French Grand Prix: The FFSA now in charge of the dossier

The case of the French Formula 1 Grand Prix was until now in the hands of the Minister of Sports, Valérie Fourneyron. But things have changed, as the Ministry of Sports issued a statement this week to announce the transfer of the case to the French Federation of Automobile Sport, the FFSA.

After meeting with representatives of the Magny-Cours and Castellet circuits in the presence of FFSA President Nicolas Deschaux, the ministry stated in the press release that some issues remain to be clarified and the FFSA will have to address them: « The objective analysis of the information presented confirmed that both sites (Magny-Cours and Castellet) possess the required qualities to host a Grand Prix. However, it appears necessary to further explore the two competing projects, mainly due to significant uncertainties related to essential aspects of the legal and financial setup. The following are particularly at issue:

– l’absence d’accord avec la société Formula One Management sur le montant du droit de plateau ;

– la possibilité non confirmée d’une alternance annuelle dans le calendrier du championnat du monde avec un autre Grand Prix en Europe ;

– le manque d’informations sur les coûts des aménagements supplémentaires exigés pour l’inscription au calendrier du championnat du monde ;

– les conditions de négociation des partenariats privés.

Consequently, the minister expresses her wish for the continuation, in a serene manner, of the reflection work initiated on each of the two files. To this end, in a letter addressed on June 26 to Nicolas DESCHAUX, Valérie FOURNEYRON invites the FFSA to examine, with the project initiators, the technical, financial, and legal conditions under which a French Grand Prix could be organized on either circuit.

Even if the Minister for Sports forwards the dossier to the FFSA, she hopes that the organization of a French Formula 1 Grand Prix will be realized in the coming years: In a spirit of responsibility, the Minister today reaffirms her determination to ensure that all economic, legal, and financial conditions are met to ensure the sustainability of this event in France, under optimal conditions for the event itself as well as for the concerned communities.

But even if the Ministry of Sports wants this event to take place, it will be done without the help of the State, which will not finance such an event, as stated in the press release: «Recalling the public finance control requirements set by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, the minister indicated that the State could not, in any case, financially contribute to the organization of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.»