Formula 1®, the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, alongside the Mayor of Marseille; the President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur; and the Mayor of Nice & The President of the GIP GP de France are pleased to announce that Marseille will host the next 2018 F1 Festival.

Opening up the exciting world of Formula 1 for current fans and bringing a new generation of fans into the sport, the event heralds the return of Formula 1 to France for the first time in ten years.

Taking place alongside the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix de France 2018 on 22-24 June, the F1 Marseille Festival will bring the excitement and passion of an F1 Grand Prix event into the very heart of the city. This will be the first time that Formula 1 has connected a major city to a nearby Grand Prix race, creating an exciting destination experience for fans.

Marseille is the third city in the world to host an F1 Festival after London in July 2017 and Shanghai in April 2018. It will be followed later this year by the F1 Miami Festival, which will take place in October.

The F1 Marseille Festival will be free to attend and will include an F1 Live car run on Friday 22 June. Former French racing driver Franck Montagny will be behind the wheel of a Renault E20 (2012) and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing ambassador David Coulthard will take to the streets in the Red Bull RB7. This will give fans a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of seeing modern F1 cars up close in downtown Marseille.

F1 Live will also celebrate Renault’s 120^th anniversary with the Renault Passion Parade, providing a fitting tribute to this iconic French car manufacturer. Fourteen historic cars will take to the streets of Marseille in a display of Renault through the ages.

The F1 Park, will be located on the waterfront and will be open from Friday 22 June to Sunday 24 June. Providing the ultimate city centre festival hub including entertainment, a live stream of each stage of the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix de France 2018 and F1 experiences.

F1 House will be the unmissable VIP destination within Marseille, and will take place at Sport Beach on Saturday 23 June and Sunday 24 June.

Sean Bratches, Managing Director, Commercial Operations at Formula 1 said:

“Marseille is the perfect city for Formula 1 to mark its return to France as it has a well-established reputation for hosting major sporting events. We are looking forward to being part of this iconic city’s cultural agenda. The F1 Marseille Festival will be a celebration of our local fans, as well as an opportunity for a new generation to discover the excitement of Formula 1. Further still, it is a physical manifestation of Formula 1’s renewed commitment and investment towards supporting France’s motorsports legacy.”

Jean-Claude Gaudin Mayor of Marseille, President of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropole said:

“Every motorsport fan, and fans of major international events, will feel great pride from the 22nd to 24th June, on the occasion of the F1 Marseille Festival. Ten years after the last Grand Prix de Formule 1 was organised in France, this event places our city amongst the sport’s key destinations, on the same level as London, Shanghai or Miami. It also highlights the attractiveness of Marseille on a global scale, reinforced by the organization of other large events in the city such as the Six Nations Championship or the time trial of the Tour de France. Not to mention of course, the 2024 Olympic Games sailing competitions and soccer matches. As a high-quality spectacle that is entirely free, I have no doubt that the F1 Marseille Festival and its numerous attractions, from the waterfront to the Vieux-Port, will enthuse the tens of thousands spectators expected. As well as shine a light on the dynamism and the beauty of our city.”

Renaud Muselier, President of the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and member of the European Parliament, said:

“Thanks to Christian Estrosi and the involvement of the other partners, we have secured the return of this major event, which is essential for our country and especially for our region. The French Grand Prix generates almost 65 million euros in economic benefit, as well as 500 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs. During the month of May we organized the return of F1 to the heart of our towns and villages in four departments. We also fought for a city in the region to be chosen to host the F1 Festival. I fought and we won, the F1 Festival arrives in Marseille! This amazing event will enable the people of Marseille to rediscover F1 and the city, and will obtain significant media coverage that will continue the work of highlighting our three brands that I have introduced for our region – “Provence”, “Alpes” and “Cote d’Azur.”

Christian Estrosi, President of the F1 French Grand Prix, said:

“We fought for more than a year in the greatest secrecy to secure the return of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix. Thanks to the continued support of Renaud Muselier, as well as Jean-Claude Gaudin, Hubert Falco, Marc Giraud, Martine Vassal and Jacques Bianchi, we successfully met this challenge.  70,000 spectators and 300 million television viewers across 140 television channels will follow this world-class event, which will ensure a considerable uplift in our tourism economy. I am very glad we secured the right to host the F1 Festival in our beautiful town of Marseille, which will further increase the economic benefits of this event. I also want to thank Liberty Media for the trust it has placed in our territory and in the French Grand Prix. As for the French Grand Prix, I will do everything to make this a lasting event in our region and in the city of Marseille.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Norman Howell, Director of Communications, Formula 1

E: [email protected]

M: +44 (0)7920 181 929

Formula 1 Press Office

E: [email protected]

For media accreditation please contact:

Edelman Press Office

E: [email protected]

NOTE: if you no longer wish to receive these emails, please write to [email protected]

About Formula 1®

Formula 1® racing began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, as well as the world’s most popular annual sporting series. The 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship™ runs from March to November and spans 21 races in 21 countries across four continents. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1, and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.

Formula 1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group tracking stock.

The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company: All rights reserved.