Special feature
Formula 1 French GP
Promoted: French GP is “more than just racing” – Eric Boullier
Eric Boullier spent eight seasons as the boss of two different Formula 1 teams, winning races along the way. When Boullier, a proud Frenchman, left McLaren in the summer of 2018, it took only a “few days” for the French Grand Prix management team to reach out to him, looking for help from an F1 insider to further the cause of the race. Motorsport Live spoke to him to find out how he’s bringing the French Riviera feel to the race track, helping the race to become bigger and better.
Edited: May 24, 2019, 1:24 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
“Being based in England, I didn’t want to be strictly involved in the operations,” he says. “This is why I became a strategic advisor and ambassador. I’m more a facilitator, if you want, between all the parties – because I am the one with the paddock experience. I’ve got a big network, so I can basically call somebody and because I’m credible people they pick the phone up and answer me.”
Eric Boullier and Didier Coton, Driver Manager
Photo by: Jerry Andre / Sutton Images
- Book your tickets to the French GP with Motorsport Live here
Having attended more than 150 Grands Prix in his previous capacity as an F1 team boss, Boullier has seen more than his fair share of Formula 1 events. He recognises as keenly as anyone the need to build a spectacle that reaches beyond hardcore racing fans, which is why he has pushed the French Grand Prix to do everything it can to build on the success of its return to the calendar in 2018 and become more than ‘just another race’.
Eric Boullier, Team Principal, Lotus F1, talks with Romain Grosjean, Lotus F1
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images
Eric Boullier, McLaren Racing Director
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images
“It was a huge success last year – sold out in three days, nearly, because everybody wanted to be there for the return of Formula 1,” says Boullier, who hopes the pace of F1’s 2019 development war will go up into gear in time for this year’s race, helping create a real spectacle on track.
Listen to the podcast...
“It was amazing how people were missing Formula 1 in France. What makes it special is we are a new model – the first one who signed with Liberty. It is not only racing on track, it’s also an experience over a weekend, where you can bring family, your friends, and enjoy your time.
“The location is important because you are in the south of France – good weather, good food, good wine. You can be entertained in the French Riviera style. To push this French Riviera experience was one of my requests, so we are going to have some themed restaurants from St. Tropez, a few things like this that’s bringing the French Riviera experience to the track, in the paddock.
Circuit Paul Ricard
Photo by: Shutterstock
View of the Medieval Village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Provence, France
Photo by: Shutterstock
“Last year we built Provence Village. We’ll do a second one this year, on the north of the track, and also the theme will be around music. The 21st of June it’s a date in France where we call it ‘the music day’, so everybody’s playing in the street, anywhere. There will be a special concert for this Friday night, and we decided to carry on every day, with a different artist. Saturday night we have Bob Sinclar, and Martin Solveg on Sunday night. It’s going to be a big event.”
“We’ve also partnered with Motorsport Live to create a bespoke St.Tropez Grandstand offering for 2019, located at F1’s fastest corner, Le Beausset. Offering not only a great view of the race track, the grandstand will have its very own DJ and photo booth, plus every guest will also get a gift pack, with an exclusive collectable t-shirt, sunglasses and cap. It will add to the experience and we think it will get a great reaction.”
Be there and experience the French GP live. Build your perfect race weekend experience with Motorsport Live here.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Raikkonen asked Alfa to cancel all 300th GP celebrations
Next article Webber: Ferrari may need to consider writing off 2019 soon
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
Latest news
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
19 min
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
40 min
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
Honda confirms Diogo Moreira for factory team in 2027; David Alonso heads to LCR
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 1 h
Honda confirms Diogo Moreira for factory team in 2027; David Alonso heads to LCR
Vincent Biard: “The Maserati GT2 was thrilling in 2026; next year we want continuity and progress”
Sponsored
Sponsored
Portimão
2 h
Vincent Biard: “The Maserati GT2 was thrilling in 2026; next year we want continuity and progress”
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe