French Grand Prix Managing Director, Eric Boullier, has recently confirmed in an interview for RacingNews365 that major modifications will be made to the Formula 1 calendar after he had “positive” discussions with former Ferrari boss and current Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali regarding the future of the French Grand Prix.
The former McLaren boss, now Managing Director of the Circuit Paul Ricard event, is confident that French Grand Prix will still be in the sport’s plans, but at the same time is aware that the event may have to share its place with other venues.
This would mean that the Paul Ricard event could be held once every two or three seasons, a situation similar to that of other European locations, like Portimao or even Monte Carlo.
It news comes after Stefano Domenicali suggested that Formula 1 could create a calendar of up to 30 races in the future, yet such a plan would mean circuits sharing positions on a calendar that can, for now, grow no greater than 24 races long, as stated in the current Concorde Agreement.
In the interview for RacingNews365, Eric Boullier explained: “We’ve had discussions [during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend] with my chairman, Mr [Christian] Estrosi, and Stefano Domenicali. It was a positive meeting because they said they want the French Grand Prix to stay on the calendar. I think there will be a lot of changes in the future on the calendar, not only for us but for everybody. It was a positive meeting because they said they want the French Grand Prix to stay on the calendar. I think there will be a lot of changes in the future on the calendar, not only for us but for everybody.” – he added.
Given the fact that discussions regarding the future of the French Grand Prix are still ongoing, Eric Boullier did not want to pinpoint what circuits could enter into a rotation agreement with Circuit Paul Ricard.
The French Grand Prix is one of three European events that has a contract available only until the end of the current Formula 1 season, alongside Monaco and Spa-Francorchamps, despite the fact that the Belgian Grand Prix is most likely going to sign a contract extension. But there is a long list of FIA Grade 1 circuits currently without a place on the calendar, such Portimao (Portugal), Hockenheim (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey).
Eric Boullier continued: “If you have 30 Grands Prix and only 23 dates, obviously, if you want to fit them in you must find a clever way to do it. It was a positive meeting and we now have to work. We will follow the wishes of Formula One Management (FOM). I think alternating would not necessarily be with just one other Grand Prix, it could be changing every year.”
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The big task for Eric Boullier is to show the FOM that Circuit Paul Ricard remains worthy of a spot place on the Formula 1 calendar. His job will not have been helped by the huge traffic problems of the past at a venue tucked between the hills of the Sainte-Baume. For the current championship, there is a plan in place to avoid such problems with fans set to be transported to the track by shuttle bus from the ‘Park and Ride’ facilities, the major cities and train stations. FOM will be watching closely.
“We have a huge mobility plan with seven ‘Park and Rides’ in place. You cannot drive your car to the track this year, that’s not allowed, except if you are media, video teams, or team personnel. From a 25,000 capacity car park at Paul Ricard, we are down now to 7,500. The people who pay for that access are going to be funding my mobility plan, where we have a €10 return train ticket from wherever you live in the south of France. We also have a TGV from Paris and over 400 buses that will be running shuttles from the cities and train stations.”
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