Jean Alesi feels the absence of the French Grand Prix from this year's Formula 1 race calendar is down to political reasons.
Former Ferrari driver Alesi is the new president of the Paul Ricard Circuit which has hosted the last few editions of the race. But that run of four Grands Prix between 2018 and 2022 has come to an end with no visit to Le Castellet planned this year.
Its previous absence from the calendar spanned nine seasons between 2009 and 2017. Before that, the French GP had been held at Magny-Cours instead of Paul Ricard since the 1991 season.
Referring to the race being dropped by F1 again, Alesi made clear his belief that the reason for its absence from this year's schedule is nothing to do with the sporting side. "The problem with Formula 1 in France is not with the circuit, it's with the politics," he told Motorsport.com.
"It's probably the only F1 Grand Prix that's never had a president come to watch it – except for at Magny-Cours once, when [Francois] Mitterrand attended as part of his political wish for the race to be there.
"Since then, it's never happened. The problem is not with the circuit, the problem is the wish of the country. My other job is a Formula 1 Ambassador, so my link to F1 is direct – with no bullshit – and they are very clear about that.
"F1 has probably 32 countries in the world right now asking to host F1 races. The last Grand Prix we had here last year was very, very popular with the people. So it's a shame to lose it.
"Having a French GP looks good on the F1 calendar, but if we don't have the possibility to do it, then that's because the country is not interested in motorsport, and that is a big shame. It's not a problem for F1 to have a Grand Prix in France, the blame is on France."
French driver Esteban Ocon previously said the race's absence is a shame for a country with "a huge, huge community for motorsport". He added: "I saw a great comment made by Stefano [Domenicali, F1 chief executive], basically saying that France deserves to have a race in the future. That is my opinion as well, that is what I believe."
