The Paul Ricard hosted what is expected to be its final French Grand Prix on Sunday, with the race set to be dropped from next year’s calendar amid an influx of new events for F1.
Qatar (after dropping the calendar this year) and Las Vegas have already been announced as additions to next year’s calendar, while F1 officials continue to work on a possible deal for South Africa join the calendar.
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The Chinese Grand Prix could also return next year, COVID-19 restrictions permitting.
It left France facing the ax of the calendar, although race promoters at Paul Ricard hope to remain in contention for a return should F1 go the rotating events route.
France have seen a growing presence on the F1 grid in recent years.
Alpine has played heavily on its French connection since the factory Renault team was rebranded in 2021, and it has also fielded a French driver in Esteban Ocon.
Fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly has raced in F1 since 2017, with both having won a race in the past two years.
Alpine boss Rossi said he would be “very disappointed” if Paul Ricard was not on next year’s calendar, given the country’s importance to F1 and motorsport.
“I don’t talk about it as the manager of a French team, or even as a French citizen,” Rossi said.
Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine F1, during the team principals press conference
Photo by: FIA Pool
“I rather think that France is a bastion of racing. He gave a lot to the sport. He has a large audience, a large fan base.
“It would be a bit unfair, I would say, to remove an important stage like the French Grand Prix from the calendar.
“I think it would be strange, but hopefully it will stick.”
Sunday’s pre-race festivities saw Gasly and Ocon stand before the usual assembly of drivers during the national anthem, while fans in the stands were given French tricolors to wave.
Gasly said he wanted to “enjoy every second” of the weekend knowing it could be his last home race for a while, finding it “quite moving to see all the French flags there”.
“It’s the first time for me that I’ve seen a French Grand Prix like this,” said Gasly, who struggled to finish 12th in the race.
“It’s the first time I’ve really seen it since I won at Monza. So more support, and you can really see that people are excited about Formula 1 in this country.
“It made the day a bit better, but yeah, hopefully we can have a French Grand Prix. If not next year, then the year after, because I have the feel that she clearly deserves her place on the calendar.
