Boullier: the French GP “not in compliance with health issues”

The French GP is one of the races canceled for the 2020 season due to the coronavirus. It was on April 27 while France was in full lockdown that the organizers officially announced their choice. However, the country is gradually freeing itself from health restrictions after passing the first peak.

Éric Boullier, the director of the French GP, returned to this decision in an interview with Canal+.

"It's not a question of choice, explained the former team director McLaren F1. To organize a grand prix behind closed doors, that's a lot of people. For comparison, a football match behind closed doors involves – it is estimated – 200 people. An F1 grand prix behind closed doors means 10 to 15 times more people. That's a lot of people, we were not in compliance with the health issues imposed by the government. It was not possible. »

Postponing the event could have been a second option, but a later date would not have been possible given the organization of the F1 season.

" We watched. We discussed with the federal authorities and F1. The French Grand Prix is ​​part of a calendar with other grands prix, and it is F1 and the FIA ​​which manage this. The availability of the Paul Ricard circuit was not adequate, we could not find a possible postponement date, added the Frenchman. It's 9 months of work that we won't completely see on the track. We will still use what we have done for next year. We took the time to remobilize the troops and we are already working on 2021.”

Spectators who have already purchased their tickets have the choice between refunding their seats or postponing them to 2021.