F1 | Turning point in Switzerland: 71-year ban on motor racing lifted
A significant chapter in motorsport history is being rewritten. Seventy-one years after the tragic disaster of the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours, Switzerland has decided to remove the ban that prohibited circuit racing on its territory. The Federal Council has ruled that, starting from 1 July, motor racing competitions will once again be permitted, although under strict safety and sustainability conditions.
This represents a long-awaited legislative shift. In recent years, the ban had already shown its first cracks to make room for Formula E all-electric cars, which raced through the streets of Zurich in 2018 (with victory for Lucas di Grassi) and in Bern in 2019 (won by Jean-Eric Vergne). However, to find top-level internal combustion racing cars on Swiss soil, one must go back deep into the archives.
The connection between Switzerland and Formula 1 dates back to the early years of the championship. From 1950 to 1954, the dangerous and iconic Bremgarten street circuit hosted unforgettable battles, crowning some of the greatest drivers in history: Juan Manuel Fangio (winner in 1951 and 1954), Nino Farina, Piero Taruffi, and Alberto Ascari.
There is also a unique historical anomaly linked to the 1982 Swiss Grand Prix: the race was actually held in France, at Dijon-Prenois, and was won by Keke Rosberg, who with that single victory of the season went on to secure the world championship title.
The removal of the ban represents an important step forward for the country’s automotive culture. However, it is important to underline that this does not mean an imminent arrival of Formula 1 in the Swiss Alps.
The strict requirements currently imposed by the FIA to host a Grand Prix make it difficult to set up a suitable circuit in the short term. Nevertheless, the government’s decision opens up new possibilities for hosting racing events and international championships within Swiss borders in the future.
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