Quote:
Originally Posted by joao.toscano
Indeed. A record 24-race calendar has been confirmed by Formula 1's governing body for the 2023 season. The new race in Las Vegas and the return of Qatar and China makes next year the longest ever season despite the loss of the French Grand Prix.
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Past Summer, rumors circled of lobbying by the French to keep the French Grand Prix on the F1 calendar. Renault is important for F1.
But keeping Le Castellet (Paul Ricard circuit) on the F1 calendar may have been at the expense of Spa-Francorchamps. And for F1 pilots, the choice is a no-brainer: they love driving the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. But F1 pilots have no real say - it's the Liberty Media Corporation who calls the shots.
So IMHO dropping the French Grand Prix at Le Castellet ain't quite a "loss" if that saves a spot for Spa-Francorchamps on the F1 calendar.
Stefano Domenicali pitched the idea of conceiving a street race in Nice (Côte d'Azur):
https://scuderiafans.com/details-abo...n-from-locals/. But that idea was later rejected by the mayor of Nice (there was also protest by locals):
https://www.nicematin.com/auto/chris...-a-nice-782981