Would this be a first step before the (if expected) return to normal?
Echoing the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco (held last weekend), the organizers of the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) plan to welcome spectators on May 23 during the Formula 1 Grand Prix, fifth stage of the 2021 season. If in Bahrain, on March 28, a few spectators vaccinated or cured of Covid-19 were able to witness the victory of Lewis Hamilton, the following event in Imola in Italy took place behind closed doors.
Due to Monegasque restrictions (more flexible than in France) in force until next Sunday, the organizers of the ACM were able to accommodate 6,500 spectators, or a third of the capacity during the historic event.
"On Friday, we were in camera but the public was present on Saturday and Sunday," says one on the side of the Automobile Club.
We hope to repeat the experience for the E-Prix on May 8 and for the Formula 1 Grand Prix on May 23.
"
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To claim to attend the Monaco Grand Prix, it will obviously be necessary to meet the criteria of the Monegasque government, namely to be a resident or employee in the Principality or even a client of a Monegasque hotel.
"We will respect the government's protocol," says the ACM.
New instructions must be communicated next week.
We will adapt accordingly.
"
While in the principality, restaurants are open, it can be assumed that conditions will be similar to last weekend during the Grand Prix Historique.
As a reminder, last season, the Monaco Grand Prix as well as its French counterpart were among the five events canceled due to the coronavirus.
We have to go back to 2019 to find the trace of the last winner on the Rock, the Briton Lewis Hamilton.
15,000 spectators expected at the French Grand Prix
As for the organizers of the Grand Prix de France, we have been working since December on the 2021 edition which will take place in Le Castellet (Var), on June 27. "We are working on several scenarios," indicates Pierre Guyonnet-Dupérat, its communications director. The one we hope for is the one which would consist of welcoming 15,000 spectators in three airtight bubbles of 5,000 spectators. The organizers, who have already sold almost all the places, will refine this first hypothesis at the end of May-beginning of June. “Unlike last season, the Grand Prix will be maintained no matter what,” assures Pierre Guyonnet-Dupérat. We have two other possibilities. The most optimistic is to increase the capacity beyond the 15,000 expected, the worst to hold the Grand Prix behind closed doors. "
Obviously, on the Castellet side, we look with a keen eye at what can happen on the side of the Monegasque neighbor. But not only. “The right indicators will also come
(from the tennis tournament)
at Roland-Garros,” thinks Pierre Guyonnet-Dupérat. If the French Grand Prix can admit 15,000 people, it will reach the 20% mark of its capacity, set at 60,000 spectators across the site.
