Never far from the headlines (last week he announced that Monaco’s Grand Prix will keep its grid girls), the Automobile Club’s Michel Boeri has hit out at over-the-top safety measures being introduced into Formula 1.
“Motor racing is dangerous,” the 78-year-old stated. “If you try for full safety in Formula 1, it is against the nature of the sport and disfigures the cars. F1 is not for weaklings,” he told local French daily Nice-Matin.
“They will install an ejector seat next,” the Club President told the newspaper.
“I may be old school and perhaps my view is outdated. But a Formula 1 car packaged in cotton wool will not bring out the people,” Boeri said, referring to the crowds who come to Monaco each May to watch the most famous and most glamorous Grand Prix.
He also hit out at F1 owners Liberty Media, who he said see the world through American eyes.
“Their vision is different from Europeans,” he said. And in reference to the broad appeal of Monaco’s premier annual event, he added: “But we have a good relationship with Liberty Media. They understand that F1 is watched from a yacht with a glass of champagne as a fan eats a sausage sandwich. Apart from the grid girls thing, there is nothing wrong.”
Michel Boeri has been president of the ACM for 44 years, and says that he will step down at the end of his mandate in 2021, but not before securing €2 million for the refurbishment of the stands. “We can not continue to live in prehistoric times, with the ugliest and most uncomfortable stands on the circuit.”
This year, four Grand Prix will be broadcast on TF1, including Monaco and Castellet.