Many European Grand Prix will disappear from the F1 calendar
Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club de Monaco, talks about the future of Formula 1 racing. In his view, the sport's appeal on the other side of the Atlantic should gradually reduce the number of Grand Prix events in Europe over the years.
Monaco maintains its place on the calendar. Despite some concerns, the historic circuit of the principality has renewed its contract with the FIA until 2031, an extension of six years. An agreement necessary given recent statements by Stefano Domenicali. The CEO of Formula 1 mentioned the possibility of a rotation for races in Europe to free up several slots on the calendar for other countries and continents, including Africa or South America.
An alternation of Grand Prix in Europe considered
We have news to share very, very soon regarding the possibility, in the medium term, of having European Grand Prix races on rotation and other new options to come later, announced the Italian during a meeting with Liberty Media investors. This decision could allow some countries to save money, such as Belgium with the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Spain with Barcelona, and the Netherlands with Zandvoort. The former Ferrari director explained the reasons for this policy which would result in a decrease in the number of races in Europe:
« It is true that we have a strong demand for new potential sites, and our choice will always be balanced between the economic benefits that we can have as a system and also to take advantage of growth in the markets where we see potential and which will allow us to further develop our business.
A growing interest in Formula 1 around the world
The Italian is facing a growing demand from new countries and continents wishing to join the Formula 1 calendar. Recently, Africa, with a project for a Grand Prix in Rwanda, has been the subject of discussions. Asia would also like to host more races, and Franco Colapinto’s arrival at Williams has revived interest in the discipline in South America.
This balance is all the more complex as the Concorde Agreements allow for a maximum of 25 races per year. With already 24 events on the schedule this season and many candidates at the door, some historic circuits are in danger. However, this will not be the case for Monaco, which has obtained a new agreement for six years after six months of negotiations with the Formula 1 authorities.
Michel Boeri, president of the Automobile Club of Monaco, expressed his satisfaction while painting a worrying picture of the future of races in Europe. “Faced with a bulldozer, the bicycle that I was has not been crushed, which is already not bad,” he told Monaco Info.
He emphasized that Monaco retains some specific advantages: « Then, compared to other European Grand Prix races, we have a few small advantages, but above all, there is no alternation. We will be here every year while not only many European Grand Prix races will disappear, but those that remain will often alternate. I believe that with the current demand of F1, there may only be two or three Grand Prix races left in Europe, the interest shifting towards China and other continents,” he said in an interview with Monaco Info.
Less and less Grand Prix in Europe according to Michel Boeri.
According to him, the number of races in Europe, currently set at 10, will gradually decrease under pressure from foreign competition. Boeri also revealed that the renewal of the Monaco contract was a complex process, due to disagreements with Stefano Domenicali and significant administrative procedures: « It’s I love you, me neither. The negotiations lasted at least six months. The problem was that as soon as we had a verbal agreement, we had to finalize it with a 60 to 70-page contract, drafted by American lawyers, with no margin for error so we had to be careful.
« It was a legal battle that went beyond the small clashes we may have had with Stefano Domenicali, who defended interests different from mine and vice versa. Now, we must look to the future, and our successors will still have plenty of time to adapt and catch up.
With Monaco still on the calendar until 2031, F1 keeps a monument of its history. However, recent statements from the CEO of F1 suggest the possible disappearance of certain historic circuits, such as Spa. Balancing financial considerations and sporting interests remains a major challenge for the future of the sport.
