Bernie Ecclestone is leading the negotiations as France tries to return to the formula one calendar.
The country’s government is pushing hard to include Paul Ricard on the 2013 calendar, with a deal to alternate annually a single race date with Belgum’s Spa Francorchamps.

RMC Sport reports that Paris has formally requested Ecclestone, F1′s chief executive, send them the contract.

But the report said a crucial detail is missing: the necessary race fee.

As those negotiations begin, it is revealed that Eric Boullier – the Lotus team’s French team principal – met with Ecclestone in London on Wednesday to talk about it.

Boullier had tried to “speed things up”, the French language report said.

RMC added that Spa-Francorchamps’ Belgian promoters currently spend EUR 22.5 million per race on the grand prix, a figure neither they nor France are willing to pay in 2013 and beyond.

“Both have set a maximum of EUR 15 million per race,” said the report.

The responsible Belgian minister, Jean-Claude Marcourt, declined to comment.

Alain Prost has admitted he is frustrated that moves to revive a French grand prix have so far not succeeded.

After the demise of the Magny Cours event, the quadruple world champion actively supported the major alternative projects, including one at Flins-Les-Mureaux as well as Disneyland Paris.

He told RMC radio that he is concerned efforts to put France back onto the F1 calendar is losing momentum.

“It must not be buried now,” said Prost.

“There was a great opportunity last year at the time of the regional (elections), and a first draft for Disney which in hindsight was perhaps a bit complicated.

“But Flins was an exceptional site with a real project, a real business plan, and formula one to happen for only eight hours in a year, to appease the critics,” he explained.

“There was a real programme for the utilisation of the circuit, with an economic and social advantage.

“There would have been 100,000 extra people near Paris.  Everyone was enthusiastic, especially Bernie Ecclestone.

“But the project was abandoned when everything was ready and financed, because of the regional election and an environmental problem that was essentially political,” Prost charged.

He confirmed that the biggest problem seems to be a lack of political will.

“Do we want a grand prix of France?” wondered Prost.  “Today, there are no French drivers in F1, Renault will soon not be called Renault … it’s a bit complicated and a financial issue.

“The price asked by Bernie Ecclestine (for a GP) is variable — about EUR 15 million per year in Europe.  Abroad, it is between 30 and 40 million, as in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s an economic equation: how many spectators can you get?  (If it’s) about 50 or 60,000, and the price is 15 million, your losses are about 8 million.

“Who can put up 8 million?  So if the politicians or the government are not saying ‘it’s important for France to have a grand prix’, it’s not worth talking about.

“It’s rubbish when I hear that what is needed is a promoter.  The promoter (of the Disneyland Paris project) was the Lagardere group and myself.

“Above all what is important is that the economics are sustainable,” added Prost.

Nico Hulkenberg has revealed that Williams is not his only option for the 2011 season.

Despite soaring to his maiden pole position a week ago in Brazil, the future of the German rookie is still clouded due to the British team not yet finalising its 2011 lineup.

Williams is reportedly considering Pastor Maldonado, the new GP2 champion who carries as much as EUR 15 million in PDVSA sponsorship, for the seat.

Chief executive Adam Parr on Friday hinted in Abu Dhabi that some key decisions about the team’s future have now been made.

“I have missed the last two races as I have been making sure we have the finances we need for next year, and we do,” he said.

Parr insisted that Williams is in “great financial shape”, but 23-year-old Hulkenberg appeared not to agree.

“Obviously they are struggling for some money,” he told Gulf News.

Hulkenberg said Williams’ driver decision will not be made until after Maldonado tests next week at the Yas Marina track.

“We have other options to go for other teams and races. I can’t name them or speak about it now. But for me, the most important thing is to stay in formula one,” he said.

The price-tag for a one-day ‘young driver test’ with the HRT team next week is EUR 200,000, according to Finland’s Turun Sanomat.

HRT’s other test seat for the post-season sessions at Abu Dhabi has been filled by Pastor Maldonado, the new GP2 champion who is reportedly backed to the tune of EUR 15 million by the Venezuelen petroleum company PDVSA.

Meanwhile, according to French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet in his Auto Plus column, Tony Fernandes is open to dropping the ‘Lotus’ name for 2011 if he is paid out by Group Lotus or the Malaysian government.