for ten years. It made its return in 2018, on the Paul Ricard circuit, thanks to a five-year contract signed between Christian Estrosi, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, and Formula 1. Unfortunately, in 2022 this partnership comes to an end and will not be renewed.

The only French circuit capable of hosting Formula 1.

Two circuits in France are approved to host the Formula 1 in France; Magny-Cours and Le Castellet. However, with the evolution of the weight and size of the Formula 1 cars, Jean Alesi believes that Magny-Cours is now an inadequate circuit. Therefore, efforts must be focused on the circuit in the south of France.

In France, the only circuit capable of hosting Formula 1 is the Paul Ricard. According to Jean Alesi, the problem does not come from the track but rather from the “extra-sporting” aspect due to rules that would prevent the smooth running of a Grand Prix. The former Ferrari driver explains this in an exclusive interview with Motors Inside.

(I) I hold the position of circuit president in France. The only circuit that can host an F1 race is the Paul Ricard circuit. It’s not a matter of standards, but a matter of layout. If you remove the Paul Ricard circuit, Magny-Cours is no longer a suitable circuit for today’s cars. It doesn’t have enough places to go fast. The French Grand Prix could only take place at Paul Ricard.

Laws on advertising in France prevent the return of the French Grand Prix.

« Why don’t we have it anymore? It’s not because there were issues on the track or because the drivers complained. It’s actually because there are 32 countries requesting to host Formula 1 races and there are only 23 slots available. It requires a national will, not just a regional one as it was the case. In our region, there was a great effort to bring back the Grand Prix to France, but they can’t do it alone. The region was on its own. »

In France, you cannot advertise cryptocurrencies, some teams have them on their vehicles. There is a loss of revenue, so when the teams are in a meeting, they say, “be careful, our sponsor is a cryptocurrency, we can’t do that”. These are small exemptions that should be obtained, but it is not the region that can grant them. I remember: “the Patrouille de France, no because it smokes, the Canadairs, we can’t because the water will fall on the countryside, so it’s not good…” when it was just water with coloring…

A lack of enthusiasm on the part of the State.

In all Grand Prix races, you have either the King or the President, depending on the regime, the true actors of the country are present. It is a true honor to have a Grand Prix. Have you ever seen a French president at a Grand Prix in France? No, before it was Mitterrand who came to Magny-Cours because he had financed it. Formula 1 is not going to kneel down,” declares Jean Alesi for Motors Inside.

According to him, the government shows no enthusiasm to host the competition, which penalizes the circuit compared to other countries, willing to do anything to secure a date on the F1 calendar.

Logistically, if you include Paul Ricard, Austria, Monza, Imola, Barcelona, and Spa, it’s along the way, even with Monaco. Barcelona, France, and Monaco are nearby, and it pleases the teams to have a logistics that goes in their favor.

It can go very fast for a comeback. If we have the little exemptions that we need, which by the way, will be granted for the Olympic Games. Why the games and not Formula 1? I’m wondering.

Nevertheless, the former Ferrari driver assures that the circuit is thriving, even without the presence of Formula 1.

« 280 days of occupation, so Formula 1 is a real honor and a brand image, but technically it’s almost better if we don’t have it. We will do everything to get it back, but the circuit runs very well without Formula 1. All the F1 teams come to Europe to test in the rain because we can water the track. Pirelli has their base here. We have had Mercedes, AlphaTauri, and Red Bull, and McLaren will also come. »