Jean Alesi feels the absence of the French Grand Prix from this year's Formula 1 race calendar is down to political reasons.
Former Ferrari driver Alesi is the new president of the Paul Ricard Circuit which has hosted the last few editions of the race. But that run of four Grands Prix between 2018 and 2022 has come to an end with no visit to Le Castellet planned this year.
Its previous absence from the calendar spanned nine seasons between 2009 and 2017. Before that, the French GP had been held at Magny-Cours instead of Paul Ricard since the 1991 season.
