Amid Growing Social Unrest, French President Emmanuel Macron Takes Controversial Decision to Show Support to F1 Giant Alpine

F1 usually leaves or cancels the race in countries where it could be dangerous to organize a race. Take the example of the Chinese GP which got canceled because of COVID. While France was not facing any such severe issue until now, the French GP is off the F1 calendar after 2022, as F1 chose not to renew the contract with Paul Ricard. However, French President Emmanual Macron recently took the controversial decision to show support for Alpine despite the growing social unrest in France. How did he show this support?

France, especially the capital Paris, has recently become the hub of protests. Just months after the countrywide protests over the pension reform, the people are back on the street to express their anger toward social injustice. Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old boy was shot by police officers in Paris for driving without a License. More than 700 people have been arrested for causing the unrest while about 3000 have been detained.

Regardless of the unrest, French President Emmanuel Macron showed interest in bringing F1 back to France and supported the home team, Alpine. The French GP at Paul Ricard Circuit made a comeback to the F1 calendar in 2018. However, it was never that popular amongst the fans. As of this year, there’s no Grand Prix in France. However, the Mayor of Nice wrote to President Macron about bringing a GP to Nice. 

According to Formulapassion.it, Emmanuel Macron positively replied “Be assured that I fully share your ambition. Our country must be able, as in the case of the other major international sporting events it organizes every year, to reconnect to F1, for the pleasure of all. It is a matter of attractiveness for our country, of the influence of our automotive industry, and of innovation to support the decarbonization of this sector.”

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This comes as a huge boost to Alpine, who is a French constructor but doesn’t have a home race. Alpine recently welcomed an investment worth 224 Million Dollars which included the Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds. 

The new investors to help Alpine “push forward”

With the new investment, the valuation of Alpine has surpassed a Billion Dollars. The French team finished 4tg in constructors last year and wants to improve on it to join the top teams. Ryan Reynolds has already converted Wrexham FC into a successful venture and now enter the world of Formula 1

According to Motorsport.com Esteban Ocon talking about the new investors said “As a whole all the investors, in general, they’re going to bring their expertise into the team, and it really shows the dedication of the team to push forward on every aspect,”

What did you make of Emmanuel Macron supporting the decision to being F1 back to the country during such a difficult time for his nation?

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