Having just returned from Bahrain, where he attended the first face-to-face meeting of the Promoters Association (FOPA) since February 2019, Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada promoter François Dumontier has agreed to speak with The Canadian Press about challenges looming on the horizon in motorsport’s premier series for 2022.
Posted at 10:17 a.m.
The Canadian Press (LPC): First, the burning question: will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affect the F1 calendar in 2022?
François Dumontier (FD): “F1 takes this situation very seriously. Obviously, they haven’t revealed all their plans for each of the races, but a decision has already been made with the termination of the agreement with the Russian Grand Prix. They (the F1 leaders) are keeping abreast of the latest developments, and I think they will adjust the course at the start of the season, depending on how the conflict progresses. Yes, some countries are closer to this conflict zone, but no formal decision has yet been taken on this file. »
LPC: The COVID-19 pandemic has not said its last word and a marked increase in cases is currently observable in Europe. Is this a concern for F1?
FD: “I have often told people we have met for two years, including some NHL leaders, that they should follow the example of F1 (to fight against COVID-19). F1 has managed to hold, in 2020 and 2021, two very respectable world championships in number of races. F1 and the FIA remain on the lookout for the health situation, and if they need to take action, they will. I know that they already have a few replacement countries, which we also saw in 2020 and 2021, and each of the promoters is following the situation closely in their respective countries. And as we have already seen, what happens in Europe often happens in North America a few weeks later. So for sure, the pandemic and the variants, we will always have a concern about that. »
LPC: Could the global geopolitical context and the COVID-19 pandemic encourage Liberty Media, owner of F1, to relocate several races to American territory over the next few years?
FD: “It’s true and false at the same time. Yes, Liberty Media said as soon as it took over F1 in 2017 that its priority was to have more races in America. The United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas was already there, as was ours, and this year we are adding Miami. But at the same time, Qatar will be added to the calendar in 2023. The F1 world championship must remain a world championship; there must be races all over the planet. And F1 will not deliberately go into “armed” conflict zones. Additionally (if all goes well) there will be 23 races for the first time. »
LPC: Is the sprint format, which made its debut in 2021, here to stay?
FD: “As in 2021, there will only be three races contested with the sprint formula in 2022 – Brazil, Italy and Austria – because the teams were not ready for its expansion. But I think we’re going to see a little more of that in 2023. We at the Canadian Grand Prix are discussing it, because you have to remember that originally we were going to be among the first races to feature the sprint format. . Except that the pandemic hit and we had to cancel the race altogether. It is therefore not excluded that we could have the sprint format in Montreal in 2023.”
LPC: How are ticket sales for the Canadian Grand Prix, which will take place from June 17 to 19, 2022?
FD: “The demand is very strong, and here we are evaluating the possibility of adding stands, because what we have already sold everything we had. Spring is coming very quickly, so we will soon start setting up the stands. […] I think people missed our event a lot, especially after being canceled two years in a row. »
LPC: Will the current galloping inflation in Quebec and Canada have an impact on the operating costs of the Grand Prix du Canada?
FD: “It affects us, yes and no. That is to say that we have valid long-term contracts with our suppliers, but we are experiencing what many other companies are experiencing: a labor shortage. This is where we see an impact. Personally, I was very lucky, because my permanent team is intact, and I found a good part of my contract team. We observe a lack of manpower, especially with our suppliers, for example to put up tents. We are aware of these problems, and we try to limit the impact that this could have on our organization. But we should be correct. »
LPC: So should we consider cost increases for food concessions, for example?
FD: “All I can say is that we will try to minimize that. We will try to keep reasonable prices, which will resemble those we had (in 2019), with perhaps a small increase. But our goal is not to pass this cost increase on to customers. »
LPC: Could the year 2022 allow a way out of the crisis for F1, in general, and the Canadian Grand Prix, in particular?
FD: “That’s for sure. I am very happy, because the last two years have been very difficult for everyone. Now that we are back, we feel a kind of exit from the crisis. The Canadian Grand Prix offers a great showcase for Montreal, Quebec and Canada, and it is often the event that kicks off summer in the city. If we can contribute to the economic and tourism recovery in Montreal, then we will. »