Nice GP speculation ‘isn’t a negotiating tactic’ over Monaco GP

Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has denied that speculation about a possible Nice Grand Prix isn’t intended as a negotiating tactic over the Monaco GP’s future.

Speculation about a possible Grand Prix being held in Nice, just a few miles up the road from Monte Carlo, was kicked off recently after Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali revealed the French city has shown interest in hosting a race – possibly once F1’s current five-year deal with Paul Ricard expires at the end of 2022.

With Monaco’s future also up for discussion and evaluation with no guarantee of a place on future F1 calendars, it’s understood F1 are seeking a change of terms with their iconic race. Aside from the principality paying the lowest race fees to host a Grand Prix, Monaco takes care of its own world broadcast feed to share out globally as well as retaining circuit signage space for their own sponsors.

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The reveal of the Nice interest could be seen as a negotiating tactic, with the implication being that F1 could simply up sticks and move to host a French Riviera street race in Nice on their own terms, rather than returning to Monte Carlo.

But Maffei has denied that this is the tactic being employed.

“No, we just want to have great races, that’s what we want,” he told Motorsport.com. “We always look, there are a lot of people interested in holding a race, and we look at the alternatives.”

With Monaco’s future unclear, Maffei denied that Liberty Media and F1 are engaging in