F1 must avoid Le Mans clashes in future - FIA deputy president Reid

The former rally co-driver, who was elected along with new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last December, made the comment ahead of next month’s date conflict between the centrepiece round of World Endurance Championship and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

He pointed out that avoiding a clash next year will be particularly pertinent because Le Mans is celebrating its centenary.

“It is a good opportunity for us to say we should not have a clash next year and that should become the norm,” said Reid on a visit to last weekend’s Spa WEC round.

“I would be supportive of there not being a clash, generally and specifically next year.”

Reid concedes that the FIA does “not have autonomy” over the F1 calendar.

“WEC works in the way all the championships bar F1 work whereby the promoter proposes a calendar and it is up to the FIA to accept that calendar or not,” he explained.

“F1 is slightly different because they pretty much decide what the calendar is."

He suggested that avoiding a date conflict would likely be “down to a bit of negotiation” with the Formula One Group and its owners Liberty Media, which hold the commercial rights to F1.

Reid, who won the 2001 World Rally Championship alongside Richard Burns, added that he was expressing a personal view and that he would have to check with Ben Sulayem if it was also his opinion.

He revealed that Pierre Fillon, president of Le Mans organiser and WEC promoter the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, had raised the subject with him at Spa.

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“I was sat at dinner last night opposite Pierre, so I know the ACO’s opinion especially with the